The Spokane River spans 111 miles in two states, from its headwaters in northern Idaho to its confluence with the Columbia River at Lake Roosevelt. For thousands of years, the river supported a thriving ecosystem of salmon and was a sacred gathering place for the Spokane Tribe.
The river’s history took a grim turn with the rise of industry, especially mining and manufacturing. Following the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972, we have begun to see some progress, but much work remains to be done. Part of our work at Spokane Riverkeeper is to help you learn about the toxic areas on our waterways — where they are, how they got that way, and what you need to know.
NOTE: This map is does not represent a real-time threat assessment. There may be additional contamination that occurred after data shown here was reported. For the latest updates, consult The City of Spokane Combined Sewer Overflow Monitoring Site and The Department of Ecology's Water Quality Atlas.
This project is supported by funds from the Washington State Department of Ecology.