Washington Department of Ecology

This is something we think about A LOT! We're working with other state agencies to prepare for the impacts of a changing climate - and expanding water supplies and preserving streamflows is a big part of that. ecology.wa.gov/air-climate/...

You are correct - this is year two of the drought AND it's worse because of soil moisture, snowpack and precipitation deficits. Six of the last 10 years have been drought years, and climate change models predict that, going forward, four out of every 10 years will include snow droughts.

A person gives a confident thumbs up in front of a computer screen showing our latest drought social media post. In contrast, a cat cries, giving a mournful thumbs up while reading the comments that were posted in response to the original post.

We heard you loud and clear!
Drought raises a lot of questions (and feelings). We’re taking this as a great opportunity to explain a little bit more about what drought is, why it matters, and why it isn’t what we’d label as a “normal summer.”

Learn more: ecology.wa.gov/blog/august-...

A person in a white and gray striped shirt gestures while speaking to a person in a dark blue jacket. They are standing in a room full of people at circular black tables.

Later, Casey stopped by the Rotary Club of Yakima to continue the conversation about drought and hear questions, concerns, and priorities from Yakima community leaders. Hearing your opinion is important to Casey – and to us!

A large group of people is seated at long tables lining a conference room. They are looking at one person speaking, all seated in brown chairs with large windows on one wall.

His first stop was with our partners in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. With the Yakima Basin in drought for the last 3 years, it’s more important than ever to continue investing in water management projects that will help farmers and fish in dry years. We're proud to support this work.

A person in a blue jacket stands speaking behind a black podium on stage. The podium has a white sign reading “Rotary Club of Yakima,” and at the back of the stage is a blue backdrop reading “Rotary Club of Yakima.”

Ecology director Casey Sixkiller was back in Yakima this week to talk drought, contamination cleanup, and more with local community leaders. 🧵

Learn more about Hanford’s history: ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics...

And be sure to let us know if you’re looking forward to part 4!

YouTube video by Washington Department of Ecology History of Hanford part 3

The history lesson continues!
The work at Hanford was shrouded in mystery but was quickly revealed after “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” were dropped. But the story of Hanford was far from over.

Eyes Over Puget Sound provides visual documentation and information on what is happening in the waterways around Puget Sound using community submissions and aerial photography. ✈️🌊

See the story map and learn how you can contribute:

Two images are side-by-side in golden frames. The left is an image of a Noctiluca bloom taken by Dany Burgess. The right is “The Scream” by Edvard Munch. Pam from the Office sits beneath the images saying, “It’s the same picture.”

Two images are side-by-side in golden frames. The left is an image of a “Coccolithophore” taken by Linda Herzog. The right is “Cliff near Pourville” by Claude Monet. Pam from the Office sits beneath the images saying, “It’s the same picture.”

Two images are side-by-side in golden frames. The left is an image of decaying matter by Mary Watkins. The right is "Landscape with wheat sheaves" by Van Gogh. Pam from the Office sits beneath the images saying, “It’s the same picture.”

Two images are side-by-side in golden frames. The left is an image of an algae mat taken by Maria Mason. The right is “Lake George” by Georgia O'Keefe. Pam from The Office sits beneath the images saying, "It's the same picture."

Art imitates life. 🎨
It’s hard to believe that artists like Claude Monet and Georgia O’Keefe didn’t base their art on these photos from the latest Eyes Over Puget Sound report. 👀

Eyes Over Puget Sound expresses the importance and beauty of the Salish Sea through science and art. 🧵

Director Casey Sixkiller stands with Ecology staff and members of the Whatcom Ag Water Board with a field in the background.

Director Sixkiller stands near raspberry bushes with Greg Ebe of Ebe Farms.

Director Casey Sixkiller talks with Ecology staff and members of the Whatcom Ag Water Board with a field in the background.

WA is in its 6th drought in the last 10 yrs. Director Casey Sixkiller was in Whatcom County this week to talk about farmers’ concerns about water supply. He visited Ebe Farms & Maberry Packing, two farms using drip irrigation techniques that improve yields, reduce fertilizer, & save precious water.

Screen grab from NIDIS drought monitor map

Ha! That does look a little strange - it's an artifact of how the NIDIS drought conditions map zooms in.

That’s a great question. While it’s normal for it to be hot and dry during E. WA summers, this year’s conditions are still extreme. As the blog explains, many counties saw above-normal temperatures and zero precipitation in June. That makes a real difference for drought and fire danger.

Visit ecology.wa.gov/beach to stay up to date about the status of your local beach and learn tips to minimize exposure to illness.

A yellow sign at the beach indicating a closure or advisory.

Beach update!
⚠️ Whatcom County Health and Community Services issued a water-contact advisory for Larrabee State Park for beaches at Wildcat Cove due to high bacteria levels. Please avoid contact with the water in this area.

✅ The advisory at Bay View State Park in Skagit County has been lifted.

Gordon Ramsay looms over the latest image of Washington's latest drought monitor map. He angrily exclaims "This state is dry!" Unfortunately, nobody can argue otherwise.

The drought is real. Eastern Washington has been hit especially hard this summer. Franklin County and Grant County received no precipitation at all in June, making this the driest June on record for those counties. We're not totally cooked!
Learn more: ecology.wa.gov/blog/july-20...

Members of Ecology and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe stand near the Indian Creek Confluence, with containment boom deployed in the water in the background during spill response operations.

Members of Ecology and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe meet at the Indian Creek spill location to discuss cleanup operations.

On Wednesday, Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller joined Lower Elwha Klallam Chairwoman Charles at the site to discuss the response and next steps with Unified Command, which includes Tribal, federal, state, local and company leaders.

Responder installs exclusion fencing along Indian Creek to help prevent wildlife from entering areas impacted by the fuel spill.

Responder performs sparging in Indian Creek, a technique used to agitate and release fuel trapped under debris or rocks so it can be collected with absorbent materials

The tanker has been removed and Highway 101 reopened, but the work to protect and restore Indian Creek continues.

Director Casey Sixkiller stands with a member of the Inland Empire Paper staff looking at a towering stack of paper scraps formed into block shapes.

Director Casey Sixkiller stands with Ecology staff and staff from Inland Empire Paper near a large drum during a tour of the Inland Empire Paper facility.

Large blocks of paper scraps are stacked on top of each other in the Inland Empire Paper facility.

During a recent visit to Spokane, Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller toured Inland Empire Paper and saw firsthand the investments the company is making in sustainability and improving water quality to protect the Spokane River.

Rules for statewide battery recycling program proposed Statewide battery recycling program will provide Washington residents with consistent, convenient, and safe battery recycling services

What are you doing with your old batteries?
We are developing rules for a new program that will make battery recycling in Washington convenient, safe, and free.

We’d love to hear from you. Review our draft rulemaking and share your comments here: ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who...

Unified Command (Tribal, federal, state, local, company reps) continues coordinated cleanup efforts. Crews are making steady progress. Sorbent materials are being replaced, and shoreline assessments are ongoing. Wildlife teams are monitoring for impacts. Get updates: ecology.wa.gov/spill-incide...

Group photo from left to right: McCoy Nelson, Mike Nelson, Tom Kammerzell, Alex McGregor, Director Sixkiller and Sam Kimme

A key component of our work is listening to the people we serve. In Spring Flat Creek, just outside of Colfax, Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller spent time with community members to better understand how farmers manage their land – so we can work together on solutions that achieve cool, clean water.

Air quality speed run <p>With great enthusiasm, 19 community-based organizations partnered with Ecology and King County to distribute thousands of HEPA air cleaners and restore urban forests.</p>

This summer, Ecology celebrates the hard work and growing partnerships between state, county, and local leaders to improve air quality and climate resiliency in South King County. Learn how we raced the clock to deliver funding to community-based organizations on a deadline:

The overturned tanker has been removed from Indian Creek, and Hwy 101 is open. About 3,000 gallons of fuel, mostly gasoline, are believed to have entered the creek. Air monitoring shows no health risk but stay alert for symptoms like headaches or dizziness. Containment and cleanup efforts continue.

FINAL UPDATE - 9:04 am, 7/19: The US 101 closure, just west of Port Angeles, is CLEAR - US 101 is OPEN! Thanks for your patience as several agencies worked through the night to retrieve the diesel tanker from Indian Creek.

Info for DOE's cleanup efforts: bit.ly/DOE-IndianCreekSpill

UPDATE 7:14 am: US 101 is still closed just west of Port Angeles as crews continue cleanup efforts. The tanker truck has been removed from Indian Creek but we’re still waiting on a tow truck to clear the scene.

Crews remain on scene after a dual-tanker rollover near MP 238 on Hwy 101 in Clallam County. The truck’s capacity is 6,000 gal of diesel and 4,000 gal of gas. Crews are working to contain the spill. Boom deployed. Impacts to fish/wildlife are being monitored. Report oiled wildlife: 1-800-22-BIRDS.

A screenshot of WSP's social media post showing an overturned tanker truck lying on its side in Indian Creek.

We are responding to a tanker truck rollover off U.S. Highway 101 at milepost 238, where the truck left the road and overturned into Indian Creek in Clallam County. It is leaking an unknown volume of petroleum. The driver has been transported to the hospital. Updates will be shared as available.

Images of an air sensor being installed on a rooftop, with a label that reads “Clark College.”

Our amazing air monitoring team recently installed a "SensWA" air sensor at Clark College in Vancouver! We gathered community input to help guide the placement of this sensor, which measures fine particle pollution (PM2.5).
Check your local air quality: enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/mobile/

Map showing Cap Sante Marina and surrounding areas in Anacortes, WA.

A 40-foot pleasure craft grounded on rocks at Cap Sante Marina, leaning to one side.

A 40-foot pleasure craft grounded on rocks at Cap Sante Marina, leaning to one side.

We're responding to a grounded vessel at the Cap Sante Marina. About five gal of fuel released. Port of Anacortes & contractors plugged the vent to stop further release. No known impacts to fish, or wildlife. The vessel will be monitored for safe removal. Please avoid the area during operations.