Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Sewage plant set to open this week

  November 29, 2011 in City on Page A5 Spokane County officials expect to get a state permit today to operate their new sewage treatment plant – and to celebrate on Thursday. There may be some crossed fingers when … 7

• State, landowners work together to clean up Little Spokane River

  November 21, 2011 in City on Page A1 Gary Verbrugge is converting an old cow pasture along the Little Spokane River into a thriving wetland. Over the past three years, he and others have planted about 15,000 seedlings … 1

• Floating wetlands clear inspiration

  September 2, 2011 in Idaho on Page A1 Rafts made out of plastic membranes, sprouting cattails and other nutrient-loving plants could help solve Hayden Lake’s water-quality problems by soaking up excess phosphorus. Karen Hayes can picture a flotilla … 3

• Paper mill, state close to reaching pollution plan

  May 3, 2011 in City on Page A12 OLYMPIA – After seven years of sometimes contentious negotiations, the state and Inland Empire Paper Co. in Spokane Valley may be a month away from reaching an agreement on a … 1

• New bill restricts fertilizers for lawns

  April 2, 2011 in City on Page B1 OLYMPIA – The Legislature on Friday approved a ban on lawn fertilizers that contain phosphorus. On a 56-37 vote, the House of Representatives sent the governor a bill that restricts … 2

• Spin Control: It’s time to serve up that great idea of yours

  March 27, 2011 in City on Page B2 OLYMPIA – Two questions for the big thinkers out there: Do you have an idea how to improve Washington state in the future? Do you think it would stack up …

• Phosophorus lawn fertilizer ban passes Senate

  March 25, 2011 in News OLYMPIA — The Senate approved a ban on phosphorus in lawn fertilizers, but with changes that will send the bill back to the House for another vote. 16

• House approves bill to limit use of lawn fertilizers containing phosporus

  March 1, 2011 in City on Page A5 OLYMPIA – Washington homeowners would be restricted from putting fertilizer with phosphorus on healthy lawns under a bill that passed the House Monday. Despite complaints from Republicans that homeowners should … 7

• Spokane’s sewage system undergoing quiet upgrade

  December 26, 2010 in City on Page A1 When it rains in Spokane, it pours sewage into the Spokane River. Faced with a 2017 deadline to stop discharging millions of gallons of raw sewage annually into the Spokane … 14

• Phosphorus removal methods targeting types that spur algae

  December 14, 2010 in City, Idaho on Page A5 Not all of the phosphorus discharged into the Spokane River contributes to oxygen-robbing algae blooms in the reservoir behind Long Lake Dam, according to a new study from the University … 4

• Spokane River plan moving ahead

  May 6, 2010 in Idaho on Page A7 Ted Sturdevant, director of the Washington Department of Ecology, said Wednesday that he stands behind his agency’s ambitious plan to reduce phosphorus flowing in the Spokane River. Parts of the … 1

• Ecology head stands by river plan

  May 5, 2010 in City, Idaho Ted Sturdevant, director of the Washington Department of Ecology, said Wednesday that he stands behind his agency’s ambitious plan to reduce phosphorus flowing in the Spokane River. 4

• Idaho cities say river plan poses risk to their growth

  April 6, 2010 in Idaho on Page A5 A plan to reduce the amount of phosphorus flowing into the Spokane River would strangle growth in Kootenai County, Idaho municipalities said Monday. During a five-hour dispute resolution hearing, the … 1

• Ecology regional director talks about river cleanup

  March 15, 2010 in Idaho on Page A5 Most people are “fascinated with water, especially moving water,” says Grant Pfeifer, the Washington Department of Ecology’s eastern regional director. That’s particularly true in the Inland Northwest, which has such … 3

• County braces for appeals to river water quality plan

  March 7, 2010 in City on Page A1 A new plan for reducing algae-feeding pollution in the Spokane River is a mixed blessing for Spokane County’s $167 million sewage treatment project. The plan should enable the county to …

• Saving lakes important work

  February 25, 2010 in Opinion on Page A11 If you want to be a stickler for journalistic ethics, I shouldn’t even be writing about the Great Lakes, because I have a huge bias – especially when it comes …

• State phosphorus restrictions could spread to lawn fertilizer

  January 20, 2010 in City on Page A5 OLYMPIA – Washington, which already has restrictions on laundry and dishwasher detergents, could ban phosphorus in lawn fertilizers. A bill before the state Senate would require low- or no-phosphorus fertilizers … 1

• Is lawn fertilizer next for phosphorus ban?

  January 19, 2010 in City, Idaho Washington, which already has restrictions on laundry and dishwasher detergents, could ban phosphorus in lawn fertilizers. 9

• Filters show promise in river cleanup

  December 27, 2009 in Idaho on Page B1 Each day, cities along the Spokane River dump millions of gallons of phosphorus-rich wastewater into its waters. As the state of Washington embarks on an ambitious plan to reduce the …

• Sewer rates may go up

  November 3, 2009 in City on Page A1 Flushing your toilet in the city of Spokane may cost $5 a month more in 2010. Spokane Mayor Mary Verner on Monday presented her 2010 budget to the City Council. … 7

• State releases clean river plan

  September 16, 2009 in Idaho on Page A1 The Washington Department of Ecology unveiled a plan Tuesday to curtail algae-producing phosphorus in the Spokane River and improve dissolved oxygen levels for fish. Under the plan, which needs state … 2

• Where the Spokane River’s pollution comes from

  September 16, 2009 in City on Page A12 Municipal and industrial

• Phosphate detergent ban seems to be working

  August 16, 2009 in City on Page A1 The storyline of the near-ban on phosphorus in dish detergent in Spokane County has focused on scofflaws sneaking Cascade across the state line in a dogged attempt to keep their … 10

• Reading the future in the phosphorus

  May 24, 2009 in City on Page B2 The Oregon Legislature voted this week to ban automatic dishwasher detergent with phosphorus, to which we in Spokane can say, “Welcome to the 21st Century.” And, “Good luck with that.” 1

• Law extends time limit for Spokane River cleanup

  May 12, 2009 in Business on Page A1 OLYMPIA – A new law will relax the deadline for cleaning up the Spokane River and other waterways, allowing more time for some measures to take effect. Without the change, … 1

• Wash. state to smugglers: Stop bootlegging soap

  April 14, 2009 in City Hoping to stem the smuggling of banned phosphate-laden detergents into Spokane County, the state Department of Ecology is highlighting the benefits of eco-friendly brands. 13

• Smart bombs: They sure can dish it

  April 8, 2009 in Opinion on Page A13 Spokane County’s strict ban on dishwasher detergents with phosphates is soaking up national attention. The Los Angeles Times reported on the plight and flight of residents who aren’t happy with …

• Plant bid choice disputed

  December 6, 2008 in City on Page A1 New questions are emerging over Spokane County’s desire to build a $142 million sewage treatment plant that would remove less pollution but cost about the same to operate as another …

• Discharge rules still unclear for new facility

  November 16, 2008 in City on Page A1 Spokane County is on the verge of signing what’s believed to be its biggest contract ever to build a wastewater treatment plant, even though no one knows yet whether environmental …

• Our View: Public should speak up on facility contract

  November 9, 2008 in Opinion on Page B8 The draft service contract for a proposed Regional Water Reclamation Facility is 219 pages long. The contract, if approved, will be between Spokane County and CH2M HILL, the company the …

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