Abstract
Maintenance of water quality today requires legislative control as well as scientific information. Economic or other considerations can no longer be used to justify the degradation of aquatic systems by wastewater disposal. The Spokane River, along with its various tributaries, is presented as an example of water resource planning and management resulting in improved water quality. The Spokane River and its major reservoir, Long Lake, have had numerous water quality problems and associated controversies. Long Lake has experienced massive algal blooms and ever-expanding stands of macrophytes. The main source of nutrients (particularly phosphorus) was the city of Spokane’s primary sewage treatment facility. Advanced wastewater treatment initiated by Spokane in 1977 markedly improved the trophic condition of the reservoir. A phosphorus waste-load allocation for all point and nonpoint source dischargers in the drainage (Washington and Idaho, USA) was initiated in the early 1980s to protect and sustain the improved water quality of Long Lake. The Washington State Department of Ecology later established a legally enforceable standard such that the total maximum daily phosphorus load to the reservoir was to be no higher than 259 kg to effect mid-mesotrophic conditions. Recently, regulators, dischargers, and scientists have joined forces in the management of phosphorus loads in the Spokane River drainage basin. These managers are demonstrating that the most effective way to ensure good water quality is through local control of degradation processes.
Key words
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Beeton. A.M. 1969. Changes in the environment and biota of the Great Lakes. Pages 150–187 in Eutrophication: causes, consequences, correctives. National Academy of Sciences, Washington. D.C., USA.
Bishop. R.A., and R.A. Lee. 1972. Spokane River water quality study. Washington State Department of Ecology Technical Report 72–001. Olympia. Washington. USA.
City of Spokane. 1977. Facilities planning report for sewer overflow abatement. Spokane, Washington, USA.
Condit, R.J. 1972. Phosphorus and algal growth in the Spokane River. Northwest Science 46: 190–193.
Conners. J. 1976. Quaternary history of northern Idaho and adjacent areas. Dissertation. University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. USA.
Cunningham. R.K., and R E. Pine. 1969. Preliminary investigation of the low dissolved oxygen concentrations that exist in Long Lake located near Spokane, Washington. Washington Water Pollution Control Commission Technical Report 69–1, Olympia. Washington, USA.
CWMP. 1981. Spokane County Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan. Economic and Engineering Services, Inc., Olympia, Washington, USA.
Edmondson, W.T. 1970. Phosphorus, nitrogen, and algae in Lake Washington after diversion of sewage. Science 169: 690–691.
Edmondson, W.T. 1972. Nutrients and phytoplankton in Lake Washington. Pages 172–193 in G.E. Likens, editor. Nutrients and eutrophication. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. Lawrence, Kansas, USA.
EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). 1979. City of Spokane, Washington combined sewer overflow abatement project. Environmental Impact Statement EPA 910/9–78–053, Region X, Seattle, Washington. USA.
Esvelt and Saxton/Bovay Engineers, Inc. 1972. Action plan for better wastewater control, advanced waste treatment, high river quality, and better environment. Prepared for the City of Spokane, Washington, USA.
Fahey, J. 1986. The inland empire: unfolding years, 1879–1929. University of Washington Press. Seattle. Washington, USA.
Fahey. J. 1988. The Spokane River: its miles and its history. Spokane Centennial Trail Committee. Spokane. Washington, USA.
Gasperino. A.F., and R.A. Soltero. 1977. Phosphorus reduction and its effect on the recovery of Long Lake Reservoir. Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories. Richland, Washington. USA.
Greene, J.C., W.E. Miller, T. Shiroyama. R.A. Soltero, and K. Putnam. 1978. Use of laboratory cultures for Selenastrum, Anabaena, and the indigenous isolate Sphaerocycstis to predict the effects of nutrient and zinc interactions upon phytoplankton growth in Long Lake, Washington. Internationale Vereinigung für theoretische und angewandte Limnologie. Verhandlungen 21: 372–384.
Greene. J.C., R.A. Soltero, W.E. Miller, A.F. Gasperino, and T. Shiroyama. 1975. The relationship of laboratory algal assays to measurements of indigenous phytoplankton in Long Lake, Washington. Pages 93–126 in E.J. Middlebrooks et al., editors. Biostimulation and Nutrient Assessment Workshop. Ann Arbor Science, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Haggarty. T.G. 1970. Water pollution in the Spokane River. Washington Water Pollution Control Commission Technical Report 69–1, Olympia. Washington, USA.
Karr, J.R. 1991 Biological integrity: a long-neglected aspect of water resource management. Ecological Applications 1: 66–84.
Kovalic, J.M. 1987. The Cleanwatcr Act of 1987. Second edition. The Water Pollution Control Federation, Alexandria. Virginia, USA.
McDonald, D.L. 1978. Life along the Spokane. Statesman-Examiner. Inc., Colville. Washington, USA.
Merrill. K.R. 1986. Contamination of the Spokane River as indicated by the presence of fecal bacteria. M.S. Thesis. Eastern Washington University, Cheney. Washington. USA.
Mires, J.M., and R.A. Soltero. 1983. Methodology for assessing the initiation date of chemical phosphorus removal at Spokane’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant according to predicted spring runoff. City of Spokane, Washington Contract OPR 81–1054. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington. USA.
Mires. J.M., R.A. Soltero, and D.G. Nichols. 1983. Methodology for assessing the fall termination date of chemical phosphorus removal at Spokane’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. City of Spokane, Washington. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington, USA.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). 1982. Eutro–phication of waters: monitoring, assessment and control. Final Report. OECD Cooperative Programme on Monitoring of Inland Waters (Eutrophication Control), Environment Directorate. OECD, Paris. France.
Patmont. C.R., G.J. Pelletier, and M.E. Harper. 1985. Phosphorus attenuation in the Spokane River. Washington State Department of Ecology Contract C84–076, Harper-Owes, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Patmont. C.R., G.J. Pelletier. L R. Singleton. R.A. Soltero. W.T. Trail, and E.B. Welch. 1987. The Spokane River Basin: allowable phosphorus loading. Washington Stale Department of Ecology Contract C0087074, Harper-Owes. Seattle, Washington. USA.
Pearsc, Greeley and Hansen Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineers. 1933. Report on sewage disposal, Spokane. Washington. Chicago. Illinois, USA.
Shiroyama, T., W.E. Miller, J.C. Greene, and C. Shigihara. 1976. Growth response of Anabaena flos-aquae (Lyngb.) de Breb. in waters collected from Long Lake Reservoir. Washington. Pages 267–275 in R.D. Andrews III et al., editors. Terrestrial and aquatic ecological studies of the Northwest. Eastern Washington Slate College Press, Cheney, Washington, USA.
Soltero, R.A., A.F. Gasperino, and W.G. Graham. 1973. An investigation of the cause and effect of eutrophication in Long Lake, Washington. Office of Water Resources Research Project 143–34–1OE–3996–5501. Completion Report. Eastern Washington State College, Cheney, Washington. USA.
Soltero. R.A., A.F. Gasperino, and W.G. Graham. 1974. Further investigation as to the cause and effect of eutrophication in Long Lake. Washington. Washington State Department of Ecology Project 74–025A. Olympia. Completion Report. Eastern Washington State College. Cheney. Washington, USA.
Soltero. R.A., A.F. Gasperino. P.H. Williams, and S.R. Thomas. 1975. Response of the Spokane River periphyton community to primary sewage effluent and continued investigation of Long Lake. Washington State Department of Ecology Project 74–144, Olympia. Completion Report. Eastern Washington State College, Cheney, Washington, USA.
Soltero, R.A., D.M. Kruger. A.F. Gasperino. J.P. Griffin, S.R. Thomas, and P.H. Williams. 1976. Continued investigation of eutrophication in Long Lake, Washington: verification data for the Long Lake Model. Washington State Department of Ecology Project WF–6–75–081, Olympia. Completion Report. Eastern Washington State College. Cheney. Washington. USA.
Soltero, R.A., and D.G. Nichols. 1981. The recent blue-green algal blooms of Long Lake, Washington. Pages 143–159 in W.W. Carmichael, editor. The water environment: algal toxins and health. Plenum, New York, New York. USA.
Soltero. R.A., D.G. Nichols, G.A. Pebles, and L.R. Singleton. 1978. Limnological investigation of eutrophic Long Lake and its tributaries just prior to advanced wastewater treatment with phosphorus removal by Spokane, Washington. Washington State Department of Ecology Project 77–108. Olympia. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington, USA.
Soltero. R.A., D.G. Nichols, G.P. Burr, and L.R. Singleton. 1979. The effect of continuous advanced wastewater treatment by the City of Spokane on the trophic status of Long Lake, Washington. Washington State Department of Ecology Project 77–108. Olympia. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington, USA.
Soltero. R.A., D.G. Nichols, and J.M. Mires. 1980. The effect of continuous advanced wastewater treatment by the City of Spokane on the trophic status of Long Lake, Washington during 1979. Washington State Department of Ecology Project 80–019, Olympia. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington. USA.
Soltero. R.A., D.G. Nichols, and J.M. Mires. 1981. The effect of continuous advanced wastewater treatment by the City of Spokane on the trophic status of Long Lake, Washington during 1980. Washington State Department of Ecology Contract WG81–001, Olympia. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington. USA.
Soltero. R.A., D.G. Nichols, and M R. Cather. 1982. The effect of seasonal phosphorus removal by the City of Spokane’s advanced wastewater treatment plant on the water quality of Long Lake, Washington. Washington State Department of Ecology Contract WF8I–00I, Olympia. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney. Washington. USA.
Soltero. R.A., D.G. Nichols, and M.R. Cather. 1983. The effect of seasonal alum addition (chemical phosphorus removal) by the City of Spokane’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant on the water quality of Long Lake, Washington, 1982. City of Spokane. Washington Contract 414–430–000–534. 40–3105. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington, USA.
Soltero, R.A., D.G. Nichols, M.R. Cather. and K.O. McKee. 1984. The effect of seasonal alum addition (chemical phosphorus removal) by the City of Spokane’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant on the water quality of Long Lake, Washington, 1983. City of Spokane, Washington Contract 414–430–000–534. 40–3105. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University. Cheney. Washington. USA.
Soltero, R.A., M.R. Cather, K.O. McKee, and D.G. Nichols. 1985. Variable initiation and termination of alum addition at Spokane’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility and the effect on the water quality of Long Lake, Washington. 1984. City of Spokane, Washington Contract 414–430–000–534. 40–3105. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney. Washington, USA.
Soltero. R.A., M.R. Cather. K.O. McKee, K.R. Merrill, and D.G. Nichols. 1986. Variable initiation and termination of alum addition at Spokane’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility and the effect on the water quality of Long Lake. Washington. 1985. City of Spokane, Washington Contract 414–430–000–501.34– 3105. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University. Cheney, Washington. USA.
Soltero, R.A., L.M. Humphreys, and L.M. Sexton. 1990. Impact of combined sewer/ stormwater overflows on the Spokane River. Washington. Bovay Northwest Inc. Project 1817–010. Completion Report. Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington. USA.
Thomas, S.R., and R.A. Soltero. 1978. Recent sedimentary history of a eutrophic reservoir: Long Lake. Washington. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 34: 669–676.
WAC (Washington Administrative Code). 1987. Water quality standards for waters of the State of Washington. Chapter 173–201–WAC. Washington State Department of Ecology, Olympia, Washington, USA.
Yake. W.E. 1979. Water quality trend analysis: the Spokane River Basin. Washington State Department of Ecology, Technical Report DOE–PR–6, Olympia, Washington, USA.
Yearsley. J.R. 1982. An examination of the nutrient and heavy metals budget in the Spokane River between Post Falls and Hangman Creek. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region X. Seattle, Washington, USA.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1992 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Soltero, R.A., Singleton, L.R., Patmont, C.R. (1992). The Changing Spokane River Watershed: Actions to Improve and Maintain Water Quality. In: Naiman, R.J. (eds) Watershed Management. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4382-3_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4382-3_18
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-94232-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4382-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive