Washington State Department of Ecology

Delivering tools for healthy water

It includes things like rain washing bacteria from animal waste or chemicals off land into rivers, or losing shade trees next ...
Washington State Department of Ecology

Celebrating Earth Day one drawing at a time

We’re excited to announce the winners for our Solution to the Pollution Earth Day coloring book design contest! Students in ...
agr.wa.gov

New report: Clean energy is powering reductions in Washington’s carbon emissions

More clean energy and less coal power: That’s the recipe for a drop in Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions detailed in a new Washington Department of Ecology report. Despite population and economic ...
agr.wa.gov

Saving Washington's salmon from toxic tire dust

Coho salmon returning to rivers and streams often die before they can spawn. Photo by Roger Tabor, US Fish and Wildlife For over 20 years, scientists faced a toxic mystery: coho salmon returning to ...
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Inspecting vessels for substantial risk

We work hard every day to achieve our legislative goal of “zero spills.” Our vessel inspectors are professional mariners with extensive experience in ship operations and regulatory requirements. They ...
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Water Quality improvement projects

Some of our water quality improvement projects, including total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), are active and have webpages that are listed alphabetically (see left navigation menu). However, to find ...
agr.wa.gov

Overview of permitting & certifications

We are responsible for protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment. Permits and certifications ensure that individuals and businesses understand and comply with all applicable ...
agr.wa.gov

Statewide drought declared due to dismal snowpack

An exceptionally warm winter has left many Washington river basins short on the snowpack they would usually have at the start of spring. Washington relies on this snowpack to gradually melt out, ...
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Grant program promotes healthy Puget Sound stream and river habitats

We are now accepting grant applications from local governments, Tribes, academic institutions and nonprofit organizations seeking to fund projects and activities that improve, restore and protect ...
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Emerging stormwater treatment technologies (TAPE)

Refer to the 2024 updated TAPE Process Overview for everything you need to know about how we evaluate your technology. We also accept applications to the Chemical Technology Assessment Protocol – ...
agr.wa.gov

Cruise ships in Washington waters

A voluntary agreement, called a memorandum of understanding (MOU), helps prevent wastewater discharges from large cruise ships into state waters. We first signed the MOU with the Cruise Lines ...