Spokane River Forum hits the water with Project Hope

[portfolio_slideshow id=10357] The Spokane River Forum had the pleasure of taking the youth from Project Hope on an eco-tour paddle. These inspiring youngsters farm urban gardens and provide landscaping services in the West Central neighborhood, just minutes from the Spokane River near Kendell Yards. The paddle was an opportunity for our nonprofits to learn from one another as we both work to improve the place we all live, work and play. Tonilee Hanson of Spokane EnviroStars and Ellie Key of the Department of Ecology led the educational portion of tour, and Spokane Parks and Recreation provided boats, guides and transportation. We took off in a van from West Central for our put-in just below the Upriver Dam. On the drive, Key led a discussion about point source dischargers, the Silver Valley mining legacy, PCBs and more. She discussed the river’s improvement since the 1950s, and Ecology’s ongoing commitment to water quality in Washington. Hanson talked about EnviroStars efforts to help business keep pollution out of the river and aquifer. On the water, Key’s comments rang true. What was once an unusable stretch of the Spokane River was nothing short of an urban sanctuary. From our kayaks we couldn’t see beyond the steep banks, and although we were in heart of Spokane, we were from the trappings of city life. While on the water we stopped at CSO fish markers to discuss stormwater management, and also stopped near Green Street Bridge to discuss the Spokane County Regional Water Facility’s role in maintaining a high level of water quality. At the McKinstry access site, Key led interactive lessons. Students used nets, basters and ice cube trays to examine macroinvertebrates, and used an EnviroScape model to simulate how pesticides, herbicides, nutrients and oils affect watersheds. On the van ride home, Hanson gave all the participants a folder of water quality resources. She led a conversation about the “Toliet is not a Trash Can” handout, and asked the group to consider which products in their house could contaminate the aquifer. At the end of the trip, the students went home with Aquifer Protection water bottles, a story to tell and a great way to end the summer.