Washington State Department of Ecology
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ecology.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Ecology
@ecology.wa.gov
Official Washington state Department of Ecology account. Protecting, preserving and enhancing Washington's environment for current and future generations. ecology.wa.gov
Could geothermal be a clean energy resource in Washington? Ecology is leading a collaborative process to better understand its potential. Read more about how we’re engaging with communities and join us at an upcoming workshop: ecology.wa.gov/blog/februar...
February 9, 2026 at 7:17 PM
We can’t wait to see the @seahawksofficial.com at the big game either! 💚💙 If you’ve upgraded your TV for this Sunday, don’t just throw your old one away! Keep toxic chemicals out of landfills by recycling your TV for free with E-Cycle Washington.
Find a location near you: https://ecyclewa.org/
February 7, 2026 at 5:55 PM
A new air sensor is live in South Seattle! Our monitoring team recently installed a "SensWA" sensor, which measures fine particulate matter (PM2.5), at the Duwamish River Community Hub in South Park. Check out data from the new sensor: airqualitymap.ecology.wa.gov/site-info/543
February 5, 2026 at 10:19 PM
There are about 6,500 contaminated sites in WA that need cleanup or are being cleaned up. Rating these sites gives us a better idea of the contamination and can help direct our work. Learn more about cleanup sites in your community on our new SHARP dashboard: ecology.wa.gov/blog/februar...
February 5, 2026 at 6:16 PM
See ya later, pollution. 👋 Hello, cleaner water. 😎
Communities across Washington are preparing to improve wastewater facilities, install stormwater treatment, and fund new septic systems, thanks to $156.8 million in grants and loans from Ecology.
February 3, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Did you know that WA has 3,026 miles of coastal shoreline? Our Coastal Zone Management Program has been protecting the state’s coastal beaches, habitats, and communities for 50 years. We are celebrating this awesome milestone for our work: ecology.wa.gov/blog/january...
January 29, 2026 at 10:39 PM
For snowpack, we are sitting at 53% of normal statewide—but averages can be deceiving. In the N Cascades it varies between 26% at Beaver Pass and 109% at Rainy Pass.
We've had 115% of normal precipitation so far this water year, but lot of that has been rain. We need snowpack to get out of drought.
January 29, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Let’s check in on our water supply: a thread 🧵

It looks like WA has been participating in “dry January” this year. The last 30 days have been dry across most of the state. On top of that, the past week has been warmer than normal in the Cascades and Olympics, which isn’t helping our snowpack.
January 29, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Our spills team and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound are responding to a sinking at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle. The 72-foot fishing vessel Quaker Maid sank with an estimated 1,000 gallons of diesel on board.
January 24, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Cleaner cars. Cleaner fuels. Cleaner power. And now, cleaner planes. ✈️

See how Washington is helping lead the way on eco-friendly jet fuels—and why it matters for the future of a clean energy economy: ecology.wa.gov/blog/january...
January 23, 2026 at 7:04 PM
📢Round five of our competitive streamflow restoration grants program is open! Do you have a project that will improve rivers and streams in Washington? We have up to $40 million available for public entities and nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Learn more:
ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who...
January 15, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Calling all young artists! 🎨 We are hosting a coloring book design contest for youth in Washington! Kids can create a coloring book page based on one of our 6 statements, learning about the solution to the pollution along the way. Check out our blog to get started: ecology.wa.gov/blog/colorCo...
January 14, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Baby steps! The Cascades saw a lot more snow this week – enough to wash out the red on the NRCS basin snowpack map. We need consistent snowstorms to catch up to normal, and need that snowpack to hold on through spring to avoid drought this summer. But we’re slowly moving in the right direction ❄️
January 9, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Today is World Ocean Acidification Day of Action 🌊 When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, excess carbon dioxide gets produced. As the ocean absorbs that carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, our waters become more corrosive, threatening coastal economies and ways of life.
January 8, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Bellingham’s future Salish Landing Park is moving closer to reality. On-the-ground cleanup work begins this week at two contaminated sites in Bellingham Bay, transforming an old industrial site and landfill into a community destination. Read more: ecology.wa.gov/blog/january...
January 8, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Did record rainfall end Washington’s drought? Unfortunately, no. We got rain when we really needed snow, leaving snowpack at about 31% of normal. We'll need winter weather ahead to build up our "snow bank". Read more about what this means for our water supply in WA: ecology.wa.gov/blog/january...
January 6, 2026 at 8:06 PM
In 2023, we eliminated 2M tons of greenhouse gases – that’s like taking 450,000 cars off the road 🚗 The program also reduces harmful air pollution & drives local investment. And our next rulemaking will boost clean fuel production through 2038! Learn more: ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who...
January 5, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Water advisory alert! ⚠️ Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department issued a water-contact advisory for Jack Hyde Park beach, Thea's Park beach, Jerisich Dock (near Gig Harbor) in Pierce County due to high levels of bacteria. Please avoid contact with the water in this area.
December 23, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Can you guess what December’s Critter of the Month is? It’s a decorator crab on a decorated lab, of course! 🦀 Self-decoration camouflage is a defense strategy that allows the crabs to blend into the backdrop of their ecosystem to avoid predators. Read more in our blog: ecology.wa.gov/blog/decembe...
December 17, 2025 at 6:20 PM
More air quality data on the way! We’re planning a one-year mobile monitoring study to collect detailed air pollution data in overburdened communities and participating Tribal communities.

Stay tuned for more info about the routes, how we handle the data, and vehicle capabilities in late 2026.
December 16, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Salons and retailers — do your cosmetics have toxic chemicals in them? Washington restricts several harmful chemicals in products made, sold, or used in salon services. The sell-through period for older stock ends Dec. 31, 2025.

Here's what to know heading into 2026: ecology.wa.gov/blog/decembe...
December 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Dec. 7 update: We are seeing very light oil sheen upriver of McNary Dam on both the Washington and Oregon sides. We're working with Grant PUD and Oregon DEQ to continue cleanup in this area to protect the fish ladders and juvenile downstream passage facilities.
December 7, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Your voice matters! Comment on our revised draft EIS analyzing a proposal to build a flow-through dam on the Chehalis River & make changes to the Chehalis-Centralia Airport levee. Comment by Feb. 4, 2026, at an upcoming in-person or virtual hearing, online or by mail. ecology.wa.gov/Revised-EIS-...
December 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Today we saw light sheening near Richland. We placed absorbent materials to capture oil upriver and around several water intakes in the Tri-City area. No reports of oiled wildlife. Over the next few days, please stay out of the water between the dam and Pasco while we continue cleanup.
December 5, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Join us for the 6PPD State of the Science Virtual Forum, where we’ll share our latest research and developments on 6PPD and 6PPDQ along with national and international experts.
📅 December 9-10 at 12–3 p.m.
Learn more and join the livestream here: ecology.wa.gov/6PPD-forum
December 4, 2025 at 5:25 PM