Washington Department of Ecology

06/12/2026

As the weather gets warmer, it’s important to look out for algae blooms in your local lakes and rivers. Some lakes bloom regularly, some lakes rarely have blooms, and not every bloom is toxic... but the only way to know if toxins are present is through laboratory testing. 

The best way to keep you and your pets safe is to avoid water with visible algae, and follow any posted warnings and closures. If you see a bloom, give it room!

Learn more on our blog: https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2026/see-an-algal-bloom-give-it-room

06/12/2026

Sustainable aviation fuel is taking off in Washington 🛫 Thanks to policies like the Clean Fuel Standard, our state has become a hub for transportation innovation and the production of cleaner, safer fuels. Thank you to Governor Bob Ferguson for highlighting some of this incredible work.

06/11/2026

Bay View State Park beach in Skagit County has an advisory due to high f***l bacteria levels. High levels of f***l bacteria can make people sick. Please avoid contact with the water in this area. Stay up to date on the status of your local beach and learn how to avoid illness: ecology.wa.gov/beach

06/11/2026

Our director Casey Sixkiller recently narrated the story of the Duwamish River cleanup in a new PBS documentary series called ‘Seattle: A History in Short Stories.’ This educational series shares stories from Seattle’s history from the Ice Age to present day, and will be shown in public school classrooms across Washington.

The series airs at 7 p.m. tonight on KBTC Public Television — tune in at 9 p.m. for the segment on the Duwamish River: https://www.kbtc.org/watch-on-demand/kbtc-presents/seattle-a-history-in-short-stories/

06/10/2026

We want to hear from you! We’re offering opportunities to review, ask questions and share feedback about a potential expansion at Key Mill in Ferry County. The plant, operated by Echo Bay Minerals Co., is proposing to increase the mill’s tailings capacity by approximately 5.5 million tons. Read more: https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2026/understanding-proposed-key-mill-expansion
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¡Queremos escuchar tu opinión! Estamos ofreciendo oportunidades para revisar documentos, hacer preguntas y compartir comentarios sobre la posible ampliación de la instalación Key Mill, que Echo Bay Minerals Co. opera en el condado de Ferry. La instalación desea aumentar su capacidad de almacenamiento de relaves en aproximadamente 5.5 millones de toneladas.
Lee más: https://ecology.wa.gov/es-es/blog/june-2026/informacion-sobre-expansion-propuesta-para-key-mill

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

Do you own a home and qualify for an energy assistance program? We want to hear from you! 🏠 Join one of our focus groups on June 23, 24 or 29 to share your thoughts on energy use, bills and affordability. Participants may be eligible to receive a $100 gift card.

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/Energyfocusgroup

06/08/2026

Have you ever swapped a key ingredient in a recipe? Replacing chemicals in everyday products works in a similar way — a safer alternative should still perform the same job, while also reducing potential harm to people, wildlife, and the environment. This summer, we’re hosting webinars on our safer alternatives research and hearing input from attendees. Read more: https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/june-2026/whats-the-recipe-for-a-safer-product
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¿Alguna vez has sustituido un ingrediente clave en una receta? El proceso de reemplazar un químico en los productos cotidianos es similar: las alternativas más seguras deben funcionar como el original, a la vez que reducen los posibles riesgos para las personas, la vida silvestre y el medio ambiente. Este verano, realizaremos webinarios sobre nuestras investigaciones para alternativas más seguras y para escuchar del público. Lee más: https://ecology.wa.gov/es-es/blog/june-2026/la-receta-para-productos-mas-seguros

06/05/2026

Ecology is part of a joint response effort (called a Unified Command) for the Nippon Dynawave industrial incident in Longview, WA. Unified Command heard concerns about whether dead fish still surfacing in the ditch network would impact drinking water. The answer is no. And here are three experts to help explain why we expect to still see dead fish and why Longview’s water supply remains safe.

For more information and updates, visit ecology.wa.gov/NipponDynawave

U.S. EPA Northwest Region Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Longview, Washington - City of Longview