Water quality

Ecology is responsible for keeping Washington waters clean and helping polluted waters recover.
Ecology is responsible for keeping Washington waters clean and helping polluted waters recover.

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Celebrating Earth Day one drawing at a time

Announcing our Earth Day clean water coloring book design contest winners!

Join our 2026 watershed health technician crew

Every summer, technicians play a vital role in collecting environmental data about rivers and streams. Apply to join our crew and gain field experience that can help launch your science career.

How restoring an estuary will help restore a crucial part of the past

Many locals have never seen the dense Olympia area exist without Capitol Lake at its center; they don’t know that the mouth of the Deschutes River exists within the heart of the Capitol.

Ecology prepares to fund 121 clean water projects

$156 million in funding will support local projects across the state. 

Calling all kids! Help Ecology design a clean water coloring book

Earth Day coloring book design contest for K-12 students: design pages showing solutions to pollution. Winning art will appear in Ecology’s clean water coloring book for Earth Day 2026!

Bridges over clean water: updating Ecology’s permit for bridge maintenance

We're updating requirements for protecting water quality when washing and maintaining bridges and ferry terminals. 

Taking steps to tackle nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms

We are starting two rulemakings to update Washington’s water quality standards to help address freshwater nutrient pollution and the harmful, toxic algal blooms that can result from it.

Supporting productive farms and clean water

The final chapters of the Voluntary Clean Water Guidance for Agriculture are open for public comment - a key milestone in our effort to support landowners and clean water. 

Collaborating across borders

A transboundary workgroup is collaborating to improve water quality in the Nooksack River watershed. Due to those efforts, Portage Bay shellfish beds are open more often to harvesting.

Inside the effort to save Indian Creek

On the morning of July 18, a dual-tanker truck carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline and diesel left the roadway on U.S. Highway 101 and overturned into Indian Creek.