Coloring book contest 2026
Students in grades K-12 from across Washington submitted artwork based on one of six statements about how we can all help keep our water clean to create our Solution to the Pollution Earth Day coloring book!
Winners
Here are the winners, organized by the statement they illustrated. Two winners were selected for each statement.
Statement 1:
Picking up pet waste stops it from washing into the water when it rains.
- Hendrix H., Seattle
- Naomi K., Seattle
Statement 2:
Trees and shrubs are awesome in many ways! They can stop pollution before it gets to the water and shade it to keep it cool for fish and frogs.
- Peytan B., West Richland
- Mackenzie W., Ocean Beach
Statement 3:
Rain gardens are good at keeping chemicals, oil, and other pollution out of streams, rivers, and lakes.
- Lua P., Spokane
- Hanna L., Ocean Beach
Statement 4:
Cover crops like grasses, clover, and even sunflowers help keep soil healthy and stops it from washing into nearby rivers and streams.
- Alice K.
- Brianna W.
Statement 5:
Fertilizers and pesticides can help our lawns stay alive, but they can also harm the creatures living in the stream if you don’t use them with care.
- Niranjan, Maple Valley
- Rose J., Ocean Beach
Statement 6:
Keeping cows and other farm animals out of streams and lakes keeps the water clean for everyone.
- Mya P., Ocean Beach
- Alma D., Seattle
You can view, download, and print the full coloring book now!
Solution to nonpoint pollution
At Ecology, every day is Earth Day, and this contest helped kids learn about the pollution found in their everyday lives. The good news is there are many simple solutions like picking up pet waste or planting a rain garden that can help.
We call this type of pollution nonpoint pollution because it doesn’t come from a single, identifiable source. Instead, it comes from many everyday activities that add up over time. Rain can wash bacteria from animal waste and chemicals from lawns or farms into nearby waterways. It can also look like the loss of trees next to streams that provide shade to help keep water cool and stop pollution from getting to the water.
One pile of dog poop washing into a river may seem like a small amount of pollution, but when it is happening everywhere and over time, it can become a large problem. Because these problems are so widespread, nonpoint pollution is one of our toughest water quality challenges.
Amazing results
The creativity of the students brought the statements to life — many designs featured cows, frogs, fish, flowers, and Washington’s landscapes. The contest received a total of 55 submissions from across the state, including Seattle, Walla Walla, Maple Valley, Spokane, Odessa, Ocean Beach, and West Richland.
With so many strong entries, it wasn’t easy to pick winners. We asked our Water Quality Program staff to vote on their favorites. They looked for:
- Creativity and quality of the artwork
- How well the art represented the chosen statement
- Understanding of the solution to the pollution
- How well the art reflected the beauty of Washington
You can view all of our submissions to the contest below!
Contact information
Thea Angeli
Outreach Specialist
Thea.Angeli@ecy.wa.gov
564-669-1889