Spokane River Water Quality Survey

Statement of Methodology

• Robinson Research was commissioned by The Spokane River Forum to conduct a telephone survey with adults living in portions of Kootenai County and Spokane County.

• The zip codes surveyed were all adjacent to the Spokane River.

• The telephone interviews were conducted between May 2, 2015 to May 9, 2015.

• Two summary reports are available. Kootenai County and Lincoln, Stevens, and Spokane Counties. Reports provide comparisons were made to a 2009 survey.

Statement of Methodology

• The survey was conducted as part of a public participation grant from the WA Department of Ecology.•A 200-sample survey has a margin of error of +/- 6.94%

percent. In theory, survey results have a ninety-five percent (95%) chance of coming within +/- 6.94 percentage points of results that would have been obtained if all households in zip codes adjacent to the Spokane River had been interviewed.

I Love the Spokane River

• 89% of respondents in both states believe “we owe it to future generations to protect the Spokane River.” • 66% or respondents in both states also it’s very important

“that the Spokane River be protected and cleaned up.” • Over 90% of respondents in both states agreed that “the

Spokane River is an important part of the regional economy.”

Very important(3)

Somewhat important(2)

Mostly unimportant(1)

Not at all important(0)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%65%

24%

6%4%

65%

28%

2%4%

Q.14 How Important Is It To You That The Spokane River Be Protected

And/Or Cleaned Up?(Asked of 200 respondents)

2015

2009

2015 Mean 2.532009 Mean 2.57

Kootenai County

Very important(3)

Somewhat important(2)

Mostly unimportant(1)

Not at all important(0)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

75%

16%

7%2%

76%

20%

2% 1%

78%

18%

1% 1%

Q.14 How Important Is It To You That The Spokane River Be Protected

And/Or Cleaned Up?(Asked of 600 respondents)

2015

2009

2005

2015 Mean 2.672009 Mean 2.732005 Mean 2.75

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Water Quality• In both states, over 70% of respondents rate the water

quality of the Spokane River as being average, pretty good or excellent. • 54% in Idaho, as opposed to 38% in WA, agree with the

statement that “Spokane River water quality has improved since the year 2000.” • Half of respondents in both states agree that “by 2025 the

water quality of the Spokane River will be significantly better.”• Respondent knowledge/awareness of possible

contaminants/pollutants and sources is generally low.

Excellent (5)

Pretty good (4)

Average (3)

Not so good (2)

Poor (1)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

10%

45%

25%

8%

4%

10%

45%

18%

10%

6%

Q.8 How Would You Describe The Water Quality In The Spokane River?

(Asked of 200 respondents)

2015

2009

2015 Mean 3.572009 Mean 3.51

Kootenai County

Excellent (5)

Pretty good (4)

Average (3)

Not so good (2)

Poor (1)

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

7%

30%

34%

15%

8%6%

22%

30%

16%13%

3%

20%

33%

19%

15%

Q.8 How Would You Describe The Water Quality In The Spokane River?

(Asked of 600 respondents) 2015

2009

2005

2015 Mean 3.122009 Mean 2.902005 Mean 2.76

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Leaking septic systems/Drainfields

Boats leaking fuel/oil

Animal waste

Storm water

Pollution from pet waste

Erosion/Sediment

Phosphorus

Pollution from industry

Litter

Household hazardous waste

Sewage spills/Releases/CSO

Mining

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

3%

4%

6%

6%

6%

7%

10%

14%

15%

16%

21%

22%

Q.13 What Are The Major Sources Of Pollution In The Spokane River?(Asked of 200 respondents - multiple responses allowed)

Kootenai County

Don't know/Refused

Animal waste

Leaking septic systems/Drainfields

Boats leaking fuel/oil

Pollution from pet waste

Phosphorus

Erosion/Sediment

Litter

Stormwater

Household hazardous waste

Mining

Sewage spills/Releases/CSO

Pollution from industry

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

15%

2%

4%

4%

4%

8%

9%

11%

12%

17%

25%

31%

32%

Q.13 What Are The Major Sources Of Pollution In The Spokane River?(Asked of 600 respondents - multiple responses allowed)

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Mandatory/Voluntary water conservationStormwater

ErosionRailroad

Fish consumption advisoryAquifer

Minimum in-stream flows/Water rightsFishing

Development along riverGeneral water quality

Phosphate dishwater detergent banCdA/PF/H Wastewater Treatment Plants

Sewer overflow/SpillHeavy metals or PCB clean up

Plane crashFlooding/High river flows

Clean-upLow water levels

Pollution (non-specific)Avista dam operations

Recreation

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

1%1%1%1%1%

2%2%2%

3%

3%4%4%

4%6%

7%9%

9%9%

15%

16%20%

16%7%

3%

8%5%

6%13%

15%3%

Q.2 What Were The Major Subjects You Recall?(Asked of 100 respondents - multiple respones allowed)

2015

2009

Kootenai County

Avista dam operations

Spokane Wastewater Treatment Plant

Minimum in-stream flows/Water rights

Aquifer

PCB TMDL or cleanup plan

Heavy metals or PCB clean up

Phosphate dishwater detergent ban

Fish consumption advisory

Stormwater

General water quality

Low water levels

Clean-up

Flooding/High river flows

Recreation

Plane crash

Pollution (non-specific)

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

2%

2%

2%

2%2%

3%

3%

3%

3%

4%

7%

8%

10%

16%

17%

18%

6%

14%

2%

5%

24%

2%

3%

9%

11%10%

5%

18%

13%

14%

6%

Q.2 What Were The Major Subjects You Recall?(Asked of 317 respondents - multiple responses allowed)

2015

2009

2005

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Cleanup

• In both WA and ID, 80% of respondents reported that there were no Spokane River cleanup efforts being conducted.• In both states, 56% of respondents believe the motivation for

individuals or businesses to help protect water quality should be mandatory. • 73% in WA and 65% in ID agree “we should ban products that pollute

the river.” • And over 60% in both states agree “agencies should restrict activities

along and in the Spokane River to ensure water quality protection.”

Don't know/Refused

There are none

Stormwater elimination or reduction

PCB elimination

Water Conservation Program

Toxics Cleanup Program

CSO Tanks

Phosphate dishwasher detergent or fertilizer ban

New wastewater treatment plant

Upgraded wastewater plant facilities

Volunteer Litter Cleanup

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

54%

5%

29%

2%

5%

5%

56%

22%

2%

2%

2%

3%

3%

4%

6%

6%

7%

Q.15 What Water Quality Cleanup Efforts Are Being Conducted On The Spokane River?

(Asked of 200 respondents - multiple responses allowed)

20152009

Kootenai County

Don't know/Refused

There are none

Upgraded wastewater plant facilities

Rain gardens/Storm gardens

Septic tank elimination program

Phosphate dishwasher detergent or fertilizer ban

PCB elimination

New wastewater treatment plant

Toxics Cleanup Program

Stormwater elimination or reduction

Volunteer Litter Cleanup

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

62%

22%

5%

1%

2%

3%

59%

14%

3%

1%

12%

4%

8%

60%18%

2%

2%

2%

3%

3%

4%

4%

4%

9%

Q.15 What Water Quality Cleanup Efforts Are Being Conducted On The Spokane River?

(Asked of 600 respondents - multiple responses allowed)

2015

2009

2005

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

56%30%

13%2% 1%

(Asked of 200 respondents)

MandatoryVoluntaryA mix of bothNeither/no needDon't know/Refused

56%30%

13%1% 1%

(Asked of 600 respondents)

MandatoryVoluntaryA mix of bothNeither/no needDon't know/Refused

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Kootenai CountyQ.31 Should The Motivation

For Individuals Or Businesses To Help Protect Water

Quality Be...?

Q. 49 We should ban products that pollute the Spokane River

(Asked of 200 respondents)

Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don’t Know/Refused0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

44%

29%

11% 11%

5%

38%

27%

20%

11%

5%

Spokane, Lincoln & StevensKootenai

Q.49 We should ban products that pollute the river

Q.52 Agencies should restrict activities along and in the Spokane River to ensure water quality protection

Strongly

Agre

e

Somew

hat Agre

e

Somew

hat disa

gree

Strongly

disa

gree

Don’t Know/R

efuse

d0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

35%

32%

14%13%

6%

24%

38%

15%17%

7%

Spokane, Lincoln & StevensKootenai

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

58%

26%

9%

4% 4%

Q.43 When Communicating Water Quality Messages, Which Of The Following Do You Think Is Most Likely To Inspire Change Or Willingness To Pay For Im-

provements?(Asked of 200 respondents)Kootenai County

0%10%20%30%40%50%60% 56%

25%

13%5% 3%

Q.43 When Communicating Water Quality Messages, Which Of The Following Do You Think Is Most Likely To Inspire Change Or Willingness To Pay For Im-

provements?(Asked of 600 respondents)Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

People Interactions with the River•WA respondents’ visit the Spokane River, on average, 33

times a year; ID respondents 38 times a year. • The most popular activity is to walk, run, or bike by the river,

followed by picnicking/scenic view, swimming and fishing. • Two-thirds in both states see the beaches as safe to use and

the river safe to swim. • Less than half in WA, and 65% in ID, think the fish are safe to

eat.•WA folks pretty much stay in WA when visiting the river, ID

folks stay in ID.

CdA to

Pos

t Fall

s

Post F

alls t

o Stat

e Lin

e

State L

ine t

o Upr

iver

Dam

Spoka

ne F

alls t

o Nin

e Mile

Dam

Upriv

er D

am to

Spo

kane

Fall

s

Long L

ake D

am to

Lak

e Roo

seve

lt0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

59%

33%

3% 3% 1% 1%

59%

29%

6%1% 3% 0%

Q.7 In Which Of The Following Areas Do You Most Often Interact With The Spokane River?

(Asked of 167 respondents)

20152009

Kootenai County

CdA to P

ost Fall

s

Post Fall

s to S

tate L

ine

State L

ine t

o Upriv

er Dam

Upriver

Dam to

Spokan

e Fall

s

Spokane F

alls t

o Nin

e Mile

Dam

Lake S

pokane/L

ong Lak

e

Long Lak

e Dam

to L

ake R

oosevelt

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

2% 2%

11%

24%26%

14%

21%

4% 5%

13%

23% 25%

29%

0% 0%

17% 19%

26%

36%

Q.7 In Which Of The Following Areas Do You Most Often Interact With The Spokane River?

(Asked of 465 respondents)201520092005

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Drives

Inner tubing

Go to beaches

Non-motorized boating

Fishing

Motorized boating

Swimming

Picnicking/scenic view

Walking, running, biking

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

1%

4%

7%

13%

18%

28%

28%

37%

45%

4%

3%

14%

12%

14%

37%

Q.6 What Activities Best Describe How You Interact With The Spokane River?

(Asked of 167 respondents - multiple responses allowed)

20152009

Kootenai County

Go to beaches

Inner tubing

Non-motorized boating

Motorized boating

Swimming

Fishing

Picnicking/Scenic view

Walking, running, biking

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

6%

14%

16%

16%

46%

3%

3%

15%

18%

20%

23%

35%

60%

Q.6 What Activities Best Describe How You Interact With The Spokane River?

(Asked of 465 respondents - multiple responses allowed)

20152009

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Coeur d'Alene to Post Falls

Post Falls to State Line State Line to Upriver Dam

Upriver Dam to Spokane Falls

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%55%

35%

15%

6%

49%

38%

11%

3%

Q.35 Where Do You Generally Catch Fish?(Asked of 26 respondents)

20152009

Kootenai County

Coeur d'Alene to Post Falls

Post Falls to State Line

State Line to Upriver Dam

Upriver Dam to Spokane

Falls

Spokane Falls to Nine Mile

Dam

Long Lake/Lake Spokane

Long Lake Dam to Lake

Roosevelt

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0% 0%3% 3% 4%

47% 47%

7%1%

6% 5%

14%

59%

0% 0%

7% 9%

16%

69%

Q.35 Where Do You Generally Catch Fish?(Asked of 77 respondents)

201520092005

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Information Sources

• About half of respondents report having seen, read or heard something about the Spokane River.•Most people receive their information about the Spokane

River from television news, the Spokesman Review and the Coeur d’Alene Press. • Over 80% of respondents in both states are interested in

learning more about the challenges facing the Spokane River.

AP or national news wire

Inlander

Online news service

Clubs & non-profits

Radio news

Post Falls Press

Word-of-mouth

The Spokesman-Review

CdA Press

Television news

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

1%

6%

10%

3%

47%

26%

26%

3%

3%

3%

3%

5%

7%

15%

36%37%

42%

Q.4 What Were The Sources Of Your Informa-tion?

(Asked of 100 respondents - multiple responses allowed)

2015

2009

Kootenai County

Inlander

Visits to rivers and streams

Clubs & non-profits

Email or social media

Clubs and non-profits

State/Local government

Online news service

Radio news

Word-of-mouth

Television news

Spokesman-Review

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

2%

1%

6%

6%

49%

60%

3%

1%

1%

9%

9%

37%

56%

2%

2%

3%

3%

3%

3%

5%

6%

13%

49%

51%

Q.4 What Were The Sources Of Your Information?(Asked of 317 respondents - multiple responses al-

lowed)

201520092005

Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Relationships and Trust

• In both states, conservation districts and state/local health agencies scored very well when asked their level of “trust and confidence in them managing restoration or clean-up efforts in the Spokane River.” • In both states, there is less trust and confidence in EPA relative to

others, with ID trust/confidence being significantly lower. • WA respondents have much higher trust/confidence in non-profit

environmental groups than ID respondents. • There is positive trust/confidence, although it varies somewhat

from state to state, in Scientists/Professors, Tribes, Environmental State Agencies, and Cities/Counties.

State environmental agencies

Non-profit Environmental Groups

Cities and counties

State & Local Health Agencies

Washington State Department of Ecology

University professors and scientists

Indian Tribes

Conservation Districts

-2.00 -1.50 -1.00 -0.50 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00

-0.46

-0.03

0.30

0.37

0.42

0.48

0.54

0.55

0.57

0.84

Organization Ratings

EPA

Industry Kootenai County

EPA

Cities and counties

State environmental agencies

Indian Tribes

State & Local Health Agencies

University professors and scientists

Washington State Department of Ecology

Non-profit Environmental Groups

Conservation Districts

-2.00 -1.50 -1.00 -0.50 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00

-0.76

0.31

0.32

0.46

0.60

0.63

0.65

0.66

0.75

0.96

Organization Ratings

Industry Spokane, Lincoln & Stevens County

Demographics for both states

• The average respondent was about 58 years old

• Eighty-five percent of respondents reported owning their home

• The mean years lived in the area was 29 to 34 years

•Half of respondents were male (quotas in place)

Happy Trails