The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition

The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (DRCC):

Who are they?

Per their website:

"South Seattle’s Duwamish Valley has long been referred to as a community with environmental injustices—a community with disproportionately high environmental health burdens and risks and fewer positive environmental benefits than the rest of Seattle—but limited evidence has been available to date to validate or quantify this characterization. The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group (DRCC/TAG) represents an alliance of community, tribal, environmental, and small business groups affected by ongoing pollution and cleanup plans for Seattle’s lower Duwamish River, a 5.5-mile-long Superfund Site.  The Duwamish Valley’s riverfront neighborhoods of South Park and Georgetown are home to residents who are among those most impacted by the Superfund Site, with potential exposures from contact with contaminated sediments on neighborhood beaches, swimming or wading in the river, and from fishing. South Park and Georgetown are among Seattle’s lowest income neighborhoods, and South Park is one of the city’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods. "

What's the issue?

The Duwamish river is a designated Superfund site, which indicates high levels of dangerous pollution. The neighborhoods around it are heavily polluted through the air as well, being situated between highways and industrial exhaust. These neighborhoods are made up of over 70% people of color and have some of the lowest incomes in the city. 

By 1940, the Duwamish River had been converted from a 9-mile-long estuary to an industrial waterway only 5 miles long. Along with development along the shore, this destroyed 97% of original habitat. Further damage has been caused by the discharge of industrial waste and cooling water, which adds toxins and reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the river (“Lower Duwamish River”). In addition to pollution, there is environmental injustice due to the impacts of the pollution on the largely poor and minority population of the area around it. These neighborhoods have a life expectancy eight years shorter than the average for the Greater Seattle Area, and shorter than affluent white neighborhoods by 13 years. These neighborhoods have also historically lacked political influence. 

Push-back against making the river cleaner mostly comes from the industries that are polluting the river, since it’s expensive to make industrial sites pollute less. There is governmental guidance and programs that are attempting to clean the river, but it’s made hard by the continued presence of industrial plants. The plan currently in place under the Superfund program includes restoration of riparian areas, which reintroduces habitat for the animals that depend on the river. Assessment and restoration continues to happen, though it’s expected to take a very long time. 

What are they doing about it?

As the Duwamish Valley and River have faced so much pollution and injustice, the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition is focused on changing that by allowing the people of the region to be heard. The coalition identifies the complaints and protests of people near the Duwamish river who don't have much political influence and pushes for regulation to benefit them. They combat the issues and injustices by giving a voice to the complaints of people of the Duwamish region and by educating people on the injustice that is occurring. 

The coalition organizes many events focused on education around the river. In events like their Environmental Justice Youth Forum and their beer and chocolate festival, they define these issues so that more people are aware of them, describing the significance of the damage by outlining the cultural and environmental damage being done in the Duwamish region. They even hold virtual and real-life tours of the Duwamish River, providing a clear image of the river and the damage being done to it. They also organize cleanup events, where the community comes together and aids in directly cleaning the river. 

Through community gatherings, festivals, forums, and other events, the DRCC advocates for a clean, healthy, and equitable environment for people and wildlife. They promote place keeping and prioritize community capacity and empowerment by allowing people to gather and let the voices of their complaints to be amplified, as they believe together, they can make a much larger impact as they do individually. 

How are they doing?

The Coalition is the official EPA recognized cleanup organization on this superfund site. However, the EPA and DRCC’s original plan, according to a study done by the University of Washington School of Public Health, disproportionately affects Native Americans and other similar communities that rely on the river. This study was done in 2013, and it seems like the DRCC has amended their plan to consider these peoples in their decisions. Since then, they have added representatives from the Duwamish tribe to their advisory council, as well as shifting their focus a lot towards community aspects rather than solely the ecological issue. Another organization, the Duwamish Alive! Coalition seems to be focusing much more on reducing pollution using volunteer work to advocate for and clean up the river, with less of a focus on community. 

In addition, the DRCC seems to be taking a very progressive stance overall, with the head of the organization being a woman of color, and many of their board members being from the queer community.

How can you help them?

With your support, the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition can continue their valuable work, supporting both the community and the health of our environment. You can make a difference. Volunteering lets you be a part of restoring the river’s health. Even if you can’t donate your time, there are still many ways for you to help! Write a letter to our local electives through the link provided to tell them that a clean river is important to you (http://www.riverforall.org/action/), or consider donating to the DRCC (https://www.duwamishcleanup.org/support) or attending one of their events. 

Together we can make a healthier Duwamish River!