Environmental Justice and the Duwamish River Jonathan Betz-Zall Highline Community College Library April, 2009, Updated October 2013

Duwamish River

Warning!

Wildlife still here

Pioneer Days Duwamish not always an industrial sewer. First European Americans conformed to the meandering shape of the river.

Duwamish in 1909 All rivers tend to meander. http://www.seattle.gov/Parks/proparks/projects/gateway.htm

Pioneers Divide the Land and Water Contrast the curved shapes of nature with the square corners of the land claims.

Early Industrial Plans an ideal spot for industrial uses Water for Cooling Transportation Waste Disposal All made easier by “straightening” the river

Dredging the River Steam dredge at work http://www.historylink.org/db_images/SouthPark7.JPG

Now – The “Duwamish Waterway” Current schematic map—no curves. http://www.seattle.gov/Parks/proparks/projects/gateway.htm

Farmland first First European-American land use-- farming. [Image of Marra Farm, in South Park] http://www.seattle.gov/Neighborhoods/ppatch/locations/36.htm

Native American workers Before they were forced onto reservations, Native Americans used to come and work for European American farmers. http://historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=3579

Pushed out by Industry First Boeing Plant in Georgetown

EPA sees a need for Early Action Sites “A century of heavy industrial use has left the waterway contaminated with toxic chemicals from many sources – industries along its banks, stormwater pipes, and runoff from upland activities, streets and roads. Pollution in the river sediments includes polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins/furans, carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs), and arsenic. Many of these chemicals stay in the environment for a long time, and have built up to unsafe levels in resident fish and shellfish. Because of contamination, state and local health departments warn against eating crab, shellfish, or bottom-feeding fish from the Lower Duwamish River (salmon are ok because they move quickly through the waterway).” http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/sites/lduwamish

Cement Plant “Duwamish River Industry 2007” [painting by Robert Connell] http://www.davidsongalleries.com/artists/connell/connell-hoist.jpg

Still polluting! From a Seattle Times story on the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance http://www.seattlepi.com/dayart/20050811/450soundkeeper_4.jpg

Resulting Mess! Toxic (poisonous) Hazardous (corrosive/burning) Carcinogenic (causing cancer)

Environmental Injustice in Seattle Red dots: Toxic Waste Sites Green Dots: Hazardous Waste Sites Blue Dots: Superfund Sites Light areas: low income Red outlines: People of Color 11/12/2018

Community Resistance 1962—Housewives marched on City Hall to protest burning at South Park Dump. Mid 1960s-- South Park was rezoned as industrial. 4200 residents staged a protest at City Hall and got half of the zoning changed to low-density residential. Late 1970s—South End Seattle Community Organization protests plans to demolish Lucille Street Bridge. The city replaced it instead. Repeated in 2010. 1993—Concerned about truck traffic, the South Park Business and Citizens Group protests plans to expand recycling center. 1999-2003—Community Coalition for Environmental Justice campaigns against Long Painting Company pollution.

Long Painting 2001—Community Coalition for Environmental Justice campaign against a polluting facility http://www.ccej.org

Public Hearing

Failed Cleanup Effort Toxic mud got spread out instead of being removed.

Replanting Direct remediation

Cultural Connection Duwamish Tribal dancers

Planning for the Future Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition leads a community visioning session.

KCTS Documentary For more detailed information, you can view this documentary film by our local public television station KCTS. http://kcts9.org/education/history-cafe/duwamish-river