News Release

Changes coming to fish cleaning stations

Date: June 7, 2022
Contact: Denise Bausch, 509-754-7830

The fish cleaning stations located throughout Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area will remain closed until further notice. While evaluating and trying to repair the Fort Spokane fish cleaning station and associated septic system, it was discovered that the accumulated oil from the fish remains have coated the sand in the drain field so thoroughly that water can no longer filter through the sand and instead, sits on top and clogs the septic system. To keep the existing fish cleaning station operational, the entire septic system would need to be redesigned, including electrical engineering, more powerful motor, and installing a new drain field. This is the third drain field at Fort Spokane destroyed by the fish oils in the past 30 years and there is no available space for a fourth.

This is happening at all Lake Roosevelt fish cleaning station drain fields and is neither environmentally nor economically sustainable. We are looking at more cost effective, low maintenance, environmentally friendly options that can be implemented in more areas throughout the park. As we test some of these options in the field, we will gather public comments to help determine our next course of action.

As a reminder, Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations 2.14(a)(7) prohibits disposing of fish remains on land or in waters within 200 feet of boat docks or swimming beaches, or within developed areas. Please either clean your fish according to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recommendations on your boat or clean your fish at home. Do not dispose of fish remains in park dumpsters. During Sturgeon season, however, WDFW regulations require anglers to bring retained whole sturgeon to shore prior to cleaning to allow checks for compliance with the slot size limit rule.