Contaminated sludge is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about a river. However, the Duwamish River has a story that needs to be told. This is the Duwamish River. It is more than just a body of water. It is a lifeline, a historical landmark, and a testament to the enduring spirit of the Duwamish people.
For thousands of years, the Duwamish people lived along this river. They called it dxʔdəw, meaning inside. They were the people of the inside dxʔdəwʔabš. The Duwamish people thrived here. They hunted, fished, and gathered. Their villages dotted the riverbanks.
But times changed. American settlers arrived in 1851. Native villages were replaced. Longhouses were burned. By the early 20th century, traditional life had mostly disappeared.
The Duwamish River faced more changes. Until 1906, the White and Green Rivers met at Auburn. They joined the Black River to form the Duwamish. A major flood in 1906 changed the White River’s course. It flowed into the Puyallup River. The Cedar River was diverted into Lake Washington in 1911. The Black River dried up when the Lake Washington Ship Canal opened in 1916.
The Duwamish Waterway was completed in 1909 after the creation of Harbor Island. In 1913, the city began straightening and dredging the river. Oxbows disappeared. Parts of Georgetown and South Park found themselves inland. By 1920, the Duwamish Waterway was a five-mile engineered channel. It could handle ocean-going vessels.
Industry boomed. Boeing Plant 1 was established in 1916. Boeing Plant 2 followed in 1936. But this progress came at a cost.
Pollution became a major problem. In 2001, the lower five miles of the Duwamish Waterway was declared a Superfund site. Contaminants included PCBs, PAHs, arsenic, mercury, and phthalates. The EPA identified responsible parties and created a cleanup plan in 2014. Cleanup and restoration efforts are ongoing.
Despite the pollution, the Duwamish River remains an important habitat. Thousands of salmon and trout spawn here each year. Chinook, coho, chum, and steelhead thrive in the Duwamish River. The Duwamish is also home to various birds. Canada geese, herons, eagles, and more can be seen here.
However, many animals contain unhealthy levels of contaminants. Fish and shellfish are unfit for human consumption, except for salmon. PCB levels are much higher than in Puget Sound salmon. River otters might face reduced offspring growth or survival.
The Port of Seattle owns several properties along the Duwamish River. In 2020, six parks were renamed using Indigenous Lushootseed names.
The Duwamish River is spanned by four major bridges. They are the First Avenue South Bridge, the South Park Bridge, the Spokane Street Bridge, and the West Seattle Bridge.
In 2009, the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center opened on the west bank. It represents the Duwamish Tribe’s reassertion of its historic rights. It symbolizes their continuing struggle for federal recognition. The Duwamish River’s story is one of change, resilience, and the ongoing fight for environmental justice.