Columbia Riverkeeper Launches an Interactive, Accessible Story about Hanford Pollution
Read Columbia Riverkeeper’s "Water’s Walk Through Hanford"
Have you imagined what it’s like to be a drop of water traveling through the Hanford Nuclear Site? What would you see? What pollution would you encounter? If you can’t imagine it, it may be because learning about Hanford can often feel overwhelming and confusing. The Hanford Nuclear Site is the most long-lived threat to the health of the Columbia River, and in order for this multigenerational cleanup to succeed we need clear, easy to understand materials for our future Hanford advocates. Columbia Riverkeeper’s new interactive story map, “Water’s Walk Through Hanford”, brings lessons on Hanford to life for students and adults.
Read Report
“Water’s Walk Through Hanford” is a fictional story about a drop of water’s journey across Hanford. Read and learn about Hanford’s Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility (WESF), Tank Farms, the 100-N Area, and the 100-K Area. In addition, clickable boxes, videos, and links to online resources are embedded throughout.
Take action for Hanford today by signing our petition above! The U.S. Department of Energy needs to provide clear public participation materials and presentations for the public, with the intent to reduce barriers.
Follow the interactions of a raindrop traveling through the Hanford site in this youth-friendly, interactive educational adventure.
The environmental disaster at Hanford can be difficult to explain to the new generation, but we’ve made it easy, fun, and interactive in the new report.
“Water’s Walk through Hanford” follows a water droplet through the challenges & cleanup efforts at Hanford in a fun, interactive, illustrated story for your middle or high schooler.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Columbia Riverkeeper Launches “Water’s Walk through Hanford,” an Interactive, Accessible Story about Hanford Pollution
Portland, Ore. (July 20, 2022)–The Hanford Nuclear Site is the most contaminated place in the Western Hemisphere and the most long lived threat to the health of the Columbia River. Learning about Hanford can often feel overwhelming and confusing, especially for middle and high school youth, but it doesn’t have to be! Columbia Riverkeeper’s new interactive story map, “Water’s Walk Through Hanford,” breaks down some of the most dangerous pollutants and cleanup areas at Hanford, bringing the cleanup to life.
“Water’s Walk Through Hanford” is a fictional story about a drop of water, named Raindrop, who falls on Hanford during a storm. Raindrop runs into pollutants during their journey to the Columbia River, and asks about current and past cleanup efforts. Readers will learn about Hanford’s Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility (WESF), Tank Farms, the 100-N Area, and the 100-K Area. In addition, clickable boxes, videos, and links to online resources are embedded throughout. The story highlights the current challenges Hanford faces, and how vitally important cleanup is for the health of the Columbia River, plants, animals, fish, and the people depending on them.
“Hanford is a multigenerational cleanup, and youth involvement is critical to decision-making,” said Lisa Muñoz, Outreach Coordinator for Columbia Riverkeeper. “Hanford reading materials are often incredibly complex and intimidating to understand, which deters youth participation. “Water’s Walk Through Hanford” introduces young readers and those new to Hanford to Hanford’s pollution in an easy-to-read way. Teachers can use this story to explain current Hanford challenges to students.”
“Water’s Walk Through Hanford” will also be translated into Spanish for students and families, expanding the story's reach and accessibility. The Spanish translation will be published in August.
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About Columbia Riverkeeper
Columbia Riverkeeper’s mission is to restore and protect the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean. Columbia Riverkeeper is a nonprofit organization with over 16,000 members who live, work, and recreate throughout the Columbia River Basin. To learn more about Columbia Riverkeeper’s Hanford work, visit columbiariverkeeper.org/our-work/cleaning-hanford.
