Air Quality Information

Left image
Lake views on a clear day.
Credit: NPS/Brekyn Worbes

Right image
Lake views on a poor air quality day.
Credit: NPS/Brekyn Worbes

 

Poor air quality often affects Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, especially during the summer months. Smoke from wildfires can flow along the deep coulees and is visible especially at sunrise and sunset.

Ozone and particulate matter 2.5 microns and smaller (PM2.5) are the most harmful pollutants here. There are several sites listed below where you can check on the AQI in your area or learn more about how smoke and other pollutants can impact your health.

 

What is AQI or Air Quality Index?

The U.S. AQI is EPA’s index for reporting air quality.

How does the AQI work?

Think of it like a yardstick that goes from 0 to 500. The higher the number, the higher the AQI, the more pollution in the air, and the greater the impact on your health.

The AQI is divided into six color catagories that make it easy to find the health concerns that correspond to the rating nearby.

 

AIRNOW.GOV

Links to Air Quality sites for Lake Roosevelt and the Region:

 

• PurpleAir.com - Easy to read, color coded AQI maps for the US and some Canadian sites.

 

• AirNow.gov - Type in your location and learn about the current air quality.

 

• 7 Bays Marina - NPS live data stream of the AQI at the marina on the east end of Lake Roosevelt.

 

• Fire & Smoke Map - This map shows current smoke layers covering the area as well as wildfire locations in an easy-to-read large map format.

 

 

Learn More About Air Quality, Pollutants, and Wildfires:

• If you are interested in general information about the AQI and how it is used, check on the AQI Info page at AirNow.gov.
• Planning your vacation? The EPA has a tool that will compare air quality at two specific locations to find a place with air quality that is good for you.
• Check out the AirNow Webcam page to view locations throughout the national park system that are being monitored.
• Learn more about how the National Park Service manages air quality in the parks and explore more live data streams.
• View the nationwide map of current wildfires on InciWeb - an interagency monitoring site run by the Forest Service.
• Checkout webcams monitoring air quality from several national parks in the region: Mount Ranier NP at Nisqually and Glacier NP at Lake McDonald