Publication Summary

Grays Harbor is currently listed under section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act as not meeting water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria because of inadequate controls of point or nonpoint sources (Table 1). Section 303(d) requires the states and USEPA to establish "Total Maximum Daily Loads" (TMDLs) for all waterbodies that are not meeting water quality standards because of inadequate controls of point or nonpoint sources.

Grays Harbor is currently listed under section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act as not meeting water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria because of inadequate controls of point or nonpoint sources (Table 1). Section 303(d) requires the states and USEPA to establish "Total Maximum Daily Loads" (TMDLs) for all waterbodies that are not meeting water quality standards because of inadequate controls of point or nonpoint sources. A complete TMDL includes problem identification, technical analysis to determine the capacity of a waterbody to assimilate pollutant discharges, establishing allocations of pollutant loading to various point and nonpoint sources, public participation, and development and implementation of cleanup strategies for the waterbody. The Summary Implementation Strategy of this report was prepared by an advisory group representing many affected interests (Appendix A). People affected by the TMDL will have the chance to participate in ongoing cleanup planning. Cleanup strategies identified in this report serve to fortify current cleanup efforts as well as focus additional efforts towards priority locations of pollution identified by the TMDL study. As ongoing monitoring further clarifies water quality conditions and priority sources in the watershed to focus on, cleanup strategies will be adjusted accordingly. An update to the Summary Implementation Strategy (conceptual cleanup plan) section of this report will be drafted, with local participation, approximately one year after EPA approves this interim cleanup plan.

Shellfish growers in the outer harbor are experiencing repeated temporary closures due to violations of fecal coliform discharge limits in existing point source permits. Limited sampling data also indicate that nonpoint sources of fecal coliform may be a concern in outer areas of Grays Harbor. Other examples of potential bacteria pollution sources include failures of pumping stations for sewage collection systems, septic systems, livestock operations, dairy farms, agriculture and hobby farms, urban areas, industrial operations, and wildlife. Infiltration and inflow (I&I) of groundwater and surface water into sewage collection systems can lead to bypasses and overflows of untreated sewage into the harbor. Efforts to reduce I&I have significantly reduced the frequency of sewage bypasses and overflows since the 1980s. The state Department of Health (DOH) has been particularly active with this issue.