Publication Summary

The lower 34.3-mile reach of the North Fork Palouse River contains a segment listed on the Clean Water Act 303(d) list for fecal coliform bacteria. However, fecal coliform concentrations in excess of water quality criteria have been documented throughout this reach in recent years.

A comprehensive evaluation of fecal coliform data for the North Fork Palouse River was completed. Target reductions were established for the river and its tributaries. Implementation strategies include improved "best management practices" for nonpoint sources and addressing failing on-site sewage treatment systems. A monitoring strategy is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of the total maximum daily load implementation measures.

The lower 34.3-mile reach of the North Fork Palouse River within Washington State (Idaho border to Colfax) contains a segment near the city of Palouse that is on the federal Clean Water Act 303(d) list for fecal coliform bacteria. However, fecal coliform concentrations in excess of the water quality criteria have been documented in recent years throughout this reach.

This report provides a comprehensive evaluation of fecal coliform bacteria data for the North Fork Palouse River and its tributaries. Target reductions for mainstem segments, as well as mouths of tributaries, are established to bring bacterial concentrations down to within water quality standards. The target reductions are based on the "statistical roll-back method." A monitoring strategy is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of the total maximum daily load implementation measures.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID G0300010