Publication Summary

This is the Quality Assurance Project Plan for the study, Yakima Area Creeks Fecal Coliform Total Maximum Daily Load Study

Wide Hollow and Cowiche Creeks and Moxee Drain are on the Washington State 1998 303(d) list for impaired water quality due to fecal coliform (FC). Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) evaluations of these three streams are required by the federal Clean Water Act to reduce and eliminate sources of FC so that beneficial uses and state water quality criteria are met. The streams are located in or around the city of Yakima, a rapidly urbanizing area. Multiple potential sources of bacterial contamination are present, e.g. wildlife feeding and habitat areas; livestock on commercial and non-commercial farms; rural, residential, commercial, industrial, and urban stormwater runoff; on-site septic systems; and municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Irrigation and drainage systems complicate the hydrology and FC transport mechanisms in the area. Discharge permits held by multiple agencies and individual facilities complicate jurisdictional and source responsibility issues. This Quality Assurance (QA) Project Plan describes the goals, objectives, and work plan for the technical study portion of the TMDLs. The study will be conducted by the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) Environmental Assessment Program in cooperation with the Ecology Water Quality Program, Yakima County, the City of Yakima, and the North Yakima Conservation District.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID YUTTMDL