Publication Summary

This is the Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Upper Yakima Basin Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load Study.

The upper Yakima Basin has been selected for a temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study as required by the Federal Clean Water Act section 303(d). Data gathered by governmental, tribal, and private organizations were the basis for placing certain stream segments on the 1996, 1998, and 2002/2004 303(d) lists for temperature.

This Quality Assurance (QA) Project Plan describes the technical study that will evaluate stream temperature in the upper Yakima Basin from Umtanum Creek north to the Wenatchee National Forest. Continuous temperature, streamflow, and groundwater data collection is planned for the summer of 2005. Data collection will build on previous efforts conducted by a variety of governmental and private organizations. Water temperature will be characterized and load and wasteload allocations established to reduce heat sources in the system to achieve water quality standards. Washington State Department of Ecology cooperatively works with the Wenatchee National Forest (U.S. Forest Service), Kittitas County Water Purveyors, Kittitas County Conservation District, Kittitas Reclamation District, Yakama Nation, Bureau of Reclamation, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the public.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID ASTO0001