Publication Summary

The natural beauty of Washington State is treasured by many people. Much of this beauty also comprises habitat for native salmon: glacially coated mountains, diverse rivers, lakes, Puget Sound, and the nearby Pacific Ocean. In addition to their habitat native salmon are, by themselves, a symbol of Washington State. Extinction of numerous salmon populations has occurred, and many entities are now working on critical coordination and implementation efforts to reverse the decline of native fish populations.

The natural beauty of Washington State is treasured by many people. Much of this beauty also comprises habitat for native salmon: glacially coated mountains, diverse rivers, lakes, Puget Sound, and the nearby Pacific Ocean. In addition to their habitat native salmon are, by themselves, a symbol of Washington State. Extinction of numerous salmon populations has occurred, and many entities are now working on critical coordination and implementation efforts to reverse the decline of native fish populations.

White River spring chinook is one population of native salmon that has teetered on the brink of extinction. A multi-entity group has developed this guidance document which addresses water quality related habitat needs of White River spring chinook salmon. The document focuses on upstream historical spawning reaches of the White River Basin in western Washington. In addition to this effort, another group is implementing a rebuilding plan for these fish.

The guidance provides a bridge between existing watershed management approaches (the President's Northwest Forest Plan and the Washington State Forest Practices Act watershed analysis) and the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). Where water quality or fish habitat is impaired the CWA requires that specific measures be taken to address the impairments. These can be either through a "Total Maximum Daily Load" (TMDL), or through adequate "Other Pollution Controls" (OPCs). The group that developed this document is recommending the use of OPCs based on forest watershed analyses for upper White River chinook habitat and stream temperature.

This edition of the White River Spring Chinook Habitat Guidance is Version 1.0. Guidance for CWA Section 303(d) has been in flux, EPA is developing proposed revisions to the CWA Section 303(d) implementing regulations, and the state forest practices regulations are undergoing proposed revisions to address water quality and other related concerns. Readers and users of this document are encouraged to contact either Ecology's TMDL coordinator (360-407-6000) or Ecology, SWRO water quality staff (360- 407-6300) to discuss existence of any new information.