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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 1995
95-195
CONTACT:
Steve Butkus (360) 407-6482
Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157
ECOLOGY ASKS FOR PUBLIC INPUT ON "IMPAIRED” AND "THREATENED” LAKES, STREAMS AND ESTUARIES
OLYMPIA, WA -- The Washington State Department of Ecology is asking for people to give their ideas and information about the state’s "impaired” (waters that are not meeting standards) and "threatened” (waters that are not expected to attain water quality standards in the next two years) waters list. The list sets into motion priorities for reducing pollution in our state’s lakes, streams and estuaries. Ecology puts lakes and streams on the impaired and threatened waters list because they don’t meet water quality standards. In addition, Ecology puts waterbodies on the list because they aren’t expected to meet water quality standards, within the next couple of years and no steps are being taken to meet the standards given current information. The water quality standards are measurements that indicate whether the water can be used for activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, agriculture, fish and aquatic life habitat and drinking water.
"The goal of the impaired and threatened waters list is to help Ecology work with local governments, tribes, industries and others to improve and protect water quality,” said Mary Riveland, director of Ecology. "The list is significant because it prompts actions to stop, reduce and prevent the pollution that caused the lakes and streams to be on the list in the first place.”
Under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, Ecology is required to prepare the impaired and threatened waters list, known as the 303(d) list, every two years. A total of 527 lake, stream and estuary (area where the river and ocean connects) segments are listed on the 1996 draft list. That’s a small percentage of the waterbodies in our state. The 1996 draft list includes 83 more segments than the 1994 list.
A segment is a part of a larger water body. For example, the Columbia River is divided into eight segments and the Puget Sound is divided into 64 segments. Segments are listed for problems such as too much fecal coliform bacterium in the water, metals, not enough oxygen, too much sediment and too high of temperatures. All of these elements cause the water to be unhealthy and placed on the list.
When an estuary, lake or stream is listed as impaired or threatened, the federal Clean Water Act requires that Ecology establish what is called a Total Maximum Daily Load on that waterbody. The Total Maximum Daily Load is a pollutant loading project that includes an analysis of how much pollution a waterbody can take and still remain healthy for its intended uses such as recreation, industrial or supporting aquatic life. The pollutant loading project also includes taking steps to control or prevent pollution.
"This year more segments are listed than in previous years because Ecology and the EPA widened the net of what is defined as impaired. And, for the first time the list includes lakes and streams that are not expected to meet water quality standards for the next couple of years,” said Steve Butkus, Ecology’s 303(d) list project manager. "We also did more thorough research with local communities and tribes to get more information about the water quality in their communities.”
Ecology put the draft 1996 303(d) list together from the 1994 list and new information. Ecology just started a public comment period to get ideas and information about the list, as well as comments about what waterbodies should be added to or taken off the list. The public comment period will last until March 1, 1996. For further information, people should contact Steve Butkus, Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.
Ecology will evaluate the comments and information. Then, the agency plans to send a final list to EPA in the spring of 1996.
Editors Note: Please contact Steve Butkus, (360) 407-6482, or Mary Getchell, (360) 407-6157, for further information on specific water segments in your area.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
