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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 1997
97-148
CONTACT: Steve Saunders (360) 407-6481
Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157; Pager (360) 534-8591
Olympia, WA - The health of Washington's lakes and rivers is important to people living in and moving to our state. This month, the Washington State Department of Ecology kicks off a two-month process to get people's ideas and information about the state's draft list of waters that are not meeting or are not expected to meet water quality standards. This year, 638 water segments -- sections of lakes or rivers -- are on the draft list. That's 28 fewer segments than the agency listed in 1996.
"We want to get information from citizens, local governments, Native American tribes, industries and others about which water body segments should be on or off of the list. The list is significant because it sets into motion priorities and actions for reducing and preventing pollution in our state's lakes, rivers and marine waters," said Megan White, Ecology's Water Quality Program manager. "The goal is to identify and list those waters that are not meeting standards so Ecology can work to improve and protect water quality."
Under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act, every two years, Ecology is required to prepare a list of waters not meeting standards, known as the 303(d) list. Ecology puts water segments on the list because they are either currently not meeting or are not expected to meet water quality standards within the next two years. Water quality standards are measurements to indicate whether the water can be used for activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, agriculture, fish and aquatic life habitat and drinking water.
"It's important to note that 638 water segments are a very small percentage of the waters in our state. We put the draft list together with information from industries, local and state governments, Native American tribes and citizen groups" said Steve Saunders, Ecology's Water Quality Program unit supervisor who helped develop the draft list. "Ecology, local governments and others conduct monitoring activities on lakes and rivers where we believe pollution problems exist."
The primary water quality problems Ecology noted in putting the draft list together were fecal coliform and temperature. Both problems are generally associated with nonpoint source pollution which comes from many, diffuse sources. By far, fecal coliform is the most prominent water quality problem for the water segments listed; 306 segments are listed for fecal coliform. It is found in sewage and animal waste, such as failing septic systems and improperly managed dairy cattle waste. Elevated water temperature generally occurs in areas where loggers or developers have removed trees for timber harvesting or land development, taking away shade which is necessary to keep the water temperature low and healthy for fish. A total of 276 segments top the list for temperature problems.
One of the criteria Ecology uses to develop the waters list specifies that two or more water samples have to exceed water quality standards by more than 10 percent. For toxic pollutants, water quality standards must have been exceeded during the past three years, and for other pollutants, the water quality problem must have occurred during the past five years. Another criterion is that water collection samples must follow a documented Quality Assurance/Quality Control plan, and samples must be analyzed at a state accredited lab. Ecology does not list water segments which are violating water quality standards if a management plan has been prepared and is likely to result in the water segment meeting water quality standards.
When Ecology places a water segment on the Section 303(d) list, the federal Clean Water Act requires the agency to establish what is called a Total Maximum Daily Load. The Total Maximum Daily Load is a pollutant loading project that includes an analysis of how much pollution a lake, river or marine water can take and still remain healthy for its intended uses such as recreation, industrial activities or supporting aquatic life. The pollutant loading project also includes taking steps to control or prevent pollution.
Ecology wants comments regarding which water segments should be added to the list or taken off of it. Public comments should be sent to Steve Butkus, Ecology, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, by October 31, 1997. Ecology will evaluate the comments and information. Then, the agency plans to send a final list to the US Environmental Protection Agency for their review and approval in the spring of 1998.
Editors' Note: For local and regional information regarding water segments in your area, please contact Steve Saunders (360) 407-6481 or Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
