Ecology department to hold sessions on proposed Stillaguamish cleanup plan and stream-flow rule

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - October 22, 2004

04-194

Ecology department to hold sessions on proposed Stillaguamish cleanup plan and stream-flow rule

BELLEVUE - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is sponsoring an open house and two public meetings on Tues, Nov. 9 in Arlington so people can learn about the department's efforts to improve water quality and allocate future water supplies in the Stillaguamish watershed.

Two separate presentation and discussion sessions, each covering both topics, will be offered at Arlington's Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum, 20722 67th Ave. N.E. In an effort to provide greater opportunities for attendance, the first public meeting will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by an open house from 5 to 7 p.m., with the second meeting running from 7 to 9 p.m.

Ecology, in conjunction with local organizations, has been identifying pollutants and developing a water cleanup plan for the Stillaguamish watershed. The river basin is failing to meet state water-quality standards due to:

Elevated concentrations of fecal coliform pollution from farms, domestic and wild animals, failing septic systems, urban storm water runoff and leaking sewer systems.
Decreased levels of dissolved oxygen. Fecal coliform and other nutrients such as fertilizers enter the watershed and feed algae blooms that use up available oxygen. Low dissolved oxygen levels threaten salmon and other aquatic life.
High summer water temperatures. A lack of sufficient streamside shading, upstream landslides, bank erosion and low stream flows all contribute to warm water problems which harm fish and other wildlife.

A proposed water cleanup plan for the Stillaguamish will be available after Nov. 1 for public review and will be presented at the Nov. 9 events. The proposal will be placed on the Internet at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/tmdl_info-nwro.html and at the Arlington, Everett and Stanwood public libraries.

Ecology also will present features of a new draft rule the department is considering to help determine how water in the Stillaguamish basin ought to be allocated for future uses. When formally adopted the rule is intended to:

Protect fish, wildlife, water quality, recreation and aesthetics in the watershed while also providing water for future domestic uses.
Set minimum stream flows for the rivers and creeks in the Stillaguamish watershed.
Protect water levels for lakes and ponds in the watershed.
Reserve a certain amount of ground water for future domestic use that won't need a new water right.
Set aside sufficient water for grazing livestock without needing a new water right.

The public is invited to ask questions and provide comments about the concepts and issues that Ecology is seeking to address through the stream-flow rule. Ecology will present a formal proposed stream-flow rule for the Stillaguamish watershed later in the winter, and will conduct public hearings next year before a rule is adopted.

Comments about the Stillaguamish water cleanup plan should be addressed by Friday, Dec. 10, to Sally Lawrence, Department of Ecology, 3190 160th Ave. S.E., Bellevue, Wash., 98008; e-mail: slaw461@ecy.wa.gov and phone: 425-649-7036.

Comments regarding the features and issues for consideration in the draft Stillaguamish stream-flow rule should be sent by Friday, Dec. 10, to Steve Hirschey, Department of Ecology, 3190 160th Ave. S.E., Bellevue, Wash., 98008; e-mail: shir461@ecy.wa.gov and phone: 425-649-7066.

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Contact: Larry Altose, Public information officer, 425-649-7009, or pager 206-663-1785

Stillaguamish River water quality technical reports available at:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0403017.html
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0403010.html

For more information about setting stream flows in Washington: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/instream-flows/isfhm.html