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Department of Ecology News Release - December 2, 2004
04-218
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking comments from community groups, local officials and interested citizens regarding which polluted rivers in Okanogan County in Central Washington should begin cleanup planning next summer.
Over the past years, Ecology has developed cleanup plans for 270 of nearly 700 polluted lakes, rivers and streams in Washington. A legal agreement signed in 1998 commits Ecology to complete water cleanup plans for these polluted streams by 2013.
"Cleaning up Washington's polluted water bodies is an enormous task, but we have made tremendous progress," said Dave Peeler, who manages Ecology's water quality program. "We are asking people to help make sure our priorities are right because water quality is something that affects everyone."
The plans (also referred to as total maximum daily loads, or TMDLs) determine the amount of pollution a water body can receive and still remain healthy. Ecology works in affected communities to identify pollution sources and develop strategies to clean up the water.
Most water pollution comes from common sources such as household and garden chemicals, runoff from urban streets and failing septic systems. Restoring water quality can mean greater access to swimming, fishing and boating.
Ecology is proposing to begin cleanup plans or further studies for some water bodies in Lincoln, King, Franklin, Grant, Adams, Island, Snohomish, Okanogan, Pierce and Thurston counties beginning in the summer of 2005. The list of polluted water bodies under consideration is available online at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/303d/.
People are invited to call or send comments and recommendations to Greg Bohn at (509) 454-4174 or by e-mail at gboh461@ecy.wa.gov.
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Media Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, 509-575-2610
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
