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Department of Ecology Press Release - November 22, 2005
05-284
YAKIMA - How clean is the water in our rivers and streams in the Yakima River Basin? People can find out by attending a series of open houses sponsored by the Washington Department of Ecology during December and January. They also can offer suggestions on ways to help improve the area's water quality.
The open houses will focus on efforts under way as well as new plans being developed to improve the Yakima River Basin's water quality. Open houses are scheduled for:
Currently, the Yakima River and several area creeks and tributaries violate federal water quality standards for levels of pesticides, bacteria, pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature.
In response, Ecology is working with farmers, cities, counties, communities and other state and federal agencies to identify pollution sources and develop plans to reduce water pollution and improve water quality.
Clean up efforts for the Lower Yakima River (from Yakima to Prosser) are addressing suspended sediments and pesticides associated with runoff from irrigated agriculture. Reducing colonies of fecal coliform bacteria is the focus of a cleanup project in the Granger Drain.
Kittitas Valley farmers and communities also are addressing water pollution concerns, including sediment, pesticides, bacteria and high stream temperatures.
Similar issues face rural and urban areas around the cities of Moxee, Yakima, Cowiche and West Valley where runoff from pastures, lawns, and failing septic systems and animal waste are contributing to water pollution.
"Everyone has a stake in protecting clean water," said Ryan Anderson, a water quality specialist with Ecology. "We hope these workshops will give people the opportunity to learn about our area's water and to give us ideas on how to make improvements."
More information on available online at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/watershed/yakima_wq/wq_assessments.html
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Media contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
