Ecology groundwater assessment studies

Underway studies

Classified according to general study types

Toxics studies (5)	Water quality studies (3)
Groundwater-surface water interaction studies (3)	Ambient monitoring (3)
Water resources studies (1)

190

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187

186

183

182

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109

190	Holden Mine Remediation Technical Assistance Study type: toxics EAP is providing technical support to the Central Regional Office of the Ecology Toxics Cleanup Program on groundwater issues related to the cleanup of metals contamination in the Railroad Creek valley. Contaminated acid mine drainage and leachate from mine tailings piles are impacting the water quality of Railroad Creek. Project lead: Charles Pitz Phone: (360) 407-6775 Make a request or comment
189	Black Lake Grocery Groundwater Monitoring Study type: toxics Black Lake Grocery is an active gas station and convenience store located on the northwest shore of Black Lake, Thurston County, Washington.The goal of this project is to provide Ecology's Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) with current groundwater data so they may evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment wall in remediating the contaminated groundwater before it enters Black Lake. To accomplish this goal Ecology's Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) will collect groundwater samples for total petroleum hydrocarbons as gasoline (TPH-G), and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) from 11 on-site monitoring wells quarterly for one year. The wells will provide monitoring points to evaluate groundwater conditions throughout the project area. Project lead: Pam Marti Phone: (360) 407-6768 Make a request or comment Document(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan: Black Lake Grocery Groundwater Confirmational Monitoring
188	Analyzing Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Effluent and Groundwater at Three Reclaimed Water Facilities. Study type: ambient Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) will be analyzed in effluents and groundwater at three reclaimed water treatment facilities in Washington State--Yelm, Quincy, and LOTT Martin Way--in the spring and fall of 2011. The objectives are to: (1) expand Ecology's understanding of PPCPs in reclaimed water, (2) assess impacts to groundwater at recharge sites, and (3) identify potential PPCP indicator compounds for future monitoring. The completed project will provide data on two reclaimed water samples, two upgradient groundwater samples, and four downgradient groundwater samples for each facility. The samples will be analyzed for 119 PPCPs and 27 synthetic or naturally-occurring steroids and hormones using isotopic dilution methods. Detection limits will be in the low parts per trillion. Project lead: Pam Marti Phone: (360)407-6768 Make a request or comment Document(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan: Analyzing Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Effluent and Groundwater at Three Reclaimed Water Facilities
187	Crab Creek Alternate Water Supply Route Study Study type: ambient An alternate water supply project was designed to deliver additional irrigation water to the Potholes Reservoir. The proposed route for this supply water is from Billy Clapp Lake through the existing Crab Creek channel and Moses Lake. The purpose of this study is to collect baseline data for local groundwater prior to the introduction of supply water. Once the supply water is released, continued monitoring will assess the impact of the supply water on local groundwater. Multiple parameters are being collected from a network of 7 wells along Crab Creek and Rocky Ford Creek. Parameters include water level, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorides, sulfates, alkalinity carbonate/bicarbonate, and cations. Project lead: Scott Tarbutton Phone: (509) 329-3453 Make a request or comment Document(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan: Crab Creek Alternate Water Supply Route Study: Water Quality Monitoring
186	Lacamas Creek TMDL Groundwater Support Study type: TMDL Lacamas creek, in southern Clark County, commonly does not meet water quality standards for temperature, dissolved oxygen, and fecal coliform bacteria. This study, which is part of Ecology�s larger TMDL effort for the Lacamas Creek watershed will evaluate the thermal and water quality influences that discharging groundwater imparts to gaining reaches of the creek. See the project QAPP below for additional details about the study design and timeline. Project lead: Kirk Sinclair Phone: (360) 407-6557 Make a request or comment Document(s): Lacamas Creek Fecal Coliform, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH Total Maximum Daily Load: Water Quality Study Design (Quality Assurance Project Plan)
183	Effects of Conventional versus Moderate Tillage on Groundwater Nitrate at a Manured Grass Field Study type: agricultural A recent Ecology/Washington State University study (Publication No. 10-03-042 - in draft) found elevated groundwater and soil nitrate concentrations in the fall and winter following conventional tillage of a grass field receiving dairy manure. The purpose of this current study is to compare the effects of conventional tillage with those of moderate tillage in a shallow water table aquifer. During conventional tillage, the soil is disturbed 8 times to a depth of 3 feet. The moderate tillage method employed only disturbs the top few inches of soil once. Because the soil is not completely turned over using the moderate tillage method, there is less opportunity for soil organic nitrogen to oxidize and mineralize to nitrate. The study will be carried out from 2009 through 2011 on the same study field where tillage occurred previously. The field will be divided in half with three monitoring wells in each half. One half of the field will receive conventional tillage and the other half moderate tillage. Both sides of the field will be re-seeded in grass. Ecology will sample groundwater four times per year for two years following tillage, mostly during the wet fall and winter months. WSU will quantify manure nitrogen applied and monitor soil nitrate, grass nitrogen uptake, and irrigation water nitrogen applied to the field. A subsurface deposition aerator will apply nitrogen as fertilizer to both fields. Results will be analyzed to determine if there is a difference in groundwater nitrate concentrations beneath the two halves of the field. Project lead: Barb Carey Phone: (360) 407-6769 Make a request or comment Document(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan: Effects of Conventional versus Minimum Tillage on Groundwater Nitrate at a Manured Grass Field
182	State-wide water level data compilation Study type: resources Water level monitoring data collected over the past 30+ years by the regional offices of Ecology's Water Resources Program are currently stored and managed in separate regional databases. The goal of this project is to consolidate these independent data sets in the Ecology Environmental Information Management (EIM) system. Project tasks will include: 1) Evaluate regional data sets for completeness, 2) Work with regional staff to assemble missing metadata where available, 3) Update datums/elevations to conform with Ecology NGVD88 standard, 4) Upload data to the EIM system, 5) Perform a QA review of the uploaded data. The project will focus on consolidating manual measurements of water level; continuous transducer data will be addressed in a future effort. Project lead: Kirk Sinclair Phone: (360) 407-6557 Make a request or comment
181	Hangman Hills Groundwater Study Study type: TMDL Hangman Hills is a project in Spokane County that is being conducted to support the Hangman Creek TMDL. The primary concern is the contribution of nutrients from groundwater and their impact on surface water. There are several identified sources including the wastewater treatment plant lagoons, the golf course, and residential contributions from on-site sewage systems and fertilizer use. The Hangman Hills Groundwater project entails collecting and analyzing data, which will occur in the Summer of 2010. Project lead: Melanie Redding Phone: (360)407-6524 Make a request or comment Document(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan: Hangman Hills Sewage Treatment Plant Nutrient Loading and Groundwater Study
180	Basic American Foods Study type: agricultural Basic American Foods is a potato processing facility in Moses Lake that land applies their processed wastewater year-round to crops grown on sand dune deposits. The purpose of this project is to determine whether BAF requires winter storage for their process wastewater, by evaluating whether their current management practice of year round application is just as effective as a winter storage lagoon in protecting groundwater. Parameters of concern include nitrogen, phosphorous, TDS, and hydraulic loading. Project lead: Melanie Redding Phone: (360) 407-6524 Make a request or comment
109	Sumas Blaine Surficial Aquifer Long-term Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Study type: ambient The purpose of this project is to implement a long-term ambient groundwater monitoring program in the Sumas-Blaine surficial aquifer. This aquifer has been identified as one of the most severely contaminated aquifers in Washington State (Erickson, 2000). This study is designed to build on the previous monitoring efforts in order to provide an annual assessment of the status of the groundwater quality. Additionally, this monitoring program can assist in identifying new groundwater problems which may arise. Thirty-five wells will be sampled annually for nitrate, chloride, and bromide in March beginning in 2009. This project will continue as long as funding is available. Project lead: Melanie Redding Phone: (360) 407-6524 Make a request or comment Document(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan: Sumas-Blaine Surficial Aquifer Long-Term Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Sumas-Blaine Surficial Aquifer Long-Term Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network, 2009 Annual Report Quality Assurance Project Plan: Sumas-Blaine Aquifer Nitrate Contamination Summary
82	Upper Yakima Basin Temperature TMDL Groundwater Study Study type: TMDL This investigation will evaluate the surface water/groundwater interactions within the Upper Yakima watershed. In-stream piezometers are located within the Taneum, Umtanum, Naneum and Swauk creeks, and will be monitored monthly during the summer of 2005 for temperature, specific conductance, and static water level. Additionally, continuous monitoring instruments will record a profile of subsurface water temperature. The results of this study will support the temperature TMDL assessment for the Upper Yakima watershed. Project lead: Melanie Redding Phone: (360) 407-6524 Make a request or comment Document(s): Quality Assurance Project Plan: Upper Yakima Basin Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load Study
67	Lakewood Plaza Cleaners Study type: toxics This project involves compliance ground water monitoring for volatile organic compounds at the Plaza Cleaners Lakewood site, near Lakewood, WA. This work is conducted on the behalf of the Toxics Cleanup Program. Project lead: Pam Marti Phone: (360) 407-6768 Make a request or comment Document(s): Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners July 15,1998 Lakewood Plaza Cleaners, June and November 2005 Groundwater Monitoring Results Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Long-Term Monitoring Round II Lakewood Plaza Cleaners Groundwater Monitoring Results, June and November 2009 Lakewood Plaza Cleaners, May and September 2006 Groundwater Monitoring Results Lakewood Plaza Cleaners Groundwater Monitoring Results, May and October 2008 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Long-Term Monitoring Round I Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners, June and October 2007 Groundwater Monitoring Results Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Long-Term Monitoring Round III, November 12-13, 1991. Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Long-Term Monitoring Round IV - May 27-28, 1992 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Long-Term Monitoring, January and August 1999 Lakewood Plaza Cleaners, February and August 2002 Groundwater Monitoring Results Lakewood Plaza Cleaners, January and August 2001 Groundwater Monitoring Results Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners, January and August 2000 Groundwater Monitoring Results Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Long-term Monitoring Round V; December 1-3, 1992 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Long-Term Monitoring Round VI, May 3-4, 1993 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Round VIII, April 18-20, 1994 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Round IX Nov 8-9, 1994 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners July 11, 12 & 14, 1995 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners January 17 - 18, 1996 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners July 31, 1996 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners January 9, 1997 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners July 23-24, 1997 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners February 2, 1998 Lakewood/Plaza Cleaners Round VII, December 1-2, 1993 Lakewood Plaza Cleaners, February and September 2003 Groundwater Monitoring Results Lakewood Plaza Cleaners, June and November 2004 Groundwater Monitoring Results Lakewood Plaza Cleaners Groundwater Monitoring Results, June and October 2010 Lakewood Plaza Cleaners Groundwater Monitoring Results, June and October 2011
65	Shelton Laundry & Cleaners Groundwater Monitoring Study type: toxics This project is located in Shelton, Washington (Mason County). Groundwater samples are being collected semi-annually to monitor concentrations of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) that continue to exceed the state Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) cleanup level. Groundwater samples are collected for volatile organic compounds (VOC) from 5 monitoring wells. Results will be summarized in an annual report. The outcome of this work will determine if this site can be removed from the MTCA list. Project lead: Pam Marti Phone: (360) 407-6768 Make a request or comment Document(s): Shelton Laundry and Cleaners, October 2008 and June 2009 Groundwater Monitoring Results Shelton Laundry and Cleaners, September 2007 through May 2008 Groundwater Monitoring Results Quality Assurance Project Plan: Shelton Cleaners and Laundry Shelton Laundry and Cleaners, August 2005 through May 2006 Groundwater Monitoring Results Addendum to the quality assurance project plan for Shelton Laundry and Cleaners. Addendum #2 to Quality Assurance Project Plan: Shelton Cleaners and Laundry Shelton Laundry and Cleaners, August 2006 through May 2007 Groundwater Monitoring Results Shelton Laundry & Cleaners, July 2002 through April 2003 Groundwater Monitoring Results Shelton Laundry and Cleaners, November 2003 and April 2004 Groundwater Monitoring Results Shelton Laundry and Cleaners, September 2004 and April 2005 Groundwater Monitoring Results Shelton Laundry and Cleaners Groundwater Monitoring Results, November 2009 and June 2010 Shelton Laundry and Cleaners Groundwater Monitoring Results, October 2010 and June 2011
58	Fate of Nitrogen in Animal Manures used as Fertilizer Study type: agricultural The purpose of this study is to evaluate manure, groundwater, soil, and crop nitrogen at a field where dairy waste is used to fertilize grass in the Nooksack Basin. Since 2004, soil samples have been collected weekly during the fall and less frequently during the rest of the year to track mineralization, accumulation, and movement of nitrogen. Groundwater samples are collected monthly except in the summer when they are collected every six weeks. Manure and commercial fertilizer application are being quantified. Monitoring wells were installed in August 2004, and groundwater sampling began in September 2004. Data will be collected through December of 2008. A final report is scheduled for publication in April of 2012. Project lead: Barb Carey Phone: (360) 407-6769 Make a request or comment Document(s): POSTER: Groundwater Nitrate Below a Manured Dairy Field Over the Sumas-Blaine Aquifer Addendum to the Quality Assurance Project Plan for: Groundwater, Soil, and Crop Nitrogen at a Field Where Dairy Waste is Used as Fertilizer in Whatcom County Quality Assurance Project Plan: Groundwater, Soil, and Crop Nitrogen at a Field Where Dairy Waste is Used as Fertilizer in Whatcom County
7	American Plating Groundwater Monitoring Study type: toxics This project is located at a former electroplating company in Tacoma, Washington (Pierce County) on the Thea Foss waterway. Groundwater samples are collected semi-annually to determine contaminant concentrations since the removal of plating line-derived waste material in the summer of 2003. Groundwater samples are collected from five monitoring wells for dissolved metals (cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, copper and nickel), and weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide. Results are summarized in an annual report. Project lead: Pam Marti Phone: (360) 407-6768 Make a request or comment Document(s): American Plating Post-Interim-Action Groundwater Monitoring Results, March and August 2005 American Plating Post-Interim-Action Groundwater Monitoring Results, May and September, 2006 American Plating Post-Interim-Action Groundwater Monitoring Results: May and September, 2008 Addendum to the Quality Assurance Project Plan for the American Plating Post-Interim Action Monitoring. American Plating Post-Interim-Action Groundwater Monitoring Results, April and September, 2007 Quality Assurance Project Plan: American Plating Post-Interim Action Monitoring American Plating Post-Interim Action Groundwater Monitoring Results, February and August 2004 American Plating Post-Interim-Action Groundwater Monitoring Results: May and November, 2009 American Plating Post-Interim-Action Groundwater Monitoring Results: April and October, 2010

For more information about the Environmental Assessment Program groundwater team activities, please contact: Martha Maggi (mmag461@ecy.wa.gov). For questions about this web page please contact Charles Pitz (chpi461@ecy.wa.gov).