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In early 2008 EPA approved the 2006 revised Surface Water Quality Standards and sent the approval package to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for their review under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Both of these agencies rendered a Biological Opinion requiring that Ecology annually update the fish distribution and spawning data used in designating aquatic life uses and supplemental temperature data for salmonid spawning. The agencies further stated that these updates must be incorporated in a rule revision at least every three years. The recommended sources of data are Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Tribal governments.
Ecology has been working with WDFW and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) to develop a strategy for merging all fish distribution and spawning data into a single database, or set of compatible databases. While this effort is underway, Ecology will continue working with WDFW and NWIFC to develop a strategy and compare existing use designations in the Standards to new fish distribution and timing data. Once that strategy is developed a “Call for data” for fish distribution/life cycle information can be made to tribes and federal agencies. This combined data integration is in the planning stages; it is too early to estimate a completion date.
When Ecology receives a completed version of the merged fish distribution and spawning data, a detailed assessment of potential changes to current aquatic life uses will be possible. Areas with aquatic life use changes will then be adjusted through a rule change.
Susan Braley Water Quality Program Washington Department of Ecology P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, WA 98504-7600 Phone: 360-407-6414 Fax: 360-407-6426 e-mail: SWQS@ecy.wa.gov
Easy-to-read version (Ecology
publication)
Code Reviser Version (Washington State Legislature Page)
Waters Requiring Supplemental Spawning
and Incubation Protection for Salmonid Species (Ecology publication)
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