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Water Quality Improvement Projects (TMDLs) >
Chehalis Watershed Area
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Chehalis River Multii-parameter Projects
Water Quality Improvement Projects
Chehalis River
Area:
Multi-parameter
Introduction
The Chehalis River and its tributaries cover more than 3300 surface
miles. The watershed has been the subject of several water quality
studies since 1990. The studies include 303(d) listings for dissolved
oxygen (DO), fecal coliform bacteria (BacT), and temperature (T)
conditions. For study and cleanup planning purposes the watershed was
split into upper and lower river segments. A “line” dividing WRIAs 22
and 23 at Porter separates the upstream and downstream parts of the
basin.
Water quality issues
The Chehalis River and many of its largest tributaries often do not meet
water quality standards for temperature, dissolved oxygen, fecal
coliform, pH, and nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. In 1995, 28
facilities held permits to discharge waste water to these streams in the
Chehalis basin. At that time, the worst problem areas included the
Chehalis River between Pe Ell and Porter, the Black, Skookumchuck, and
Newaukum Rivers, and several smaller tributaries.
Why this matters
Ammonia (NH4+) is one measure of nitrogen, a nutrient that can
increase the growth of plants and algae in water. When
higher-than-normal levels of nutrients are present, plants and algae can
get out of control and lead to changes in the water’s pH, dissolved
oxygen and clarity. In addition, increased algae and plants can be ugly,
create odor problems when they die, decompose and interfere with
recreational activities like boating and swimming.
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the amount of oxygen required by
aerobic microorganisms (organisms that need oxygen to survive) to break down
organic matter in water. It can be used to measure the amount of water pollution
in a water body.
Oxygen dissolved (DO) in healthy water is vital for fish and aquatic life
“breathe” to survive. It is more difficult to transfer oxygen from water to
blood than it is to transfer oxygen from air to blood. Therefore, it is critical
that an adequate amount of oxygen is maintained in the water for this transfer
to take place efficiently and sustain aquatic life. Oxygen is also necessary to
help decompose organic matter in the water and bottom sediments as well as for
other biological and chemical processes.
Fecal coliform is a type of “bacteria” common in human and animal
waste. It can make people sick and cause the closure of shellfish harvesting
beds. Bacteria can get into our waters from untreated or partially treated
discharges from wastewater treatment plants, from improperly functioning septic
systems, and from livestock, pets and wildlife.
People can help keep bacteria out of the water. Properly collect, bag, and
trash dog poop. Check your on-site sewage system to make sure it is maintained
and working properly.
Water temperature influences what types of organisms can live in a
water body. Cooler water can hold more dissolved oxygen that fish and other
aquatic life need to breathe. Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen.
Threatened and endangered salmon need cold, clean water to survive.
One way to cool water temperature is to shade the water body by adding or
retaining streamside vegetation.
Status of the projects
To address the fishery resource concerns various organizations are helping to
protect and enhance the riparian corridor. Landowners, the local conservation
districts, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Indian Reservation, cities,
volunteer groups including students and local fishery support groups provide
labor and plant materials for stabilizing the stream banks and to increase plant
cover and shade. Increased shade is the most important feature to lower
temperatures in the river. Landowners install fencing to keep livestock from
eroding the banks and plant more trees to increase shade. The fence and
vegetative “barriers” help block animal waste or other sheet erosion to keep it
out of the river. Because the shoreline protections prevent or reduce transport
of nutrient and BOD materials into the river, they help improve DO conditions
too.
A wide section of the river near the cities of Centralia and Chehalis is
considered the critical segment for temperature and DO conditions. Natural
conditions were found to be a major cause of higher temperatures and lower
dissolved oxygen in that segment known as the “Centralia reach”. To ensure that
the cities' wastewater treatment plants do not compound the natural pollution,
the plants stop discharging to the river during low-flow river conditions
(i.e., when flows are less that 1,000 cubic feet per second.) During the
critical low river flow period, the treated effluent is instead utilized as
reclaimed water and applied as agricultural irrigation.
Technical information
Ammonia-N/BOD
Dissolved Oxygen
Revised -- Upper Chehalis River Basin Dissolved Oxygen Total Maximum
Daily Load Submittal Report (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0010018.html
Fecal coliform bacteria
Upper Chehalis River Fecal Coliform Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load
Recommendations (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0403004.html
Upper Chehalis River Fecal Coliform Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load:
Submittal Report (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0410041.html
Temperature
Black Creek Temperature Monitoring Summer 2010
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/1110033.html
Upper Chehalis River Basin Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load Submittal
(Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/9952.html
Multi-parameter
The Chehalis/Grays Harbor Watershed
Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature, and Fecal Coliform Bacteria TMDL:
Detailed Implementation (Cleanup) Plan (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0410065.html
Upper Chehalis River Watershed Multi-Parameter Total Maximum Daily Load:
Water Quality Data Review (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/1003057.html
Related Documents:
Related information
Water much cleaner in Chehalis basin (The Olympian Newspaper article)
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/ChehalisBasin/OlyarticleWtrcleaner083011.pdf
Chehalis Basin Partnership -Lower Chehalis/Upper Chehalis Watershed Planning
(WRIAs 22/23)
www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/info/pub_svcs/ChehalisBasin/Index.html
Ecology publications pertaining to WRIA 23 (Ecology publication)
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/wria23.html
WRIA 22 and WRIA 23: Chehalis Basin and Nearby Drainages: Salmon
Habitat Limiting Factors (WA State Conservation Commission)
www.scc.wa.gov/index.php/Download-document/277-WRIA-22-and-WRIA-23-Chehalis-Basin-and-Nearby-Drainages.html
WRIA 23 Watershed Information (Environmental Assessment
Program web site)
www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/watersheds/wriapages/23.html
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Last updated
August 2011
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