Water Quality Improvement Projects (TMDLs) > Palouse Watershed Area Projects > South Fork Palouse River Multi-parameter Project

Water Quality Improvement Project
South Fork Palouse River:
Multi-parameter

Introduction

The South Fork Palouse River drains 130 square miles around the towns of Pullman and Albion in Washington and Moscow, Idaho. Grain fields and pastures dominate the area. The major land use is farming with residential, commercial, and industrial developments clustered around the towns.

Water quality issues

The South Fork Palouse River and several other tributaries are impaired for one or more of the following pollutants:  ammonia; dissolved oxygen; fecal coliform bacteria; PCBs; chlorinated pesticides; temperature; and pH.

Status of the project

The following is the timeline for the South Fork Palouse River watershed water quality improvement project.

Fecal coliform bacteria

Fecal coliform bacteria come from the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals and can indicate the presence of human and animal waste which may carry disease-causing organisms.

• From May 2006-May 2007, Ecology conducted a study that examined the levels and distribution of fecal coliform bacteria throughout the watershed. The study found that the South Fork Palouse River; Paradise Creek; Airport Road Creek; Missouri Flat Creek; Dry Fork Creek; Spring Flat Creek; Staley Creek; and Four Mile Creek violate the fecal coliform bacteria water quality standards during a portion of the year.
• In June 2008, Ecology formed an advisory group to review the studies' results and recommend strategies to improve water quality. More information about the activities of the advisory group are available on the SFPR TMDL Advisory Group page.
• In August 2009, Ecology completed the water quality improvement report on fecal coliform bacteria. After the public comment period,  Ecology addressed the comments received. On October 22, 2009 Ecology submitted the final improvement report to EPA. EPA approved the submittal in January 2010.
• Ecology, with the assistance of several entities and the SFPR TMDL Advisory Group, developed a implementation plan describing how the water quality goals in the water quality improvement report will be implemented. The draft plan was available for public review until November 18, 2011. After Ecology reviewed and responded to comments received, we sent a copy of the finalized plan to EPA for their records.

Dissolved oxygen / pH / Temperature

Dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature affect the health and distribution of fish and other aquatic life. The South Fork Palouse River is impaired by high temperatures, low dissolved oxygen, and pH outside the range appropriate for fish and other aquatic life. Excessive nutrients in the stream (for example nitrogen, including ammonia, and phosphorus) can affect the level of dissolved oxygen and pH in the stream.

• From May 2006-October 2006 Ecology conducted a temperature study. It ran during the time of year when the water is most likely to be impaired. Another study examined dissolved oxygen, pH, and nutrients. Data for the dissolved oxygen and pH study were collected in conjunction with the bacteria study and intensive surveys that were conducted in June and August 2006.
• In late 2009, Ecology applied for EPA funding to hire a contractor to study the aquatic life (fish and insects) in the streams. In May 2010 a contract was awarded to Tetra Tech, Inc. to research historical literature about aquatic life in the watershed and collect fish and insects during the summer/fall of 2010. This information will assist Ecology in determining the appropriate water-quality standard criteria to protect the stream for the aquatic species that should be present in the watershed under natural conditions (unaltered by human activities). Tetra Tech’s final report was completed in spring 2011.
• In June and August 2010, Ecology conducted additional intensive surveys of dissolved oxygen, pH, and nutrients. The purpose of these studies was to determine the effect of changes at the Moscow wastewater treatment plant, located just across the state line on Paradise Creek, on water quality downstream in Washington. The Moscow treatment plant installed filtration to significantly reduce the amount of nutrients discharged to Paradise Creek. This additional information will be useful to further calibrate the computer model Ecology is using to analyze the watershed.

Toxics

During the Palouse River toxics study, the South Fork Palouse River was found to be impaired for PCBs and dieldrin (a chlorinated pesticide). These impairments are addressed through the Toxics TMDL, which EPA approved in November 2007.

To learn more about the importance of these various parameters, please see our water quality impairments page.

Technical information

Unless otherwise specified, the following documents are Ecology publications.

Quality Assurance Project Plan for In-Stream Assessment of Biota and Migration Patterns of the South Fork Palouse River Watershed (Tetra Tech)
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/palouse/SFPalouseRvrQAPPfin09012010.pdf

Streamflow Summary for the Palouse and South Fork Palouse Rivers and Selected Tributaries, 2006-08
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/1003071.html

Dissolved oxygen / pH / Temperature

Quality Assurance Project Plan: South Fork Palouse River Dissolved Oxygen and pH Total Maximum Daily Load Study
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0603112.html

• Quality Assurance Project Plan: Supplemental: South Fork Palouse River Basin Dissolved Oxygen and pH Total Maximum Daily Load Study
  www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/1003111.html

South Fork Palouse River Temperature TMDL Study Quality Assurance Project Plan
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0603104.html

Instream Assessment of Biota and Migration Patterns of the South Fork Palouse River Watershed
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/palouse/SFPRfinalReport20110408.pdf

Fecal coliform bacteria

South Fork Palouse River Watershed Fecal Coliform Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load: Water Quality Implementation Plan
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/1110074.html

South Fork Palouse River Fecal Coliform Bacteria TMDL: Water Quality Improvement Report
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0910060.html

Quality Assurance Project Plan: South Fork Palouse River Fecal Coliform Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load Study
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0603105.html

Related information

South Fork Palouse Water Cleanup Plan (TMDL) for ammonia
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/982023wq.html

South Fork Palouse Bacteria TMDL Presentation - 8/27/09
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/palouse/sfPalouseAdvComm/SFPRbacteriaTMDLpresent082709.pdf

Thermal Infrared Radiometry – Taking the Temperatures of the North and South Fork Palouse Rivers
www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0510065.html

Images from July 30 and 31, 2005 Thermal Infrared Radiometry (TIR) Flights
www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/watersheds/temperature/tir/palouse

Watershed Sciences, Inc.’s TIR Technology and Methods pamphlet (PDF)
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/palouse/tir_tech_and_methods.pdf

Final TIR Report from contractor (PDF)
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/palouse/palouse_tir_remote_sensing-final.pdf

WRIA 34: Palouse Watershed Information (Environmental Assessment Program web site)
www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/watersheds/wriapages/34.html

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