Chehalis Basin Partnership Water Quality Committee
Grays Harbor Forestry Building
Montesano, Washington
January 10, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Meeting Summary
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Terry Willis, Citizen, Grays Harbor County
J Roach, Citizen, Thurston County
Harry Pickernell, Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
Dave Rountry, Department of Ecology
Bob Amrine, Lewis County Conservation District
Chris Hempleman, Department of Ecology
Lee Napier, Grays Harbour County
OTHERS PRESENT:
Randy Lehr, Grays Harbor College, Natural Resources Program Director
Brady Engvall, Citizen, Oyster Growers Association
Jessica Tate, Puget Sound Meeting Services
Samuel Iwenofu, Quinault Indian Nation
Lisa Dilley, Citizen, Grays Harbor County
Terry Willis called the Chehalis Basin Partnership Water Quality Committee meeting to order at 9:44 a.m.
The Water Quality Committee approved the November 8, 2007 meeting minutes as presented.
Mr. Lehr identified water quality monitoring sites on a map based on input from the committee during its last meeting. The goal is to decide whether to include staff suggested sites or revise the locations. Nine additional sites were also designated:
§ Ocean Shores Boat Launch
§ Two sites in the upper Humptulips subbasin
§ West Fork of the Satsop River
§ Wild Cat Creek (just below the confluence of the east and west fork of the creek)
§ Delezenne Creek
§ South Fork of the Satsop River
§ South Fork of the Chehalis River
§ Upper Section of Scatter Creek (east side of the freeway)
The rationale is to keep the range of sampling sites on scope for one more year to work toward attaining baseline conditions.
Mr. Iwenofu asked whether water quality data from 2007 will be compared against new data. Mr. Lehr indicated the item is on the docket for 2008.
Mr. Amrine asked for additional clarification regarding the south fork of the Chehalis River location. Mr. Lehr stated the location is in the area of Stillman Creek.
Mr. Lehr reported the grant from the Department of Ecology for long-term monitoring probes was recently received. One-time grab samples will be obtained during the next two months to compare with long-term data. Six probes will be obtained. One idea is for the locations to represent different land use types. Another is how streams are impacting water quality.
Mr. Roach said he likes the idea of characterizing specific land uses. Mr. Lehr said the probes are portable, which will aid in capturing daily variability and point sources as well.
Ms. Willis suggested one important aspect to pursue is the correlation between water quality and erosion.
Discussion followed on testing standards for fecal coliform versus E. coli at the request of Mr. Iwenofu. Mr. Lehr reported state standards require E. coli testing for surface water issues and fecal coliform testing for issues involving shellfish and marine standards.
Mr. Pickernell arrived at 10:17 a.m.
Ms. Hempleman said fecal coliform is closely correlated to shellfish in this part of the state.
Ms. Willis asked whether fecal coliform analysis can determine whether a sample was obtained from a human or animal. Mr. Lehr replied that the technology is referred to as DNA microarrays. Research for the technology is still ongoing and currently cannot be transformed into justifiable information.
Mr. Lehr asked members to consider how to select the best locations for the long-term probes. Staff’s approach is using two monitors for each of the three land uses of urban development - agriculture, and timber.
Discussion followed regarding potential dilution stemming from Black Hills.
Mr. Amrine indicated he trusts staff expertise in terms of identifying the most appropriate locations for long-term monitoring. He suggested contacting private landowners for potential placement of probes on private land to deter vandalism. Mr. Lehr said the locations must be low flow because the probes could be damaged by the elements when not submerged.
Mr. Roach said there is value in placing a probe in unimpaired streams; however, most have low flows in the summer.
Mr. Rountry agreed with Mr. Amrine’s suggestion for staff to determine appropriate probe locations. Mr. Lehr offered to present a proposed list for review at the next meeting.
Discussion followed regarding ways to anchor monitoring equipment, such as concrete blocks and tethering to river/stream banks.
Mr. Amrine asked how water level fluctuation will be addressed in terms of sampling. Mr. Lehr said it’s best to utilize pressure gauges indicating the depth of water for sampling at any given time.
Mr. Iwenofu asked about the price of the probe. Mr. Lehr reported the probes cost approximately $6,000 to $9,000. Mr. Iwenofu asked about how often the probes are calibrated. Mr. Lehr indicated the probes are calibrated monthly.
Mr. Amrine asked about the source of the probes. Mr. Lehr replied the probes are manufactured by YSI.
Mr. Napier suggested Mr. Lehr should explore the possibility for the Surfrider Foundation to secure funding for additional sites. Mr. Lehr acknowledged the request and indicated the Surfrider Foundation tends to be more interested in estuary sites.
Mr. Roach agreed with Mr. Amrine’s suggestion to have staff determine the most appropriate probe sites.
The Chehalis Basin Partnership Water Quality Committee agreed to have staff determine appropriate site locations for long-term monitoring probes for review at the next meeting.
Mr. Rountry requested Mr. Lehr look into the cost of adding GPS to the probes for monitoring and tracking in the event they are moved.
Mr. Lehr stated he will present a list of proposed site locations at the next meeting using the parameters as discussed.
Mr. Iwenofu offered to contact the Quinault Indian Nation regarding the possibility of sharing additional data.
Ms. Willis suggested the committee send the Quinalt Indian Nation a formal request regarding the issue and requesting additional support for the efforts. Mr. Iwenofu replied that he will also express support for collaborating with the committee.
Discussion followed regarding the transferability of data to the committee. To date, data from the Environmental Information Management (EIM) from the Department of Ecology is quality data capable of transferring.
Ms. Hempleman asked how the committee envisions utilizing the data. Mr. Lehr replied the data will be used to address many issues, such as source identification and identification of areas to protect. Mr. Amrine added the data will be very useful from a district perspective, in terms of assessing land to help identify issues. Ms. Willis said sampling will measure a variety of things, such as turbidity, which will be considered when land use management decisions are made. Mr. Amrine added that the data can also be used as an educational tool to present to entities such as city or county planning commissions.
Mr. Lehr reported the data can be used to gauge the effectiveness of different restoration techniques as well.
Mr. Lehr reported another much longer-term project he would like to pursue is utilizing available land use and satellite imagery information dating back to 1968 for comparison to current conditions.
Discussion followed regarding the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in terms of reimbursement and cost share.
Ms. Napier indicated a funding gap is closely approaching. She asked members to help identify potential funding sources for discussion at the next meeting.
Ms. Napier stated she will draft and send a letter to the Quinalt Indian Nation as directed by the committee.
Mr. Rountry distributed a handout, “A Progress Review of Water Quality Protection in the Chehalis Basin.” He requested the committee’s discussion on the document at the next meeting on how the information should be utilized. The information will be compiled with the meeting summaries and handouts distributed during meetings.
Other items include entering implementation activity information as a layer for the GIS, publishing an article in Drops of Water, asking the Steering Technical Committee whether and/or how to include the information in communications to the Legislature or other groups, such as local planning boards.
Develop Meeting Agenda for February 14, 2008
§ Update regarding site monitoring locations
§ Discuss Long-Term Work Plan
§ Discuss potential funding sources
§ Discuss report provided by Mr. Rountry
With there being no further business, Ms. Willis adjourned the meeting at 12:05 p.m.
Prepared by Jessica Tate, Recording Secretary
Puget Sound Meeting Services