This document, the December 1992 Chehalis River Basin Action Plan, has been created as a guidance document for citizens groups, agencies, tribes and other entities responsible for protecting water quality in the Chehalis River Basin from the effects of nonpoint source pollution. It was prepared by the Chehalis River Council, a group comprised of representatives from government agencies, conservation districts, environmental organizations, Indian tribes, industry, agriculture, forestry, sporting groups, and concerned citizens from the basin.
Under the authority of the state Centennial Clean Water Act (Chapter 90.70 of Revised Code of Washington) and with funds from the state Centennial Clean Water Fund, the members of the River Council worked together in 1990-1992 to produce this planning document. To determine the extent of water pollution in the basin, water quality data from existing studies were compiled and analyzed. The grant agreement under which this plan was funded stipulated that no grant funds were available to pay for water quality monitoring. Therefore, the Chehalis River Council had to rely on existing data and reports from local, state and federal agencies, tribes, and industry. The existing regulatory and programmatic framework for nonpoint pollution control was examined, water quality and institutional problems were identified, and strategies for controlling nonpoint source pollution were devised. Citizen participation was welcomed and received throughout the process.
The Chehalis River Council developed recommendations for five nonpoint source categories (agricultural practices; on-site sewage disposal; residential and commercial development, storm water and erosion; forest practices; and other nonpoint sources). The recommendations are presented in the Nonpoint Source Control section. In addition, there is a General Recommendations section dealing with institutional problems, funding and other special issues.
It can be difficult to distinguish between point and nonpoint sources of pollution especially after pollutants have entered a waterbody and mixed together. Although the focus of this project was to address nonpoint source pollution, the Chehalis River Council recognizes the impacts that point source discharges have on water quality. In addition to the 63 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) point source dischargers in the Chehalis River Basin, three Environmental Protection Agency Superfund cleanup sites have been declared. The Chehalis River Council urges continued regulation of these activities and supports improvement of their treatment efforts to limit degradation of water quality caused by human activities.
The implementation strategy for the Chehalis River Basin Action Plan is based on community involvement, agency and industry cooperation and initiative, and public education. The action plan will result in new or expanded activities for implementing entities. Implementation of the action plan is contingent on available funding and the ability of the implementing entities to incorporate and prioritize action plan recommendations into their existing programs and budgets.
Return to first page