Water Quality Committee Meeting Summary

August 10, 2006

 

Terry Willis, Margaret Rader, Kahle Jennings, Dan Meier, Lee Napier, Ron Schillinger, Nancy Allison, Dave Rountry, Brian Peck, Bob Amrine, Randy Lehr, and Susan Braley. were present.

 

Terry Willis welcomed everyone and asked each person to introduce themselves. 

 

Revisions to the Water Quality Standards

Susan Braley reviewed the presentation from Monday’s workshop with the group.  The presentation covered the history of the rule making, EPA’s role, proposed changes that are out for comment, EPA main problems with the 2003 proposal, and EPA’s analysis and criteria.  She also had a copy of the documents related to the revision available for review.  People could sign up to request their own copy.

 

Ecology hopes to receive  comments related to fish use that is different than mapped by Ecology.  Comments related to impacts on permitting, TMDLs, or other future actions could also be submitted.   

 

Susan also announced a call for data related to the 2006 303(d) list.  She pointed out that the 303(d) list is now called the Category 5 list.  All data must be compatible with the EIM database, housed at Ecology.  They are offering training during September to help people with data submittal.  Randy will try to attend. 

 

Water Quality Monitoring Coordination 

Randy updated the group regarding the establishment of a coordinated water quality monitoring program.  He will be working, in the very near future, with a variety of stakeholders to determine the data needs and parameters to monitor along with the types of questions to answer.   

 

He asked the group to start thinking about long term goals for this program.  Should we focus on collecting water quality information relevant to informing stakeholders?  Another long term goal to consider is GIS integration and synthesizing of the data along with entry of new data.  

 

Once Randy settles the contract issues for this project, he will begin working with the Committee.