Water Quality Committee Meeting Summary

October 12, 2006

Terry Willis, AnnWick, Lee Napier, Harry Pickernell, Randy Lehr, Patrick Wiltzius, Samuel Iwenofu, and Teri Franklin were present.

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

Water Quality Monitoring Coordination 

Randy updated the group regarding the establishment of a coordinated water quality monitoring program.  In preparation for the meeting, he produced a memo sharing his thoughts regarding prioritization of water quality monitoring.  He put this list together based on information he found in the Tetra Tech document.  He asked the group to share their thoughts regarding group prioritization.

Comments from the group:

• Should we spend time on the TMDL compliance since this is within Ecology’s authority and may be duplicative.  Randy shared that he thought Dave Rountry supported additional effort from local groups.  The group still had reservations because local funds are so limited.
• We should be examining nonpoint since point sources are regulated. 
• We need to identify where our clean/healthy high quality waters are located.
• Doesn’t Ecology currently monitor for TMDL compliance?  Members of the group were not positive, but they thought Ecology did not have a compliance monitoring program.   

Contracting with Ecology is nearing completion.  Randy is waiting for approval of the QAPP developed specifically for this project.  Samuel shared that QIN has not received updates regarding this project.  Randy responded that he has provided updates during the Partnership meetings.  QIN intends to monitor at locations in the Newaukum subbasin and want to avoid monitoring at sites included in this project.  Once the QAPP is approved, the monitoring sites will be finalized.  The draft QAPP describes monitoring at 80 proposed sites per month.

Samuel shared the QIN agreed to allow the Chehalis Tribe to take the lead if the monitoring would commence in August.  Since that has not occurred QIN may reconsider their offer.  They also have a need to initiate monitoring by December. If they do not begin this effort, then they lose the EPA grant fund.  He will follow up with Bruce. 

Can you break down the budget?  How much for data collection verses data storage?  Randy explained $40k for the coordinator’s time, which includes synthesis, identification of gaps, and storage of data.  $70k is for on the group monitoring. 

Teri Franklin asked if he was going to download the 20 years worth of data as a baseline?  When she attended the college she was part of a student project that collected a substantial amount of data.  Randy would try to track it down and determine if he could use it. 

Randy shared that part of his job as coordinator would be to work with entities to track down data, collect data, map locations, and identify gaps.   The group suggested wide scale monitoring basin wide coverage. 

Randy discussed with the group acquiring deployment probes/modules to collect long term data on a more frequent basis.  This may help to identify the high quality waters.  The probes could secure data daily.  The cost is about $8,000 per unit and will need monthly visits to collect data, calibrate and other quality assurance.  This approach might be useful for TMDL compliance. 

Patrick mentioned that the City of Chehalis as part of a settlement provided $32,500 to Grays Harbor County to keep in trust for a Chehalis Basin Water Quality monitoring program.

Randy asked the group to consider supporting an application to EPA for the targeted watershed program.  Randy will work on securing an endorsement from the tribes, which is one of the program requirements.  Once he has an endorsement, he will further develop the application.  The CBP will be asked to support the application.  The group will review the proposal during the November 9^th meeting.  Randy will try to circulate copies of his work prior to the meeting.