By Terry Loney - The Aberdeen Daily World - September 28, 2000
Livestock farmers haven't responded adequately to a voluntary program to clean up the Chehalis River Watershed, according to state Department of Ecology.
In plain talk, it's a case of too much manure, so the state is getting more aggressive.
Ecology is set to begin an inspection program of livestock farms along the watershed to reduce the amount of fecal coliform bacteria in the river.
"The big bottom line is that we are stepping up our presence with the farms," said Ecology spokeswoman Sandy Howard. "The whole river system has some problems with fecal coliform bacteria. That is what you get into the river when you have manure washing into the river."
Howard said the manure is entering the Chehalis and its tributaries in rainwater runoff from manure piles stored by the river, and because many farmers are allowing their livestock to enter waterways.
In 1998, the Department determined that 42 of the 78 livestock farms along the upper Chehalis River in Thurston, Lewis and southeast Grays Harbor counties have a "medium or high potential to pollute the river."
The owners of those farms were asked to seek free technical assistance from their local conservation districts to manage farm animal waste. But, Howard said, less than five took part in the voluntary program. Ecology will now tell them to clean up their acts, she added, with major fines possible if the problem persists.
Bacteria are so numerous that at times the water in the Chehalis and many of its tributaries is unsafe to swim in or drink, according to the Grays Harbor Fecal Coliform Total Maximum Daily Load Study completed earlier this year. Ecology says the meandering river carries the bacteria all the way to the Grays Harbor bay.
That can result in contamination of oyster beds and - since the bacteria consume the oxygen in the water - can threaten the health of the Chehalis River's aquatic wildlife, including salmon and crabs, Howard said.
The threshold for safety is 100 colonies of fecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters of water. The study notes there are "monthly averages between 112 to 163 colony counts per 100 milliliters" of water - levels exceeding standards set for protection of human health and the environment.
Those levels have earned the Chehalis River a place on the 303D list, a list of rivers that are required by state and federal law to be cleaned up, Howard said.
She noted that 96 percent of the fecal coliform is coming from sources upstream from Porter.
Most forms of fecal coliform are not considered to be a serious health threat. They cause intestinal problems such as diarrhea, gas and other maladies, but one strain, O157:H7, has been linked to deaths in infants and elderly persons in rare cases.
Leaking septic tanks and animal wastes are believed to be the major sources of the bacteria, according to the study. Wildlife also contributes a portion of the overall count, but livestock farms are considered to be a top source, Howard said.
The livestock farms along the Chehalis River Watershed will be inspected in the near future to see which are allowing manure to enter the system.
Howard said the farmers will be given notice of when the inspections will take place. And, if violations are found, they will be given ample time to make corrections, she added. This will be the farmers' last opportunity to avoid fines and penalties, the spokeswoman said.
Farmers who need assistance with the problem can call their local conservation district office. In Grays Harbor, the number is 249-5980.
Howard said the district can help farmers secure grants and loans to help pay for any needed modifications to their farms.
Having clean water is not just an issue of economics, she said. "It is part of our quality of life here in Washington State; it is part of the legacy we will leave our children. We don't want to leave them pollution problems."
Farmers can call Lisa Rozmyn at the Department of Ecology at 360-407-6287 for information about the inspections.
Terry Loney, a Daily World writer covering East County, can be reached at (360) 532-4000, ext. 137, or at tloney@thedailyworld.com
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