By Terry Loney - Daily world writer, The Aberdeen Daily World
Thanks to the efforts of livestock farmers in the Chehalis River watershed, a major source of pollution has been significantly curtailed, the state Department of Ecology has announced.
In 1998, the agency determined that 42 of the 78 livestock farms along the upper Chehalis River and its tributaries in Thurston, Lewis and southeast Grays Harbor counties had a "medium or high potential to pollute the river."
The problem was manure. Piles of it. The piles were deemed too close to the river and found to be leaching large amounts of fecal coliform bacteria, including E. coli.
Today, much of the problem has been reduced.
"From the Department of Ecology's perspective this is very good news," said Sandy Howard, ecology spokeswoman. "It is very good news because the Chehalis watershed is a polluted water body and we don't have these additional pollution sources affecting the river."
Terry Nielsen, office manager of Grays Harbor Conservation District in Montesano, said seven of the 78 farms are located in Grays Harbor County.
Howard said five were found to have manure piles that were polluting the river.
The farmers raise hogs, non - milk producing cows, horses and poultry. The 14 dairy farms - six are along the river - in Grays Harbor County are covered by a different Ecology program. Those were also inspected in 1998, Howard said.
Howard said the nondairy livestock farms that were inspected in September had manure stored in areas adjacent to the river.
The problem with that is winter rain storms washed too much of it into the Chehalis River, she said.
That created high levels of fecal coliform bacteria in the Chehalis and its tributaries. The levels were discovered in a study done from 1990 to 1993 by the Department of Ecology.
E. coli largest fecal coliform
E. coli comprises the largest portion of fecal coliform in sewage and animal waste.
The bacteria can cause intestinal problems such as diarrhea, gas and other maladies. One virulent strain can cause death, especially in infants and the elderly persons with weakened immune systems.
The bacteria are so numerous that sometimes the water in the Chehalis River and many of its tributaries is unsafe to swim in, according to the Grays Harbor Fecal Coliform Total Maximum Daily Load Study completed in 2000. Ecology says the meandering river carries the bacteria all the way to the harbor.
The threshold for safety is 100 colonies of fecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters of water.
The summary of the study notes there are "monthly averages between 112 to 163 colony counts per 100 milliliters" of water.
Also a threat to oysters
The bacteria also could be a threat to oyster production in the Harbor. High levels of fecal coliform bacteria can contaminate oysters and prompt the State Department of Health to close shellfish beds.
For those whose livelihood is growing oysters, the cleanup is very good news, Howard said. "Every source that we can block that will create improved water quality downstream is certainly a step in the right direction."
Howard noted that similar studies are being done on fecal coliform in rivers across the state.
"It is a pretty universal problem," she said.
Those studies are at different stages and problems in each area will be addressed as the studies are competed, Howard added.
While Grays Harbor is wrapping up the inspection program for nondairy livestock producers, Pacific County is just starting.
John Kendig, soil conservationist for the USDA natural resources conservation service in South Bend, said a fecal coliform study on the Willapa River is under way and will be completed this spring.
"That will tell what the problems might be," he said, adding when that study is completed efforts to reduce any runoff from manure piles in the watershed will begin.
In 1998, Ecology asked the 42 farmers along the Chehalis River to take part in a voluntary cleanup program. But only five did so, Howard said.
The low level of voluntary compliance prompted the agency to begin an inspection program aimed at strongly urging farmers to remove manure piles placed near the river, Howard added.
Howard said the result was a lot more compliance from the farmers. Of the remaining 38 farmers who needed to clean up manure piles, 10 took the actions recommended by Ecology and five more were referred to their local conservation district offices for help.
Fourteen others were found to no longer have animals or problems that needed corrective actions. But six will be the subject of future visits from Ecology.
Only two of the farms will be subjected to visits from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The federal agency has been involved with both landowners in the past, according to an ecology news release.
Good communication
"Part of the reason that this was pretty successful was that we did a good job of communicating with the farmers," Howard said. "We sent letters, let them know we're coming - many took steps to get things buttoned up."
Another crucial partner was the local conservation districts, Howard noted.
"They are the ones who actually provide the technical assistance to the farmers," she said. "The department provides funding that is sent to the conservation districts, the conservation districts then pass it along to farmers who need help."
Fines and other penalties were not leveled at noncomplying farmers this time around.
"That would be the ultimate" step, Howard said. "In this case we did hot have to go there."
But Howard did not rule out fines if manure piles start cropping up again in the future.
Not having to use fines and penalties at a time when many people have become critical of government regulating agencies leaves Howard with a good feeling.
"I think it is a good sign we are moving in the direction we want to move in," she said. "There is just a lot more awareness out there about water quality problems. Everyday you read in the paper about more salmon problems.
"I think there is a lot better awareness about water quality issues, and the farming community is part of that awareness.
"This is basically good news - Grays Harbor and the Chehalis River residents should feel good about this. The steps are being take to protect water quality."
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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