The Chehalis River is in trouble

The Chehalis River is in trouble. Under natural conditions, slow moving portions of the Chehalis River are limited in the amount of oxygen they contain. Pollution from many different sources can reduce the level of dissolved oxygen even further. Aquatic life adapted to the natural conditions of the Chehalis River, but the added stress resulting from human pollution can be fatal. In 1989 a number of large salmon returning to the Chehalis and Black Rivers died because of poor water quality. Two years later, an accidental overload of a wastewater treatment system resulted in the discharge of enough excess effluent so that the level of dissolved oxygen actually dropped to zero in the river downstream of the discharge. Other similar incidents have been documented over the years.

Loss of shade and changes in the flow regime of the river make the problem worse. The riparian zone along the river system has been altered dramatically since settlers first arrived. Logging, agriculture, and clearing for homes have removed the tall trees and dense riparian canopy that shade much of the river system in the summer. Taking water out of the river for irrigation, drinking, and other uses, has reduced the flow during the same period of the year.

High water temperatures and low levels of dissolved oxygen during the summer violate state standards for water quality established to protect aquatic life like fish, and other beneficial uses. When those standards are being violated, the Department of Ecology is responsible for identifying sources of pollution that contribute to these problems and ensuring that the pollution is brought under control.

Detailed water quality studies of the Chehalis River resulted in the development of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Chehalis River upstream of the town of Porter. The TMDL identified sources of pollution that contribute to low levels of dissolved oxygen and sets limits on how much of those pollutants can be discharged to the river. Ecology submitted a pollution control strategy to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Upper Chehalis River TMDL. EPA approved the TMDL in October 1996.

The TMDL identified two major sources of pollution that are degrading water quality. One source is municipal/industrial discharges between the Skookumchuck and Newaukum Rivers. Ecology is controlling these point sources of pollution by modifying each facility's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to restrict the discharge of pollutants during the critical months during the dry season. For some of these permitted facilities, this will mean developing alternative disposal methods, such as land application of high quality wastewater, or discharging to a different part of the river.

These changes are going to be expensive. As a result, lawsuits were filed against Ecology challenging the limits placed in the individual NPDES permits. Since early 1997 Ecology has been meeting with the parties in the lawsuit to reach a mutually acceptable solution that protects the river and minimizes the cost for the dischargers. By tying the amount of discharge to the actual flow in the river it appears that these objectives can be met. During the dry season (usually summer and early fall), there will still be long periods of time when some of the facilities can not discharge to the river at their present location. One discharger is pursuing land application of high quality wastewater. Another is beginning to plan for a completely new up-to-date wastewater treatment facility. The third discharger is looking at upgrading its current facility and building a summer outfall approximately seven miles down river from its current location.

The second major source of water quality degradation is nonpoint pollution --the accumulation of pollutants from diverse sources such as runoff from urban areas, roads, farm fields, etc. Dairies are one source of nonpoint pollution that were specifically identified in the study as a source of organic materials that degrade water quality in the Chehalis River and its tributaries. Under the TMDL approved by EPA Ecology made a commitment to inspect all dairies in the upper Chehalis River Watershed. Ecology began making those required inspections in January 1998. Ecology and other agencies have publicized these inspections at technical assistance workshops and other special events over the last year.

Washington State has a Clean Water Act permit program that applies to any dairy where contaminated runoff to surface water occurs. Under this permit program, any dairy with a discharge to surface or ground water must apply for permit coverage and implement the equivalent of a farm conservation or waste management plan. If a dairy has a farm plan, conservation plan, or animal waste management plan, that is up-to-date, and has been fully implemented (all structures and management called for in the plan are in place) the dairy should pass the inspection without finding any major concerns. It is always possible, however, that the inspection will identify a discharge of pollutants to surface or ground water that was not addressed in the existing plan. If a discharge is found, the dairy must apply for coverage under the NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit for dairies. The permit will establish a schedule for developing and implementing an animal waste management plan that manages dairy waste and prevents pollution.

Programs to control pollution from other nonpoint sources such as urban stormwater runoff, failing septic systems, and nondairy livestock will also need to be implemented. Ecology will work cooperatively with local government to control these nonpoint pollution sources.