Federal law requires states to identify sources of pollution in waters that fall short of water quality standards, and to determine how much of each kind of pollution the waters can receive and still remain healthy. A set of pollutant allocations for that waterbody, based on sampling data and computer modeling, is called a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or water cleanup plan.
In 1996, EPA approved a water cleanup plan the Washington State Department of Ecology developed for the upper Chehalis River. This particular plan is a good example of how the process can help protect water quality in an impaired salmon fishery, and of how a technical assessment can help start a grass-roots campaign to solve water quality problems.
The Chehalis, a significant river in southwestern Washington, winds slowly for 123 miles through a watershed that covers more than 2,000 square miles. In August of 1989, a major, mysterious fish kill in the upper basin brought extensive media coverage. Although no evidence of a deliberate release of pollution was ever d the die-off demonstrated how sensitive the fishery resource is to pollutants in the river. Largely as a consequence of the fish kill, the next year, Ecology started assessing pollution in the streams of the upper Chehalis River watershed.
Garrard Creek benefits from lush riparian vegetation, which provides shade and productive habitat for fish and other lving things.
Near the towns of Centralia and Chehalis, the studies identified water pollution problems during the summer which can be harmful to fish: high surface water temperatures and virtually no dissolved oxygen in deeper waters. Computer models of the river system found the river would barely meet water quality standards even if all human-caused pollution were removed. The river cannot accept any more pollutants that would lower levels of dissolved oxygen.
Based on these studies, Ecology established pollutant loading levels for numerous streams and several different pollutants, and developed a pollution reduction strategy; together these are the water cleanup plan for the Chehalis River. The plan recommends various options for reducing the municipal and industrial sources of pollution, to be phased in over eight years. It requires a significant reduction of pollutant concentration in the discharge from the Centralia wastewater treatment plant and the elimination of discharges during the summer from the Darigold milk processing facility and the Chehalis wastewater treatment plant.
The plan also addresses nonpoint sources of pollution, hard-to-pinpoint sources such as polluted runoff from city streets and farms, and contaminated groundwater from malfunctioning septic systems.
Local governments, conservation districts, the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, and other groups have implemented portions of the plan as resources become available. The Chehalis River Council was established as a result of a local watershed planning process to implement the goals of the Chehalis River Basin Action Plan, approved by Ecology in 1992. The Council, a non-profit corporation, actively seeks grant funds to implement more recommendations of the plan.
Regarding nonpoint sources, Ecology's water cleanup plan includes several actions for the Chehalis River Basin. Ecology is targeting technical assistance offered by local conservation districts to specific livestock operations. Ecology has also conducted a large number of dairy inspections to ensure dairy operations support clean water. Further, Ecology is working directly with non-dairy livestock operations to address potential water quality problems associated with these operations as well. Finally, Ecology staff will work with local health districts to identify areas with failing septic systems, and with city government to address pollution in storm water runoff.
TMDLs require monitoring over a span of years to assure their effectiveness. The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation have conducted ambient monitoring at numerous stations on both the Chehalis and Black rivers for years. This data will be evaluated and incorporated into future local water quality decisions. In addition, a six-year monitoring program is underway by Ecology to measure the effectiveness of cleanup activities at multiple sites in the watershed.
If you have questions about Ecology's work in the Chehalis Basin, contact Kahle Jennings at (360) 407-6269.
If you have special accommodation needs or require this publication in alternative format, please contact Annie Phillips at (360) 407-6408 or (360) 407-6066 (TDD).
Lack of fencing and vegetation allows easy access for large animals. This means higher water temperatures, sedimentation, fecal coliform, ammonia, and a depleted supply of oxygen in the water. The Chehalis TMDL requires that organic material that depletes dissolved oxygen be reduced to natural background conditions and sets specific loading limits for each of the streams studied.
This material provided by WaDOE in publication 98-2026WQ, September 1998
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