Open House Meetings Set to
Discuss Stream Health
VANCOUVER, WA
-- The public is invited to attend two open house meetings to discuss
stream health in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
One meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the Cowlitz Valley Ranger
District Community Room, 10024 U.S. Highway 12 in Randle. The second is
scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14, at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Headquarters, 10600 N.E. 51st Circle, Vancouver. Both meetings will
be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
At least 14 sections of streams in the Forest do not meet temperature
water quality standards to protect public and environmental health, according
to the Washington State Department of Ecology. The meetings are jointly
sponsored by the Department and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The
sections of streams fail to meet water quality standards for recreation,
fishing, aquatic habitat, irrigation or livestock uses. The streams were
placed on a list of "impaired water bodies" otherwise known
as the 303(d) List by the State Department of Ecology.
Water quality specialists from the Department of Ecology will make presentations
on the process for developing cleanup plans at both sessions. The Gifford
Pinchot National Forest and the Department of Ecology will develop cleanup
plans for the streams this year and begin implementing the plan as early
as summer, 2005.
"The plans for improving water quality will not affect private property,"
said Tony Whiley with the Department of Ecology
Whiley said bacteria and temperature are the major causes water bodies
fail to meet water quality standards in the state of Washington.
"Of the 700 streams listed statewide, 567 of them have been cited
for these criteria," he said.
Each of the streams on the list will have water quality improvement plans
(Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDLs) developed for them. These water quality
improvement plans determine the amount of a pollutant that a water body
can receive and still meet water quality standards.
The Federal Clean Water Act requires states to prepare a list of water
bodies that do not meet water quality standards for ensuring healthy water.
Whiley said that involving the public in a concerted effort to identify
the sources of pollution and recommend cleanup measures is an important
part of the TMDL process.
"We are interested in working cooperatively with adjacent landowners,
permittees, recreation enthusiasts and others to improve water quality
throughout the national forest," he said.
Together, the agencies will monitor the plans for effectiveness, Whiley
said. Once the agencies have verified each stream's problems, TMDL studies
will be conducted to determine each water body's capacity to assimilate
pollution. The studies will be used as tools to develop strategies to
reduce pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must
approve all studies and strategies.
For more information about Whiley's presentation or about Forest streams,
call Ruth Tracy, Gifford Pinchot Forest Hydrologist, at 360.891.5112.
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