Gifford Pinchot National Forest

	USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
For Immediate Release: January 24, 2005
Contact: Dave Howard (360) 690-4796  or Ruth Tracy (360) 891-5112

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.

US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Wednesday, 26 January 2005 at 14:34:10 EST