Nisqually River Basin TMDL
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A presentation by Cindy James, WA Department of Ecology, to the Nisqually River Council's Environmental Advisory Committee in January 2010.
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- 1. Nisqually River Basin TMDL Fecal Coliform Cindy James, South Puget Sound TMDL Lead, Dept of Ecology
- 2. Nisqually River Basin TMDL Fecal Coliform TMDL Study Report May 2005 Detailed Implementation Plan May 2007 Adaptive Management Meeting January 2009
- 3. Four Focus Areas Nisqually Reach Red Salmon Creek Ohop/Lynch McAllister Creek
- 5. Animal access to ditches and waterways fenced and riparian area planted on farms near McAllister Creek. Is more needed?
- 6. Riparian planting on Ohop Creek and Nisqually Reach.
- 7. Thurston County beginning O and M program similar to Henderson
- 10. McAllister Creek fecal data
- 11. Ohop Creek @ mouthPierce County Surface Water Management
- 12. Lynch Creek @ mouthPierce County Surface Water Management
- 13. McAllister Creek Data @ I-5 Thurston County Environmental Health
- 15. Help stakeholders to complete incomplete actions (discuss barriers). More actions if needed
- 16. Work towards effectiveness monitoring.
Editor's Notes
- The lower reach of Medicine Creek, from RM 0.3 to RM 0.05, met FC water quality standards for Extraordinary Primary Contact Recreation during the study period from October 8, 2007 to April 7, 2008. The FC concentrations generally did increase from upstream to downstream. However, they did not consistently respond to rainfall or storm events during this study period. Improved FC bacteria concentrations seen during this study period could be due to low rainfall during the study period or may be a result of improved waste management activities in the watershed. Nitrate+nitrite-N concentrations are elevated in Medicine Creek. Mean concentrations increased 1 mg/ L from upstream to downstream. Possible contributors to nitrate+nitrite-N in surface water may be from groundwater or agricultural fertilizers. There appears to be an inverse response to concentrations of FC and nitrate+nitrite-N. If groundwater is the primary source of nitrates, then the groundwater may be diluting bacteria concentrations as it contributes nitrate+nitrite-N.Storm events should be targeted if additional wet season monitoring for FC bacteria sampling is considered. This will strengthen conclusions that bacterial water quality is improving. Monitor FC bacteria concentrations during the summer months to characterize conditions during low flow and active agriculture. Sources of nitrate+nitrite-N in the lower reach of Medicine Creek, other than groundwater, should be investigated. For example, investigate whether fertilizer with nitrate+nitrite-N is being applied at agronomic rates to the adjacent agricultural fields and if there are any septic tanks in the area that need maintenance.