tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45100569504799220352024-02-07T18:01:32.785-08:00Washington Department of EcologyProud to help you protect Washington's quality of lifeWA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.comBlogger1727125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-42167755188794147282020-02-11T13:46:00.001-08:002020-02-11T13:46:17.328-08:00Ecology launches new blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHKL_exLAp4das3sZ2DjFnPERxHK5xJEWbl7RPb-Wo4ts1TJkAfeNE_okjBELcdSkiFLKkMA6OGEPuo3gnj8YigE_7RwuZ13GSWOuv3TIHk8_brqYP7-Y82zPzLb-U3Rymi3BzqB9fXiw/s1600/20200205SummitLake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="1000" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHKL_exLAp4das3sZ2DjFnPERxHK5xJEWbl7RPb-Wo4ts1TJkAfeNE_okjBELcdSkiFLKkMA6OGEPuo3gnj8YigE_7RwuZ13GSWOuv3TIHk8_brqYP7-Y82zPzLb-U3Rymi3BzqB9fXiw/s640/20200205SummitLake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
This week, we launched a completely redesigned and streamlined blog — <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/blog" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a5a91;">ecology.wa.gov/blog</a>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
As the state’s environmental protection agency, we're recognized for our work to protect and restore Washington’s environment. Over the past 10 years, our blog has become a well-known source of environmental stories that are engaging, educational, and enlightening.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
“The new format really showcases powerful visuals that engage visitors,” said our Web Manager Jonathan Szczur. “It’s a compelling way to help Washingtonians learn about the issues affecting the environment today.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Whether you’re a long-time subscriber or a first-time reader, we encourage you to visit the new site, bookmark it, and subscribe to have news delivered to your inbox.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
The newly-designed blog follows in the footsteps of Ecology’s recently redesigned website. Both now provide the highest level of accessibility for all users. The blog adjusts to different screen sizes, making it easy to view from desktop, tablet, or mobile phone. The clean design meets accessibility standards for people of all abilities.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
“This new design was built to provide our audience with a seamless experience, regardless of device. We wanted to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible for our visitors to find content relevant to them,” Szczur said.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
On the blog, you’ll find stories rich in visuals, videos, and audio pieces.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #343434; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Visit the new blog at <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/blog" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a5a91;">ecology.wa.gov/blog</a>.</div>
WA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-32742841753194701892020-01-24T13:09:00.000-08:002020-01-24T13:27:50.260-08:00Fecal Matters: No-contact advisory issued for Port Washington Narrows and Sinclair Inlet, Kitsap County<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;">BEACH program update</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC013Xpc7jsJKPVNOjLtaDVeq4wEcu68b3aE_SqoBW4BJtMaiOjuwKhbh07O136fPGj2FlIRtRkRQTnfuFH7XpgsQU6yich7k6uzYinlSi_LSDD-1e7Ol1vLISu0f4Qfwtkm0B3i8Vmi0/s1600/RedSignFacebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="red sign with no swimming symbol: Closed High bacteria levels in this water may cause illness. Other beach activities permitted. Washington Beach Program" border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC013Xpc7jsJKPVNOjLtaDVeq4wEcu68b3aE_SqoBW4BJtMaiOjuwKhbh07O136fPGj2FlIRtRkRQTnfuFH7XpgsQU6yich7k6uzYinlSi_LSDD-1e7Ol1vLISu0f4Qfwtkm0B3i8Vmi0/s320/RedSignFacebook.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Kitsap
Public Health District issued a no-contact health advisory for Port Washington
Narrows and Sinclair Inlet in effect through January 29th. This is due to an
approximately 82,400 gallon sewage spill from Bremerton Public
Works. Signs have been posted at public access points and the public is
advised to avoid contact with the water in those areas.<br />
<br />
Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin
rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the
elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.<u5:p></u5:p></span>
<br />
<div style="border-image: none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; border-image: none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Stay
updated on water quality at your beaches by following our <a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/search/label/Fecal%20matters"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Fecal Matters</span></a> blog
posts, connecting on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EcologyWA"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Facebook</span></a>,
or joining our <a href="http://listserv.ecology.wa.gov/scripts/wa-ECOLOGY.exe?A0=BEACH" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0563c1;">listserv</span></a>.<u5:p></u5:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Julianne
Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or <a href="mailto:julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov" target="_blank">julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov</a> for
questions.<u5:p></u5:p></span></span></div>
<u5:p></u5:p><br /></div>
Stacy Galleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17046085613222696158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-84616051838450166482020-01-24T09:15:00.000-08:002020-01-24T09:15:03.423-08:00Cleaning up: How a light rail project keeps a landfill site on track<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">How do you build light rail and
widen a freeway along the edge of a well-managed former municipal waste landfill?
Very carefully! </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">And, with plenty of cooperation among public agencies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">We’re working to do exactly that
with Sound Transit, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-oUjdIupSrh3UVT6BhjtxaoTNkQGxPm8_Ix-5Z7XVf5OGPnFEHkW2mrkezP3OUZtvYT7x9UTPjGAdjDC3L_Cz1nevQgpYScJrcRseuSjvVxRemNoH7U3pdgXyRrYLq31PrrvgsfTUQDT/s1600/Midway+Landfill+facing+North+from+2019-2020+Fact+Sheet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Grassy land slopes from left to right to a freeway on the right. Above these, in the background, are green trees and a partly cloudy sky. " border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-oUjdIupSrh3UVT6BhjtxaoTNkQGxPm8_Ix-5Z7XVf5OGPnFEHkW2mrkezP3OUZtvYT7x9UTPjGAdjDC3L_Cz1nevQgpYScJrcRseuSjvVxRemNoH7U3pdgXyRrYLq31PrrvgsfTUQDT/s640/Midway+Landfill+facing+North+from+2019-2020+Fact+Sheet.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">A grassy meadow covers the Midway Landfill, next to the I-5 freeway southbound lanes between Seattle and Tacoma. White pipes behind the fence are part of the system to collect landfill gas, given off by decomposing municipal solid waste below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<h4>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">The
site: a former landfill</span></b></h4>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">The City of Seattle’s 60-acre </span><a href="https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/gsp/Sitepage.aspx?csid=4729"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Midway Landfill site</span></a><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"> adjoins the west side of I-5 in
Kent. The landfill closed in 1983. Under our oversight, and review by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, SPU:</span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Covered
the landfill with an engineered, multilayered waterproof cap and a top layer of
grass.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Installed
a gas extraction system to control methane generated by material in the
landfill.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Controlled
surface water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Fenced
the landfill to limit access to the site.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">These protective elements have
been in place since 1992. SPU continues to monitor groundwater quality and
landfill gas at the site, under a legal agreement with us, last updated in
2006.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE48EUoTDfSv9so1DtvjsWUlre7pk2eSnT7hE-NgfYkEFPcmXXWfnXgDuHpQHcYUfu5kLO1XLlkwjMtJ9XgWXWBTJyUcN3JvLSeOZB-BX8bjCybyKtNYg4EbG3Sa3JUuoBP7o1x0CVAN-P/s1600/FWLE+Midway+Project+Site+Map+103019+Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A map shows the landfill in the center, with the freeway just to the right. A double yellow line shows the future path of light rail along the freeway at the landfill's edge. A red line shows the landfill boundaries. A blue line shows the work area for light rail construction." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1295" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE48EUoTDfSv9so1DtvjsWUlre7pk2eSnT7hE-NgfYkEFPcmXXWfnXgDuHpQHcYUfu5kLO1XLlkwjMtJ9XgWXWBTJyUcN3JvLSeOZB-BX8bjCybyKtNYg4EbG3Sa3JUuoBP7o1x0CVAN-P/s400/FWLE+Midway+Project+Site+Map+103019+Cropped.jpg" title="" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Sound Transit will build light rail on the landfill's east side,<br />
along I-5's southbound lanes. <i>(Click or tap image to enlarge.)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Transportation
projects</span></b></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Two planned south King County transportation
projects will run half a mile through the eastern edge of the landfill. Sound
Transit plans to </span><a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/federal-way-link-extension"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">extend its Link light rail line</span></a><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"> from Angle Lake to Federal Way. WSDOT
plans to widen a stretch of I-5 as part of its </span><a href="https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR509/completion"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">SR 509 Completion Project</span></a><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Preparation of the landfill for the two
projects will be combined into a single project called FWLE/SR 509 Midway. FWLE
stands for Federal Way Link Extension.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">FWLE/SR 509 Midway will bring
changes to the site. We’re developing legal agreements and engineering plans
with all three parties – SPU, WSDOT and Sound Transit -- to ensure that the
site’s environmental and public health and safety measures continue to function
during and after construction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">The combined project will involve
excavating some of the landfilled municipal waste, and will affect the landfill
cap, the gas collection system, and surface water monitoring network. Because
of this, we’re requiring:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Transfer
of excavated municipal waste to an authorized landfill.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Restoration
of disturbed portions of the landfill cap and other infrastructure.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Documentation
of all required work for our review and approval.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Some of the site’s land ownership
will change. Sound Transit will acquire part of a strip – for the light rail
tracks – that now belongs to WSDOT and will assume responsibility for maintaining
that portion of the landfill cap. Seattle will continue to operate surface
water controls, the gas extraction system, and the ongoing monitoring program.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h4>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Plans
and agreements available</span></b></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">We’re asking the public to review
and comment on four documents that will govern how the FWLE/SR 509 project will
be built, and how the site will be reconfigured:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Consent
Decree Amendment:</span></b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"> update to our existing legal agreement with
SPU.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Prospective
Purchaser Consent Decree:</span></b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"> new legal agreement between us and Sound
Transit.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Cleanup
Action Plan Amendment:</span></b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"> describes actions we will require to
maintain the integrity of the site’s protective elements during and after the
proposed construction.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Public
Participation Plan:</span></b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">
explains how people can participate in the cleanup process.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3C2V_uT3su1MxRq0poxik-diggLBGipL_JTsPCO9tO9euTD8_ynVzMGQhyTpPeGM4-ed0FeR54K3fJTWzySTnp-QXPKmKX6RF69u8Q1Nw4vM2wCXz-MoRMKRzCGsCjfBbaBJ3Iazi9Sz/s1600/Midway+Landfill+facing+South+9-18-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Grassy land slopes from right to left toward a freeway on the left. Trees and a blue sky with a few clouds are in the background" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3C2V_uT3su1MxRq0poxik-diggLBGipL_JTsPCO9tO9euTD8_ynVzMGQhyTpPeGM4-ed0FeR54K3fJTWzySTnp-QXPKmKX6RF69u8Q1Nw4vM2wCXz-MoRMKRzCGsCjfBbaBJ3Iazi9Sz/s400/Midway+Landfill+facing+South+9-18-19.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Looking south across the Midway Landfill where it adjoins I-5.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Comments
invited; public meeting planned</span></b></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">The comment period begins on Jan.
27 and concludes on Feb. 25, 2020. </span><a href="http://tcp.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=DaSih"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Comment online</span></a><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"> or mail comments to: Mark Adams, Site Manager;
Dept. of Ecology; 3190 160<sup>th</sup> Ave. SE; Bellevue WA, 98008-5452.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">We’re also inviting the public to
a meeting and hearing. We, SPU, Sound Transit and WSDOT will give a short
presentation and answer questions about the site and the projects. There will
be time for giving oral comments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Tue.,
Feb. 11, 2020; 7 - 9 p.m.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Des
Moines Elementary School, 23801 16</span><sup style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype", serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Ave. S.</span></li>
<li><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Interpreter services will be
available in Spanish, Korean, and Somali.</span></i></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">We’ll review and respond to all
comments received. We expect the new plans and agreements to be in place by
mid-2020.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">By
Larry Altose, communications manager, Northwest Regional Office<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<li><a href="https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/gsp/Sitepage.aspx?csid=4729"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Midway Landfill site</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://tcp.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=DaSih"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Online comments</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Fact sheet in
<a href="https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/gsp/DocViewer.ashx?did=89307" target="_blank">English</a>, <a href="https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/gsp/DocViewer.ashx?did=89308" target="_blank">Korean</a>, <a href="https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/gsp/DocViewer.ashx?did=89309" target="_blank">Somali </a>and <a href="https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/gsp/DocViewer.ashx?did=89332" target="_blank">Spanish</a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><a href="https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/federal-way-link-extension"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">Sound Transit Federal Way Link
Extension</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR509/completion"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;">WSDOT SR-509 Completion Project</span></a></li>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"></span></b><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com024808 Pacific Hwy S, Kent, WA 98032, USA47.3794307 -122.2981664999999821.8573962 -163.60676049999998 72.9014652 -80.98957249999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-91955359133490607442020-01-23T11:46:00.000-08:002020-01-23T17:29:46.997-08:00Boots on the ground: Members clean, pack, and plant to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Every year, our <a href="http://ecology.wa.gov/wcc" target="_blank">Washington Conservation Corps</a> (WCC) members join <a href="https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps" target="_blank">AmeriCorps</a> programs across the country to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a “day on” rather than a “day off.” On <a href="https://www.nationalservice.gov/serve-your-community/mlk-day-service" target="_blank">MLK Day of Service</a>, members transform Dr. King's life and teachings into community service that empowers individuals and helps solve social problems. Let's take a look at some projects our members arranged this year!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qGFUYS_X0H3D6fgEg8c07fpRX4z5bg4KvEJ7E6753llc804bXr0ExqW_cZvgf1maO63DQ9iKnCXfON8ZDRzIzbNc_vug5Ch1PC_psO5KSO_qYYoJ4lh1gJxDdcbjoJrxmliBanOcV1I/s1600/Homeless+Backpacks+group+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Five young adults wear dark blue shirts and stand in a line carrying yellow and white plastic bags full of food." border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1068" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qGFUYS_X0H3D6fgEg8c07fpRX4z5bg4KvEJ7E6753llc804bXr0ExqW_cZvgf1maO63DQ9iKnCXfON8ZDRzIzbNc_vug5Ch1PC_psO5KSO_qYYoJ4lh1gJxDdcbjoJrxmliBanOcV1I/s640/Homeless+Backpacks+group+photo.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Left to right: Members Raechal Burke, Jordan Billheimer, Presley Barbo, Emma Mobley, and Allie Trister </span>spent MLK Day serving the non-profit organization Homeless Backpacks, in Lacey, packing bags of food for youth experiencing homelessness. Photo contributed by Raechal Burke.</span></td></tr>
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Packing bags for food assistance </h3>
One of our field crews in Tumwater took a break from planting trees and shrubs to help make sure youth experiencing homelessness had food for the following weekend. Members packed bags of food with <a href="https://homelessbackpacks.org/" target="_blank">Homeless Backpacks</a> in Thurston County, an organization that provides free bags of food for middle and high school youth for the weekend, when government-supported meals are not available.<br />
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Members also served food or conducted inventory at 13 different food pantries or shelters across the state, including FISH Community Food Bank in Kittitas County, Everett Food Bank in Snohomish County, and Helping Hands Food Bank in Skagit County.<br />
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Mailing books to support education</h3>
Another field crew in Tumwater supported enrichment and educational opportunities for incarcerated people across the country through the nonprofit <a href="https://olympiabtp.org/" target="_blank">Books to Prisoners Olympia</a> in Thurston County.<br />
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“It was a heartwarming and rewarding experience,” said WCC AmeriCorps member Grace McLarty. “We got to choose books based on letters we received, and write letters to incarcerated people.” The crew rounded out their day leading volunteers in invasive species removal with Capitol Land Trust. “We had an amazing day and are grateful to have been able to serve our communities,” Grace said.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU5m_wJ6sd2a9GhXcTmywGARddzt7upn8ipeorKGFISE230vZBbVA3Q8FUXH0P905tF511DENuJGih_8r_8Vqh0Kkdzzkcq01lI1Ony5zpRaWDj7GC_Xv-WN4bDpcgVcmkIJtBHiYBFs/s1600/Books+for+Prisoners_writing+letters+by+McLarty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Three young adults wearing blue sweatshirts sit at an indoor table with envelopes and books on the table." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU5m_wJ6sd2a9GhXcTmywGARddzt7upn8ipeorKGFISE230vZBbVA3Q8FUXH0P905tF511DENuJGih_8r_8Vqh0Kkdzzkcq01lI1Ony5zpRaWDj7GC_Xv-WN4bDpcgVcmkIJtBHiYBFs/s640/Books+for+Prisoners_writing+letters+by+McLarty.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Members Julie Pick, Mason Haynes, and Rainer Connelly select books for specific prisoners based on hand-written letters. Photo by Grace McLarty.</td></tr>
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Building and painting walls for accessible housing </h3>
WCC members built homes, assembled furniture, and improved facilities at 15 different affordable housing or senior housing organizations across the state. In Jefferson, Pierce, and Skagit counties, members assisted with painting and construction activities with the global nonprofit housing organization <a href="https://www.habitat.org/" target="_blank">Habitat for Humanity</a>.<br />
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One of our crews cleaned rooms and facilities at Admiral House in King County, one of <a href="http://plyhc.org/" target="_blank">Plymouth Healing Communities</a>’ apartment buildings. Plymouth Healing Communities provides housing and companionship to people living with housing instability and mental illness. Staff and residents invited our WCC members to enjoy food and conversation together after they wrapped up cleaning tasks, and our members shared that turned out to be a highlight of the day.<br />
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“My favorite and most challenging aspect of my MLK day of service experience was that it required me to exercise a completely different set of skills than the ones we use in our usual line of project work,” said AmeriCorps member Jon Simo. “Socializing with the residents is a skill that comes the least naturally to me than any other. However, that was precisely what made it so rewarding for me. I got to meet and help people from very different walks of life from my own.”<br />
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Planting trees for healthy ecosystems</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g-WVqp554TCP_LtNQ1Iu4XPzjnS3e7JuSFyWnoOYKgjEdCiKI6x2o4QsmS462zjeR0TgeVFusOMNH93uNiyS0pf9UgYHzQ79xSFYrEGJZOqISJQAYBcpeM5H507Vbb0BZiodfj728W4/s1600/group+photo+from+lilya+jaeren_Cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A group of seven young adults stand in a field. They are all wearing dark blue sweatshirts." border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g-WVqp554TCP_LtNQ1Iu4XPzjnS3e7JuSFyWnoOYKgjEdCiKI6x2o4QsmS462zjeR0TgeVFusOMNH93uNiyS0pf9UgYHzQ79xSFYrEGJZOqISJQAYBcpeM5H507Vbb0BZiodfj728W4/s640/group+photo+from+lilya+jaeren_Cropped.jpg" title="" width="595" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Members Bryan Sibrian, Ben Papadopoulos, <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Malise Yun, Abby Jackson, Lilya Jaeren, Tyler Ransier,</span><br />
and Gabby Alampay. Photo contributed by Lilya Jaeren.</td></tr>
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Seven <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Our-role-in-the-community/Washington-Conservation-Corps/WCC-Individual-Placement-Program" target="_blank">Individual Placement</a> AmeriCorps members opted to serve outdoors for their MLK Day of Service with <a href="http://nisquallylandtrust.org/" target="_blank">Nisqually Land Trust</a> in Thurston County. Together with community volunteers, they planted more than 1,000 native trees and shrubs.<br />
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“All seven of us do monitoring for our everyday projects so it was nice to do some environmental restoration, and good exercise digging holes and hammering stakes into the ground,” said Lilya Jaeren, who serves on the state Department of Natural Resources' Aquatic Reserves Team. “It was nice to know that our efforts will have a positive impact on the Nisqually River Watershed.”<br />
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In addition, a handful of crew members honed their leadership skills by teaching community volunteers about safety and planting techniques for a restoration event at Whatcom Falls Park in Skagit County, with <a href="https://www.n-sea.org/" target="_blank">Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association</a>, <a href="https://www.cob.org/gov/dept/parks" target="_blank">City of Bellingham</a>, and <a href="https://www.wta.org/" target="_blank">Washington Trails Association</a>. In total, volunteers planted 592 native shrubs, ferns, and trees, re-planted more than 2,000 feet of social trails, spread almost 50 cubic yards of mulch, and removed almost 10 cubic yards of invasive Himalayan blackberry, English holly, and English ivy!<br />
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These activities will help improve habitat for salmon and octher wildlife along Whatcom Creek, and hopefully inspire local residents to continue getting their hands dirty and building community by attending future volunteer events.<br />
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Honoring Dr. King's legacy all year</h3>
Our WCC joins thousands of AmeriCorps members, community members, and organizations across the nation in striving to honor Dr. King's legacy every day. As an AmeriCorps program focusing on environmental stewardship, WCC commits to continuing conversations about justice and service, creating a service atmosphere where all can thrive, and working to ensure service opportunities are available to everyone.<br />
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Laura Schlabachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14947716735227070326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-84631034142694862612020-01-22T08:12:00.000-08:002020-01-22T08:12:20.345-08:00Fecal Matters: Saltwater State Park is now open to the public, King County<br />
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BEACH program update</h2>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499781585380790546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EUYuIO1Q6LxP-HZUvvPsoZOYuFqq22pYZEkgVd0GMvxRA14T8H2FvJuxMwLXJTJea6CLujqCaAWDJpUz_QDKRE6cO7IW6FaGL8cW91Y-E30hBHxHwI_ZKFzf5Ju_E9g7zm9xv2jinWz2/s320/beachiconsmall.jpg" style="float: left; height: 120px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 90px;" /><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seattle and King County Public Health have lifted the no-contact advisory to water contact at Saltwater State Park and Washington State Parks have re-opened the park to the public. Last month, heavy rains caused a sewage spill at the Midway Sewer District that discharged near the park. Recent water quality samples taken show that bacteria levels have dropped to safe levels.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our <a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/search/label/Fecal%20matters">Fecal Matters</a> blog posts, connecting on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EcologyWA">Facebook</a>, or joining our <a href="http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=BEACH">listserv</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or <a href="mailto:julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov" target="_blank">julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov</a> for questions.</span></div>
Julianne Ruffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12868683265621344984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-1620672671381315462020-01-21T13:35:00.003-08:002020-01-23T13:59:45.701-08:00$215 million proposed for clean water projects across the stateEcology is proposing to award $215 million in grants and loans for 89 high-priority clean water projects across the state. Our Water Quality Combined Funding Program supports local communities by helping them upgrade wastewater treatment systems and sewer systems, manage polluted stormwater, and complete a variety of other projects to prevent and cleanup more diffuse sources of pollution also known as nonpoint pollution. More than $172 million of the funding is for projects that will help support Puget Sound recovery by improving water quality and creating a healthier habitat for the endangered Southern Resident Orca, salmon, and their food web.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD8_Y4SDXFzce2SBB34ZxiaZCRmhIIhMR8WD4aCNUswgTUGEGC6IOXFpTuCUZEh4VSKmh6Fify7mseZ0m_lvS9AU1LqpxSagSxQT1yGUC-UoAtanQA8ubfWbCr3x7Sp_KazhyphenhyphenXQnKa_E/s1600/2021+water+quality+grants+and+loans+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMD8_Y4SDXFzce2SBB34ZxiaZCRmhIIhMR8WD4aCNUswgTUGEGC6IOXFpTuCUZEh4VSKmh6Fify7mseZ0m_lvS9AU1LqpxSagSxQT1yGUC-UoAtanQA8ubfWbCr3x7Sp_KazhyphenhyphenXQnKa_E/s320/2021+water+quality+grants+and+loans+image.jpg" width="320" /></a>“These projects are vital to support Puget Sound recovery and protect our waters across the state,” said Heather Bartlett, Ecology’s Water Quality Program Manager. “Continued support from the legislature to fund these projects ensures Washingtonians clean water now and for future generations.” <br />
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We always receive more project applications than we are able to fund. We were only able to fund 54% of the need during this cycle. In addition, State Centennial Clean Water Program grant resources were reduced in recent biennia. We use this funding for both wastewater-hardship projects and nonpoint pollution control projects. Some of these unfunded projects include small financially challenged communities with expensive wastewater infrastructure repair needs.<br />
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Nearly 90% of the funding the water quality program receives is passed through to local communities for environmental projects. Our clean water funding comes from a mix of state and federal funds dedicated for water quality improvements and protection. State financial managers calculate that 11 direct and indirect jobs are created in Washington for every $1 million spent on building clean water infrastructure. We encourage <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Events/WQ/Water-Quality-Grant-Funding/Public-hearing-Tacoma-Feb01-2018" target="_blank">your comments</a> on our draft list of projects as well as comments on our evaluation.<br />
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Here are some highlights about the potential projects<div>
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Thirty-two communities will split $36 million in grants and low interest loans to implement projects to manage and reduce stormwater pollution. The highest priority stormwater projects include:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBzN_wPbhQ4JWNndak9-8an53Au4Zk7ozT3TTN6KuCprDH5uJC1O2OsHYVJOpa7NOlXoJeclDRT3chmhtsTa7jhrpZzirrCZFFj9i0QCu0NxC8NBmwIKHcTnva3RYhKVE5HQYf68x2Jo/s1600/ebeyslough.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="water with tidal land around it. " border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1412" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBzN_wPbhQ4JWNndak9-8an53Au4Zk7ozT3TTN6KuCprDH5uJC1O2OsHYVJOpa7NOlXoJeclDRT3chmhtsTa7jhrpZzirrCZFFj9i0QCu0NxC8NBmwIKHcTnva3RYhKVE5HQYf68x2Jo/s320/ebeyslough.PNG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ebey Slough will benefit from upriver green development that <br />
mimics natural environment. </td></tr>
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<li>The town of <strong>Marysville</strong> in <strong>Snohomish County</strong> is slated to receive a $2.3 million grant to improve water quality in Ebey Slough (a tributary to the Snohomish River estuary). The project will install green infrastructure, infrastructure that mimics natural environment at both 2nd Street and Cedar Avenue to help reduce fine particles, oils, copper, zinc, and phosphorus in addition to reducing flows.</li>
<li>The City of <strong>Rosyln</strong> in <strong>Kittitas County</strong> is proposed to receive a $156,984 grant to develop a plan for reducing stormwater impacts to Crystal Creek, an impaired waterbody. The project will evaluate options for low impact development and best management practices to guide future design and implementation of capital improvement projects to improve water quality.</li>
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Twenty-one projects are set to receive $9 million in grants and low interest rate loans to address nonpoint pollution. Nonpoint pollution has a significant impact on water quality; it comes from activities a variety of diffuse sources instead of an identifiable pipe. The top-rated nonpoint projects include:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbKSEBxm2gcd8dSpxapK-X6cskCUyNuErF3ykwA9UW51xJM_R_to6bFWrb0RArTfyZaRV-ckeIwBHPyhf0t20sXk8Klvm-qLQF5wy4PSkgn3rNHpKT2o7fUtVGmC6I9H33sfcdnlCfDg/s1600/Padden+Creek+Daylighting+bridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pedestrian bridge with person on it looking at creek with newly planted land with woody debris" border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1600" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbKSEBxm2gcd8dSpxapK-X6cskCUyNuErF3ykwA9UW51xJM_R_to6bFWrb0RArTfyZaRV-ckeIwBHPyhf0t20sXk8Klvm-qLQF5wy4PSkgn3rNHpKT2o7fUtVGmC6I9H33sfcdnlCfDg/s320/Padden+Creek+Daylighting+bridge.JPG" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A previous restoration brought the creek from inside a pipe<br />
into the daylight. Now improvements to the creek will <br />
continue to restore natural function. </td></tr>
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<li>The City of <strong>Bellingham</strong> in <strong>Whatcom County</strong> is on the list to receive a $500,000 grant to improve the water quality and aquatic function of Padden Creek, an urban stream. The project will create structurally and biologically diverse instream, off-channel, and riparian buffer habitats, through the use of floodplain widening, riparian buffer enhancement, wetland restoration, and installation of large woody debris in addition to the creation of backwaters, side channels, pools, and riffles.</li>
<li>The nonprofit, <strong>Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group</strong>, is slated for a $250,000 grant for work in the upper Yakima River in <strong>Kittitas County</strong>. The project aims to reduce sediment, fecal coliform, and temperatures through riparian buffer restoration and protection projects, including: installing riparian trees along 900 stream feet; excluding livestock on 25 acres along 2,700 stream feet; maintaining plants along 3,000 stream feet; and identifying 10 new projects within a 30 mile area.</li>
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There are 35 wastewater treatment projects marked to receive approximately $169 million. Nine of the projects qualify for hardship financial assistance in order to ensure the project can go forward with out undue residential sewer bill rate changes to these small and financially challenged communities. The following wastewater hardship projects were the highest rated among all applications received.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWm-yjvMwcnU0PrIv9iDnRzGQMgR1UN1pjy2xq9Z7nwrzle14Y1MUBVUf1Q0TtKwdo-kEyvGZlIkuCt7okkJSZ4agMIaxbvEIyjPMY8yPvAOPGEYp_DgUbsmEmE08MOjHcuqUWw5VfVQ/s1600/garfield_wwtp.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="two people looking into a wastewater treatment pool with mechanical filters and equipment around. " border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWm-yjvMwcnU0PrIv9iDnRzGQMgR1UN1pjy2xq9Z7nwrzle14Y1MUBVUf1Q0TtKwdo-kEyvGZlIkuCt7okkJSZ4agMIaxbvEIyjPMY8yPvAOPGEYp_DgUbsmEmE08MOjHcuqUWw5VfVQ/s320/garfield_wwtp.PNG" title="" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trickling filter at the Town of Garfield’s <br />
wastewater treatment plant. Their project will fix <br />
issues significantly affecting the plant function.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul style="border-image: none;">
<li>The Town of <strong>Garfield</strong> in <strong>Whitman County</strong> is proposed to receive $610,643 in a combination of grant, forgivable loan, and low interest loan to line sewer mains at critical locations throughout the town. The project will fix key deficiencies in the sewer system that were identified during a recent infiltration and inflow study. The deficiencies are significantly affecting the function of the town’s wastewater treatment plant.</li>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<li><strong>Okanogan County</strong> Public Health is slated to receive $97,829 in forgivable loan and low interest loan to remove an old septic system and connect an Oroville Housing Authority seasonal farmworker/homeless housing project to the City of <strong>Oroville’s</strong> sewer system. Our funding will complement funding from other agencies to fully fund the project. The goal of the project is to avoid contamination of Tonasket Creek that occasionally floods the current septic system’s drain field. Tonasket Creek drains to the Okanogan River.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<h2>
Let us know what you think</h2>
<div>
A public review and comment period on the <a href="https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/summarypages/2010006.html" target="_blank">Draft Funding List</a> is open until <strong>5:00pm on Feb. 17, 2020.</strong> We will hold a public meeting to present the Draft Funding List and discuss the project evaluation and funding process. </div>
<br />
<h3>
Public Meeting: </h3>
<div>
Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m.</div>
<div>
Pierce County Library</div>
<div>
3005 112th Street East </div>
<div>
Tacoma, WA </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
How to comment</h3>
<h4>
Please email comments to:</h4>
<div>
Daniel Thompson</div>
<div>
Department of Ecology</div>
<div>
Water Quality Program - Financial Management Section</div>
<div>
P.O. Box 47600</div>
<div>
Olympia, WA 98504-7600</div>
<div>
Email: <a href="mailto:daniel.thompson@ecy.wa.gov" target="_blank">daniel.thompson@ecy.wa.gov</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
We will respond to all comments received during the comment period and notify all commenters when we publish our Final Funding List around July 1.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
More information</h3>
<div>
For more information, including access to <a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WaterQualityCombinedFundingProgramSFY21DraftOfferList/2021DraftList?:display_count=y&publish=yes&:origin=viz_share_link" target="_blank">an interactive map of funded projects</a> and access to a <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Asset-Collections/Doc-Assets/Water-quality/Grants-and-Loans/Water-Quality-Combined-Prgm/SFY-2019-Draft-Offer-List-Excel-Version-Water-Qu" target="_blank">worksheet describing the projects and funding proposed</a>, please visit the <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/How-we-operate/Grants-loans/Find-a-grant-or-loan/Water-Quality-Combined-Funding-Program/WQC-funding-cycle">Water Quality Combined Funding Program Funding Cycles webpage</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WaterQualityCombinedFundingProgramSFY21DraftOfferList/2021DraftList?:display_count=y&publish=yes&:origin=viz_share_link" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="map of Washington with many dots across the whole state marking all project locations. " border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1052" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioG14zJEpGkcrDlHC_IpahzYkHUkXLr2Q2iXTwzJ2Hr98rEyoCvY2gyW5Qbx6a8FtqnGkHNEN5fJpO1826WHhFeca-cC5OzNYdoGsVaDGxWtHp8fKlpxV6XgRWThorUAiVrAtpYxbAq9g/s400/map.PNG" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WaterQualityCombinedFundingProgramSFY21DraftOfferList/2021DraftList?:display_count=y&publish=yes&:origin=viz_share_link" target="_blank">Visit our interactive map of funded projects</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
By Daniel Thompson and Stacy Galleher, Water Quality Program </h4>
</div>
<h3>
</h3>
</div>
</div>
Stacy Galleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17046085613222696158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-20850232424997221302020-01-21T10:00:00.000-08:002020-01-21T10:00:23.888-08:00Protecting human and environmental health with Safer Products for WA<div class="Default" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Many of the products we use on a daily basis contain toxic
chemicals that escape into our homes and the environment when we use and
dispose of them. Even small amounts of chemical releases are steady, and when
combined, they make up one of the biggest sources of toxics entering
Washington’s environment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<h3 style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjNTm57x3mMWcR-z2eweegiHK2mT9cBlislluhMeUKEzxo7rA1EgAFK3VlF2RF2OuEbcoRjaWt5wbadKcYp6m5yjnxOeSjCkBTKlxOf6d_rojlQIbqOc3Pz4CkOcCnvQlJNYYa4Yx-Dn4/s1600/WP_20160216_09_30_35_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Members of the Washington State Legislature on the House floor." border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjNTm57x3mMWcR-z2eweegiHK2mT9cBlislluhMeUKEzxo7rA1EgAFK3VlF2RF2OuEbcoRjaWt5wbadKcYp6m5yjnxOeSjCkBTKlxOf6d_rojlQIbqOc3Pz4CkOcCnvQlJNYYa4Yx-Dn4/s320/WP_20160216_09_30_35_Pro.jpg" title="Washington State Legislature" width="320" /></a></div>
New law</h3>
In spring 2019, the Washington Legislature passed a law that
creates a new way to keep toxic chemicals out of consumer products. Ecology
named the law’s implementation program <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/ToxicsInProducts" target="_blank">Safer Products for Washington</a>. <o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
It directs us to work with Department of Health to: <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Choose
priority chemicals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Identify
products that contain these chemicals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Decide
whether or not to regulate those chemical-product combinations by requiring
reporting or chemical restrictions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Adopt
rules to implement those regulatory actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Our team in the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program has
been collaborating with statewide partners, diving into the research, and hearing
from stakeholders to implement this law. <o:p></o:p></div>
<h3 style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Why it matters</h3>
The law has important consumer impacts—especially for sensitive
populations like our children. We all benefit from the convenience and
services of consumer products. But those products shouldn’t harm us, our kids,
or our environment.
<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
In Washington, millions of dollars have been spent removing toxics
from contaminated water bodies, yet some fish are still unsafe to eat and
sensitive species like our orcas continue to dwindle due, in part, to chemical
contamination.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Under Safer Products for Washington, we can make consumer products
safer. It’s the right thing to do to protect the future of Washington’s
residents and wildlife.</div>
<h3 style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
What’s new</h3>
In partnership
with Department of Health, we<b> </b>released
a <a href="https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/summarypages/2004004.html" target="_blank">draft report</a> that identifies nine consumer
products for further evaluation and potential rulemaking<b>.</b> The report release started a <a href="http://hwtr.ecology.commentinput.com/?id=4CT3u&" target="_blank">45-day public comment period</a> that ends March 2, 2020. <o:p></o:p>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfz2co5myqpraOifzKONwKBRU-SvcrzL1x0p2zMqg6uho-n1tWv0n5aWzgwCUp8lJAuO2jRaEZziYiahqbyD1qAiqdTXLyFzPsbDoNxtjWYzpFINs0_K3fmJ-xLxCfFc-kOcuyP_ZikCq/s1600/Velour-Carpet_cross-section.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cross-section of cut pile plush carpet and carpet backing." border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="448" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfz2co5myqpraOifzKONwKBRU-SvcrzL1x0p2zMqg6uho-n1tWv0n5aWzgwCUp8lJAuO2jRaEZziYiahqbyD1qAiqdTXLyFzPsbDoNxtjWYzpFINs0_K3fmJ-xLxCfFc-kOcuyP_ZikCq/s320/Velour-Carpet_cross-section.jpg" title="Carpet cross-section" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Cross-section of cut pile <br />plush carpet and carpet backing.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the
report, we proposed these priority products:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Carpet
and aftermarket carpet treatments containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Vinyl
flooring and cosmetic fragrances containing phthalates.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Laundry
detergent, thermal paper, and food cans containing phenolic compounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 2.55pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Printing
inks containing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Electric
and electronic equipment containing organohalogen flame retardants.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<h3>
Why we’re looking at these products</h3>
We chose these consumer products because research demonstrates that they are
exposing people and the environment to priority chemicals. We evaluated reports from Health and
Ecology, research from Ecology’s product testing program, and peer-reviewed
literature.<br />
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Default" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
When the public comment period ends, we will evaluate the feedback
and finalize this list of products. Then, we’ll begin the research to identify whether
safer alternatives are available, and to determine regulatory actions, if any.</div>
<h3 style="margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Get involved</h3>
Reach out to the Safer Products for Washington team at <a href="mailto:SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov" target="_blank">SaferProductsWA@ecy.wa.gov</a> to share data, learn more or get involved.Erich R. Ebelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02925797107465473674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-52541645960275919542020-01-16T15:30:00.000-08:002020-01-17T14:15:46.920-08:00Public invited to participate in early comment period for statewide biosolids general permitThe Department of Ecology’s public processes can be wide reaching, often impacting many communities or sometimes just a few people. From permitting a long-time industrial facility to measuring the environmental impacts of a project proposal, Ecology acts throughout Washington on behalf of residents to protect and enhance this remarkable state where the environment and economy go hand-in-hand.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HkzPzRj0X4r6XjMiIynoqB2Se-AoEofHNCaGYkqvNLPAagmi503DlJak9JMUr5eBG2Ky-Y2Dn2btTRCZSC1l-zLxZ030uoeFKRvOGumxdsSgukxHvwm69biohFCJwUsm6AOjYY_KOnh4/s1600/Wastewater+Treatment+Plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A wastewater treatment plant in Wenatchee" border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HkzPzRj0X4r6XjMiIynoqB2Se-AoEofHNCaGYkqvNLPAagmi503DlJak9JMUr5eBG2Ky-Y2Dn2btTRCZSC1l-zLxZ030uoeFKRvOGumxdsSgukxHvwm69biohFCJwUsm6AOjYY_KOnh4/s400/Wastewater+Treatment+Plant.jpg" title="Wastewater treatment plant" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of Washington's biosolids are created at wastewater treatment plants<br />
like this one in Wenatchee. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One of the processes we undertake every five years is the <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Reducing-recycling-waste/Organic-materials/Biosolids" target="_blank">redevelopment of a statewide biosolids general permit</a>. Biosolids are a product of wastewater treatment systems, rich in organic material and nutrients, and used by farmers across Washington to grow a variety of crops. With Ecology’s oversight, proper testing and application ensures this product benefits farmers and soil without leaching nutrients into surface or groundwater.<br />
<br />
We begin the permit development process by engaging stakeholders – both the regulated community and the general public – to first answer a question and then move forward on the development of our fifth biosolids statewide general permit.<br />
<br />
Through January 24, Ecology is asking the public to weigh in on that initial question: “Is a statewide general permit appropriate for the regulation of biosolids under state rules?”<br />
<br />
Responses, comments, questions, and requests can be sent to:<br />
<a href="mailto:emily.kijowski@ecy.wa.gov" target="_blank">Emily Kijowski</a>, Department of Ecology<br />
Solid Waste Management<br />
P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.<br />
<br />
Comments must be received or postmarked no later than Jan. 24, 2020. Visit our <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Reducing-recycling-waste/Organic-materials/Biosolids" target="_blank">biosolids</a> page for more information.<br />
<br />
<h3>
What do you think?</h3>
If a member of the public believes that biosolids cannot be properly managed under a statewide general permit, they should explain their concern and how an individual permit would result in better protections for public health and the environment, or be more efficient, less burdensome, or less costly.<br />
<br />
And it’s important to understand that this preliminary determination concerns a single question regarding the use of a general permit. This is not an opportunity to comment on requirements that should or should not be in the general permit, or on specific facilities unless the information is related to the appropriateness of the general permit approach.<br />
<br />
Developing a statewide general permit doesn’t mean that the public would give up its right to engage Ecology on biosolids actions that must be approved individually. Our commitment to transparent, thorough, and impartial public processes would remain intact from start to finish.<br />
<br />
Anyone who comments on this preliminary determination will automatically be added to our list of persons interested in development of a biosolids general permit. Interested parties will receive email updates and notices on opportunities to participate in and comment on the development of a biosolids statewide general permit.<br />
<br />
-Dave Bennett, Solid Waste Management ProgramWA Department of Ecologyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17211353558094402510noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-41827079161874748502020-01-16T08:30:00.000-08:002020-01-21T08:37:59.112-08:00Tackling nitrate contamination<h3>
Groundwater monitoring in the Lower Yakima Valley to reduce risks</h3>
Among our top priorities in Governor Jay Inslee’s 2020 supplemental budget is a request for $378,000 to expand monitoring for nitrates in Lower Yakima Valley private drinking water wells relied upon by as many as 56,000 residents there.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/h11HliKzH-w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h11HliKzH-w?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
Over the years, we have lent support to provide research, data, and technical expertise to the community-based <a href="https://www.yakimacounty.us/541/Groundwater-Management">Lower Yakima Valley Groundwater Management Area</a> (GWMA) committee's work to tackle and reduce sources of nitrates in drinking water.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ecology staff participated with the local groundwater advisory committee to develop recommendations to address all sources of nitrate, and implement strategies to improve groundwater quality to meet drinking water standards. We conducted a sampling and monitoring regimen to evaluate progress during the GWMA process.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
With this request, we are seeking additional funds to build on that data within the <a href="https://www.yakimacounty.us/1617/Ground-Water-Management-Area">GWMA boundaries</a>. Ecology has licensed hydrogeologists with the knowledge and skills to conduct this type of study to assure credible data is collected, and the program is science based.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The new budget request calls for 2.9 FTEs (fulltime equivalent employees) for groundwater monitoring of 170 groundwater wells to help to establish baseline conditions and measure how management practices affect groundwater quality. <br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
Why is Ecology sampling wells? </h3>
The Yakima River Basin is a complex watershed where legacy and current land use activities influence groundwater quality. These activities include irrigated agriculture, dairy operations, on-site sewage systems, commercial operations, and hobby farms.<br />
<div>
<br />
A recent groundwater study of 150 private domestic wells in the Lower Yakima Valley found that 20 percent of wells consistently exceeded the drinking water standard for all samples collected. The 2017 study also showed that 26 percent of the wells had at least one in six samples exceeding the drinking water standard. Nitrate consumption can lead to health risks for infants, pregnant women and the elderly.<br />
<h3>
<br />
Why are private wells more vulnerable to contamination? </h3>
Unlike public drinking water systems, private domestic wells are not regulated to assure drinking water meets standards. Individual <a href="https://www.doh.wa.gov/portals/1/Documents/pubs/331-349.pdf">private well owners</a> are encouraged by the state Department of Health to sample their wells annually for bacteria and nitrate. Well owners also can learn about healthy practices to protect their well water on Yakima County’s GWMA <a href="https://www.yakimacounty.us/1809/Healthy-Wells">website.</a><br />
<br />
Still we need to address the larger problem of elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwater, which is the predominant drinking water source in the Lower Yakima Valley. <br />
<br />
<h3>
What does the GWMA Program do?</h3>
The Lower Yakima Valley GWMA Program identifies best management practices to reduce nitrate pollution associated with various land uses. Providing educational information and specific implementation opportunities for homeowners, residents and agricultural operators are key components for protecting water quality.<br />
<br />
Our Environmental Assessment Program’s expertise in monitoring is a natural fit to work in tandem with these broader GWMA goals. We are redoubling our commitment with this monitoring request.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Bottom line </h3>
We see an opportunity for success in the Lower Yakima Valley GWMA where local recommendations identify actions for all parties to take to protect drinking water and prevent nitrate pollution.</div>
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We pledge to support the local governments (Yakima County, Yakima Health District, South Yakima Conservation District) and stakeholders as they move the GWMA plan forward, and urge them to follow through on the commitment they made to lead the effort to find local solutions for groundwater pollution in their communities.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSGRZzkuhTxeCNG1VVfWEhqCdOq8QD9J3vDaHuMkNAiYX1H1z3y886UR1LNKpj4zMF9sSF-6IJ8qQA7RoKLHALyua1tWdGb5RkIOhMym9oXqSZr-x07qSM3vsmLdnTP0dI342YFFuBL0/s1600/GWMA+MAP.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="1302" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSGRZzkuhTxeCNG1VVfWEhqCdOq8QD9J3vDaHuMkNAiYX1H1z3y886UR1LNKpj4zMF9sSF-6IJ8qQA7RoKLHALyua1tWdGb5RkIOhMym9oXqSZr-x07qSM3vsmLdnTP0dI342YFFuBL0/s640/GWMA+MAP.PNG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<h3>
Learn more about these bills and others</h3>
We’re committed to keeping people informed on our legislative actions. You can learn more about these bills and other legislative priorities by visiting our <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/How-we-operate/2020-Legislative-priorities">2020 Legislative Priorities </a>web page. Updates on bill status will also be shared on our Twitter account<a href="https://twitter.com/EcologyWA"> @EcologyWA</a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can stay informed on Washington’s environmental work by subscribing or following us:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="background: white; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/News/Email-lists">News releases</a></span></li>
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<b>By Joye Redfield-Wilder, Central Region Communications Manager</b>Joye Redfield-Wilderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06029246519786127440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-11413141734520231392020-01-15T11:47:00.000-08:002020-01-15T11:47:06.568-08:00New Year, New Water Right Applications<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hXb3fi_WEpR9LpYLowAYtW62vm2D2LUihaHSNgay_hyN74C86ArwYjY-hPQP3mulPnzfHyovCzOBmjxsPhFbt1Wu4UZux7XElolJ-X605cry6Z2Bv_DWa37GG-c5tTD3lqcIr1GJ9qo/s1600/2018-10-17+12.38.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scenic photo of a calm river in Washington" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hXb3fi_WEpR9LpYLowAYtW62vm2D2LUihaHSNgay_hyN74C86ArwYjY-hPQP3mulPnzfHyovCzOBmjxsPhFbt1Wu4UZux7XElolJ-X605cry6Z2Bv_DWa37GG-c5tTD3lqcIr1GJ9qo/s640/2018-10-17+12.38.48.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Washington, waters belong to the public and can't be owned. Instead someone may be granted a right to use a volume of water, for a defined purpose, in a specific place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With the start of the new year, the Water Resources Program released updates to our <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Water-supply/Water-rights">water right</a> application forms. The forms hadn’t been revised in a number of years, and were due for some changes.<br />
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<h4>
What's different?</h4>
We do not require any information on the new application forms that was not already required to process an application. One difference is the timing of when we need that information. The old application functioned as a place-holder until we began reviewing it, which then started an iterative fact-gathering process with the applicant. This frequently involved excessive wait times.<br />
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Our new applications allow us to instead consolidate the information gathering up front, when the applicant submits their application. Although we will still have to assess legal and technical aspects of the proposal, we expect the new form to allow us to process both the applications for <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Regulations-Permits/Permits-certifications/Water-rights-permits">new water rights and those for changing water rights</a> more efficiently.<br />
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<h4>
We're here to help</h4>
We strongly recommend applicants take part in a free pre-application consultation with Water Resources Program staff. By talking with us early in the process, before taking the time and expense of completing and filing an application, applicants can gain a realistic understanding of the viability of their proposal and the range and scope of information required for a decision.<br />
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The updated forms are a continuation of our ongoing work to reduce the backlog of pending applications and diminish the delays and opportunity costs while applicants await decisions. Using the new applications and our expanded guidance also provides greater transparency about information we use to make decisions and how we measure the viability of applications for new water rights and water right changes and transfers.<br />
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<h4>
By Barb Anderson, Water Resources </h4>
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Keeley Belvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06686201097861029530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-7146595208648051852020-01-13T08:42:00.000-08:002020-01-13T15:23:46.125-08:00We’re wading into water issues at the 2020 Legislature <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Water-related issues are among our top priorities as we head into the 2020 Washington legislative session. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With climate forecasts predicting more frequent droughts, it’s critical that we take a more proactive approach to helping communities faced with water supply issues. Another environmental issue we face as a state is the use of copper-based paint on boats. We know these paints are harmful to fish and other marine life, but more research is needed to find the best alternatives. To address these issues, we’ve asked the Legislature to consider bills that provide solutions to the problems.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Drought preparedness for Washington communities</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64a4s-V78Q-jROtcZviDWbMW3uIAK4cTTqb9hz53gDTT0ZDMITQuTuo4GVhZiKuwOXojEjjqv48jsNjOrKygvph_PJVI7ZdaQAVGuUPwqktKjSrx9kOmci78Xhv6LeCRd6Dz9R2Dc9A/s1600/Blog-drought.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Irrigation sprinkler watering field." border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="1500" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64a4s-V78Q-jROtcZviDWbMW3uIAK4cTTqb9hz53gDTT0ZDMITQuTuo4GVhZiKuwOXojEjjqv48jsNjOrKygvph_PJVI7ZdaQAVGuUPwqktKjSrx9kOmci78Xhv6LeCRd6Dz9R2Dc9A/s640/Blog-drought.png" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Current statutes limit our ability to effectively prepare for and respond to drought emergencies. Our proposal would build long-term drought resiliency for farmers and water suppliers.</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Among the improvements this bill would make is ensuring that projects designed to support public water systems and agriculture during droughts are all equitably eligible for grant funding. <span style="background: white;">The bill would also create a pilot program related to water right leases, and it would establish a drought advisory status to call attention to deteriorating conditions in advance of a full drought declaration. </span></span></span></span></div>
<h3 style="margin-top: 20px;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> Protecting Washington waters and fish</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie35q6TpHUP4aQ4KoJiyy3aKRqSqOl5CKqA0ufBVnI_HplL6-xTlpRxLdeqWYnG32QNytDKBDXl5yhsQnft1SjR71X_zFF0HYavzJ5FM3sz-raTpwD1Zf7DLR9SdVCISqLslwlew-Mfg/s1600/CamillesBoat2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Boat on trailer being backed into Puget Sound on boat ramp." border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie35q6TpHUP4aQ4KoJiyy3aKRqSqOl5CKqA0ufBVnI_HplL6-xTlpRxLdeqWYnG32QNytDKBDXl5yhsQnft1SjR71X_zFF0HYavzJ5FM3sz-raTpwD1Zf7DLR9SdVCISqLslwlew-Mfg/s640/CamillesBoat2.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A 2018 law banned copper-based antifouling paints for recreational boats beginning in 2021. The law also directed us to review alternatives to copper-based antifouling paints and develop recommendations for the Legislature.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We <a href="https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1704039.html" target="_blank">completed this report</a> in the summer of 2019, but found there are still significant unanswered questions about existing alternatives to copper-based paints. Because of these concerns, we're requesting that the Legislature delay the ban on copper-based paints to Jan. 1, 2026. We’re also requesting other actions that would better position Washington to manage environmental issues related to antifouling paints.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Learn more about these bills and others</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’re committed to keeping people informed on our legislative actions. You can learn more about these bills and other legislative priorities by visiting our <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/How-we-operate/2020-Legislative-priorities" target="_blank">2020 Legislative Priorities</a> web page. Updates on bill status will also be shared on our Twitter account<a href="https://twitter.com/EcologyWA"> @EcologyWA</a></span></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Subscribe for more Ecology stories and information</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can stay informed on Washington’s environmental work by subscribing or following us:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="background: white; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/News/Email-lists">News releases</a></span></li>
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<b>By Camille St. Onge, communications</b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-54307443768063927402020-01-09T07:26:00.003-08:002020-01-13T07:39:24.705-08:00Boots on the ground: AmeriCorps members embark on environmental projects statewideOur 300 <a href="http://www.ecology.wa.gov/wcc" target="_blank">Washington Conservation Corps</a> AmeriCorps members are three months into their 11-month service terms, gaining valuable hands-on field skills and supporting critical restoration and trail enhancement projects. Join us for a tour across the state to learn about a few of their accomplishments so far!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXulKeE2614Gg9iKnineQ92eV0RrR7eE3t6A9z8tEd01khbiOim2YsZZgbCEfC0MczAhjiiYOFW290F0T4-IcaIHJpQ55SVglG0fMdp27p63U6PcJ0aI-lDXAxdV4OWcO49npl1JaV0o/s1600/Nurse+Log.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Three AmeriCorps members wearing yellow hard hats kneel behind a log." border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXulKeE2614Gg9iKnineQ92eV0RrR7eE3t6A9z8tEd01khbiOim2YsZZgbCEfC0MczAhjiiYOFW290F0T4-IcaIHJpQ55SVglG0fMdp27p63U6PcJ0aI-lDXAxdV4OWcO49npl1JaV0o/s640/Nurse+Log.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Part
of our Kirkland crew gathers around the nurse log they created. Photo by Kelli Sheldon.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Simulated nurse log boosts educational accessibility in King County</h3>
City of Kirkland is a new year-long partner for WCC and members are supporting the city’s <a href="https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/parks/About_Parks_and_Community_Services/Green_Kirkland_Partnership.htm" target="_blank">Green Kirkland Partnership</a> during their 11-month term. The program features collaboration between City of Kirkland, nonprofit partners, businesses, and the community to work toward restoring and maintaining more than 500 acres of urban parks and green spaces across the city.<br />
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Among our Kirkland crew’s first projects was a unique chance to support both education and physical accessibility efforts in the city’s McAuliffe Park. AmeriCorps members created a simulated nurse log in a more accessible space to educate the public about traditional old growth forest elements.<br />
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“A nurse log is a fallen tree that creates a nutrient rich habitat for young seedlings as it decays,” said crew supervisor Kelli Sheldon. Having a nurse log labeled in a public park affords people the opportunity to learn about ecosystem benefits they provide without requiring visitors hike on technical or uneven trail terrain.<br />
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AmeriCorps members started the project with a large poplar tree log. Members used handsaws, circular saws, and Pulaskis (a hand tool used to fight wildfires) to form a small trench on the top of the log. Then they planted a hemlock tree and red huckleberry bush. Finally, they covered the log with a thick coating of moss that grows naturally on nurse logs and provided moisture for the freshly planted vegetation.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbtZP_uHqBiYGOK69jn9nYr7QcXwqZO5FZ5kXSJQpJTMRLiJJjkOU1Hp84GLo8jY_3BeTCxwuTDrPoFxoS4zpMwQI6LSIB3J2zCagMdZN-dA9Cwy4Uks0I_dUXTQe0EYjkJM0v8x-wcA/s1600/Log+Planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="An AmeriCorps member wearing a yellow hard hat laughs in the sunshine as she holds a native conifer, getting ready to plant it." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1367" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbtZP_uHqBiYGOK69jn9nYr7QcXwqZO5FZ5kXSJQpJTMRLiJJjkOU1Hp84GLo8jY_3BeTCxwuTDrPoFxoS4zpMwQI6LSIB3J2zCagMdZN-dA9Cwy4Uks0I_dUXTQe0EYjkJM0v8x-wcA/s640/Log+Planting.jpg" title="" width="546" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A
WCC AmeriCorps member enjoys the sunshine as she plants the tree sapling. Photo by Kelli Sheldon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
“The crew had a great time constructing the nurse log. It was a great opportunity for us to try out some new hand tools and get creative,” Sheldon said. The AmeriCorps members supporting City of Kirkland shared they value the variety of projects and learning opportunities the city has offered.<br />
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“We served at one restoration site early in the year that was less than half an acre in size, yet we discovered and removed more than 10 different types of invasive species from that single site,” said AmeriCorps member Celia Thurman. “Not only was this a huge learning opportunity for the crew and me to learn how to identify these species, but I got to know how to manage each differently as well.”<br />
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This fall, members have supported restoration efforts at seven different Kirkland public parks, improving 1.5 acres for to benefit the public while planting 292 native trees and shrubs.<br />
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<h3>
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<h3>
Isthmus Trail gets a lift in Kilisut Harbor</h3>
In November, AmeriCorps members serving<a href="https://nosc.org/" target="_blank"> North Olympic Salmon Coalition</a> (NOSC) spent a week improving the Isthmus Trail at Kilisut Harbor in Jefferson County. Members improved 88 feet of the trail leading to the beach, including building more stairs and adding a railing to ensure public safety and accessibility for community members.<br />
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“The crew groomed the remainder of the pathway leading to the beach so it was more clearly-defined and easier to traverse,” said AmeriCorps member Torin Blake.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t7ifCAemU8LS8sKK-wjsBReHAGdJHWSdwrKdFLW8RWN-oOBcvbFwb416e5KnWrDKvBHs8DZn6iwbGeWL0Pr6WQEYfaUXULeijDLCl7iPB7SIupLvo_batPAz6sOq0LDH88kNose8Quc/s1600/Isthmus+Trail+Construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A WCC AmeriCorps member wearing a yellow hard hat pounds rebar into a piece of wood stretching across a trail." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1362" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4t7ifCAemU8LS8sKK-wjsBReHAGdJHWSdwrKdFLW8RWN-oOBcvbFwb416e5KnWrDKvBHs8DZn6iwbGeWL0Pr6WQEYfaUXULeijDLCl7iPB7SIupLvo_batPAz6sOq0LDH88kNose8Quc/s640/Isthmus+Trail+Construction.jpg" title="" width="544" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">AmeriCorps member Christian Akers installs rebar as part of the trail construction project.<br />Photo contributed by Owen French.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, the crew planted 25 native shrubs around the staircase to prevent erosion and increase wildlife habitat. The trail improvements are part of the larger <a href="https://nosc.org/restoration/" target="_blank">Kilisut Harbor Restoration Project</a>, led by NOSC, that will create intertidal habitat by restoring the tidal connection between south Kilisut Harbor and Oak Bay.<br />
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</h3>
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</h3>
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<h3>
Members support salmon recovery along upper Yakima basin</h3>
WCC AmeriCorps members serving the <a href="http://www.yakamanation-nsn.gov/" target="_blank">Yakama Nation</a> collaborated with <a href="https://midcolumbiafisheries.org/" target="_blank">Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group</a> (MFEG) in mid-October to plant native trees and shrubs along a section of the North Fork Teanaway River in Kittitas County. Since the area was first designated for restoration in 2011, the final phases of this restoration project are long time coming.<br />
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In summer 2019, MFEG contracted to have several carefully engineered large woody debris structures installed in the river. The structures support salmon habitat by slowing water flow and creating small rearing pools ideal for juvenile salmon.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj267tvSI5WbKMjgGcp0T_a4e7oNkJ0MnvgvbXUtbZ-EbZlcSO0EipAfl3Vz62PDSaniuSTTERKCZw6t14gGlb0qn6QEmZKa9xFbo2gNbZlG4IEe3RiR4KqhJvDKDbFDrYvsqHIEOYuZgo/s1600/isabel+casillas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj267tvSI5WbKMjgGcp0T_a4e7oNkJ0MnvgvbXUtbZ-EbZlcSO0EipAfl3Vz62PDSaniuSTTERKCZw6t14gGlb0qn6QEmZKa9xFbo2gNbZlG4IEe3RiR4KqhJvDKDbFDrYvsqHIEOYuZgo/s640/isabel+casillas.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">AmeriCorps member Isabel Casillas puts the finishing touches on a native tree along the North
Fork Teanaway River. Photo by Laura Schlabach.</span></td></tr>
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To restore the spaces affected by heavy log-installation equipment, AmeriCorps members led nine volunteers from Trout Unlimited who served 54 hours planting native trees and shrubs. The native plants will help secure the soil and protect the river from erosion.<br />
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In nearby Cle Elum, members also planted 4,500 native trees and shrubs along the Yakima River in six days. The vegetation will prevent erosion and eventually improve salmon habitat by shading and cooling the water, making it more conducive for spawning.<br />
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<h3>
Padilla Bay visitors learn about salmon life-cycle</h3>
In addition to field crew opportunities, WCC offers an internship program called the <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Our-role-in-the-community/Washington-Conservation-Corps/WCC-Individual-Placement-Program" target="_blank">Individual Placement</a> (IP) program. IP Izzi Lavallee serves as an education coordinator at the <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Shoreline-coastal-management/Padilla-Bay-reserve" target="_blank">Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve</a> in Skagit County. She is part of a team that teaches free monthly educational programs for Mini Explorers (ages 3 to 5) and Junior Ecologists (ages 6 to 9).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGra3vt0OHBO3p_zq70rW6n5YEdiMoLDP6x_SNZ9Zw9pyIS0-NpwTSXh7jeUKL-uwCpB82Z10eBoDkK5jYblKVIZhXyuL5GDR7nuLdmE0EgYCVySQdwmWWfuyzcjxBKvnSD9l2WbhCrY/s1600/Izzi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AmeriCorps member Izzi Lavvallee wears a tan headband and carries a large salmon puppet in her right hand." border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGra3vt0OHBO3p_zq70rW6n5YEdiMoLDP6x_SNZ9Zw9pyIS0-NpwTSXh7jeUKL-uwCpB82Z10eBoDkK5jYblKVIZhXyuL5GDR7nuLdmE0EgYCVySQdwmWWfuyzcjxBKvnSD9l2WbhCrY/s1600/Izzi.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">AmeriCorps
member Izzi Lavallee.<br />Photo contributed by Izzi. </span></td></tr>
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"Each month we cover a host of different estuary related topics including curriculum like 'Awesome Eagles,' 'Marvelous Mammals,' 'Camouflage Critters,' or 'Elegant Eelgrass,'" Izzi said. She describes an inspiring moment during a recent Junior Ecologist program.<br />
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“We learned about the importance of salmon ecologically and culturally, their role in the ecosystem, and the stages of their lifecycle. At the end of the class, I read ‘Salmon Creek’ by Annette LeBox and Karen Reczuch. It is a sonorous story about the lifecycle of salmon, told through the intimate lens of a particular Pacific wild salmon named Sumi,” she said.<br />
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The story concludes with Sumi completing her lifecycle and spawning her very own nest of eggs – known as redds. Izzi describes illustrations that beautifully capture eagles, otters, and bears feasting on the sea’s bounty, and poetic words that detail the creek’s fresh, earthy smell imprinting on Sumi’s eggs (the next generation of salmon who will return to spawn near the nest someday).<br />
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“The author leaves space for the audience to infer that Sumi has died,” Izzi said. “A little girl with a sad and concerned look on her face asked, ‘Did Sumi die?’”<br />
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Izzi responded by gesturing to the salmon life cycle they had all drawn on the board, and it dawned on the children that Sumi’s life ended.<br />
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Izzi asked the youngsters, “Who else was able to live on in the story?”<br />
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Many small faces turned hopeful, especially after a little girl replied, “The bear and the eagle and her babies got to live because of her sacrifice” while a young boy chimed in confidently, “The cycle continues forever and ever!”<br />
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“It made me tear up a bit,” Izzi reflected. “This is why we do place-based environmental education. These kids are making connections, developing an understanding of ecology, finding love and meaning in these ecosystems. These kids are our future. Given access to rich, nourishing education, these kiddos will grow into strong advocates, stewards and protectors for our salmon creeks, for our home.”<br />
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Members distribute salmon carcasses in Chiwawa River</h3>
Our Wenatchee Spike Crew spent the first half of October adding marine-derived nutrients to the Chiwawa River using a method many likely would deem too stinky for their liking: tossing in dead salmon carcasses.<br />
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WCC partner <a href="https://www.ccfeg.org/" target="_blank">Cascade Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group</a> (CFEG) is leading the five-year Chiwawa River Nutrient Enhancement Project to give the local waterway a nutrient boost. Our AmeriCorps members quite literally carried the project in year two. During two back-to-back weeks, members carried 50-pound bags of condensed salmon carcasses (known as analogs or pellets) to dump into the beautiful Chiwawa River.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9whlV3cRChu1_h73I-yY6MPyQQcZZbiqoidScT3XerEkvdgrpJ5FUtjcqTQ8FGjqW9Ee1n4dQGSUPfnH8-_mynJTE5b2TQPRgM_AdHvlQJ0_T7AuZFxJRr6kjtfNVe99u5CuaNg4HR24/s1600/CCFEG+and+Gilchrist+Crew+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Three people wearing hip waders carry large white bags over their shoulders as they start to wade through a river." border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="640" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9whlV3cRChu1_h73I-yY6MPyQQcZZbiqoidScT3XerEkvdgrpJ5FUtjcqTQ8FGjqW9Ee1n4dQGSUPfnH8-_mynJTE5b2TQPRgM_AdHvlQJ0_T7AuZFxJRr6kjtfNVe99u5CuaNg4HR24/s400/CCFEG+and+Gilchrist+Crew+2.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">WCC
AmeriCorps members carry heavy bags of salmon analogs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">to distribute in the
Chiwawa River. Photo contributed by CFEG.</span></td></tr>
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CFEG timed the project to mimic the nutrients that would naturally occur after returning Chinook and Coho salmon spawn. The analogs will decompose and return nutrients to the river, which will in turn provide a food source for insects juvenile salmon eat. By the end of the second week, members had dispersed 42,000 pounds of salmon analogs to the river.<br />
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Wildlife are not the only ones who benefit from nutrient enhancement; the project afforded new AmeriCorps members an opportunity to get to know one another. Before hauling each 50-pound bag of salmon analog through a mile-long trek to the river, they cheered “for the fish!” to one another before lifting a bag.<br />
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AmeriCorps member Kevin Wooldridge reflected on his first spike experience. "For me, there was so much more to the project than just dumping pellets into the river," he said. "This was an opportunity to spend quality time with the members of my crew. Being able to share the experience together was one of the best parts of the Chiwawa River Nutrient Enhancement Project!"<br />
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Laura Schlabachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14947716735227070326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-13995983584913435832019-12-23T08:35:00.000-08:002019-12-23T08:35:52.366-08:00Crews safely remove, detonate dangerous chemical device<h3>
Homeowner finds poisonous theft deterrent in old safe</h3>
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Our Spill Response program is usually thought of as the team that responds to oil spills across Washington. What people may not know is that they also respond to many other dangerous situations that could harm our environment or threaten human health. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The theft deterrent device.</td></tr>
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“We remove the hazards from illegal drug manufacturing facilities and we also respond to and identify unknown chemical substances; things like abandoned containers or drums that aren’t labeled, mystery chemicals discovered in homes and schools,” said Spill Response Section Manager Dave Byers. “A lot of what we run across is very toxic … phosphine gas, cyanide, acids, and flammable materials.”<br />
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Last Thursday, the Spill Response team got a call from the Kennewick Fire Department. A homeowner had purchased an old safe and found a theft deterrent device inside comprised of three glass vials of a slightly opaque, unknown liquid. Antique devices like these commonly used chloropicrin or phosgene, poison gases first manufactured for chemical warfare during World War I.<br />
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The idea behind the design? Potential safe crackers would break the vials and get a toxic surprise. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing for hazardous chemicals before detonation.</td></tr>
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Since local hazardous waste collectors wouldn’t take the vials, Spill Response Manager Andy Wilson picked them up for inspection and disposal. When Wilson contacted the National Guard 10th Civil Support Team for assistance, he learned the vials could actually contain highly-volatile nitroglycerin or picric acid. He and the National Guard opted for caution and called the Washington State Patrol bomb squad. <br />
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They tested the chemicals, which were identified as Chloropicrin, a gas that can cause severe irritation to the eyes, lungs and skin. The bomb squad elected to detonate the chemicals to ensure safe disposal. <br />
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“Our small but highly skilled team never knows what we’ll be responding to until we get the call,” said Spill Response Supervisor Sam Hunn. “That’s what makes it fun. But we’re rarely operating alone. We work with our partners in the emergency response community to make sure we finish the job safely and efficiently. In this case, that meant working with partners who have access to explosives.” <br />
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While this incident ended in the safe removal and disposal of hazardous chemicals, the outcome could have been very different, depending on the actions of the homeowner. If you come across unknown or unmarked chemicals, don’t just toss them in the trash. Ecology’s Spill Response team can help identify and dispose of them if necessary. They can be reached anytime by contacting Washington Division of Emergency Management at 1-800-258-5990. <br />
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Learn more about Ecology’s Spill Response program at <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Spills-Cleanup/Spills">ecology.wa.gov/Spills-Cleanup/Spills</a>.</div>
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Ryan Lancasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09009745222054303889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-77478999897371341242019-12-20T16:35:00.001-08:002019-12-24T21:06:41.177-08:00Fecal Matters: Update to the no-contact advisory issued for Port Washington Narrows and Dyes Inlet, Kitsap County<h2>
BEACH program update</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdg63esE09jhLpqWCDQRKE2HannKpqsVmRv8A8yLaIMk8mG_Nt8qycTfYDLW_3nAGdzomA3m2tsE0pmcq4BtQEUa3Ux-T3OiMXdG8D7MHjhHjlR08zMT4C4OTjQcfqsGRiKCEFx25cIVI/s1600/RedSignFacebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdg63esE09jhLpqWCDQRKE2HannKpqsVmRv8A8yLaIMk8mG_Nt8qycTfYDLW_3nAGdzomA3m2tsE0pmcq4BtQEUa3Ux-T3OiMXdG8D7MHjhHjlR08zMT4C4OTjQcfqsGRiKCEFx25cIVI/s320/RedSignFacebook.jpg" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499781585380790546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EUYuIO1Q6LxP-HZUvvPsoZOYuFqq22pYZEkgVd0GMvxRA14T8H2FvJuxMwLXJTJea6CLujqCaAWDJpUz_QDKRE6cO7IW6FaGL8cW91Y-E30hBHxHwI_ZKFzf5Ju_E9g7zm9xv2jinWz2/s320/beachiconsmall.jpg" style="float: left; height: 120px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 90px;" /><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">12/24/2019 Update: Kitsap Public Health District extended the no-contact advisory in Port Washington Narrows to Dec. 31 and expanded the affected area to include Dyes Inlet. This is due to an additional sewage spill of approximately 6,000 gallons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kitsap Public Health District issued a no-contact health advisory for Port Washington Narrows due to sewage spill caused by heavy rains of more than 15,000 gallons. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Signs have been posted at public access points and the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in those areas. T</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">his</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> advisory will remain in effect through Thursday, Dec. 26.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our <a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/search/label/Fecal%20matters">Fecal Matters</a> blog posts, connecting on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EcologyWA">Facebook</a>, or joining our <a href="http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=BEACH">listserv</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or <a href="mailto:julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov" target="_blank">julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov</a> for questions.</span></div>
Julianne Ruffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12868683265621344984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-69399898931637398032019-12-20T16:26:00.000-08:002019-12-20T16:26:01.136-08:00Fecal Matters: No-contact advisory issued for Saltwater State Park, King County<h2>
BEACH program update</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdg63esE09jhLpqWCDQRKE2HannKpqsVmRv8A8yLaIMk8mG_Nt8qycTfYDLW_3nAGdzomA3m2tsE0pmcq4BtQEUa3Ux-T3OiMXdG8D7MHjhHjlR08zMT4C4OTjQcfqsGRiKCEFx25cIVI/s1600/RedSignFacebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdg63esE09jhLpqWCDQRKE2HannKpqsVmRv8A8yLaIMk8mG_Nt8qycTfYDLW_3nAGdzomA3m2tsE0pmcq4BtQEUa3Ux-T3OiMXdG8D7MHjhHjlR08zMT4C4OTjQcfqsGRiKCEFx25cIVI/s320/RedSignFacebook.jpg" width="320" /></a><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499781585380790546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EUYuIO1Q6LxP-HZUvvPsoZOYuFqq22pYZEkgVd0GMvxRA14T8H2FvJuxMwLXJTJea6CLujqCaAWDJpUz_QDKRE6cO7IW6FaGL8cW91Y-E30hBHxHwI_ZKFzf5Ju_E9g7zm9xv2jinWz2/s320/beachiconsmall.jpg" style="float: left; height: 120px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 90px;" /><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seattle and King County Public Health has issued a no-contact advisory to water contact at Saltwater State Park. Heavy rains caused a sewage spill at the Midway Sewer District that has discharged near the park. Signs have been posted at the park notifying the public.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Contact with fecal contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Children and the elderly may be more vulnerable to waterborne illnesses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay updated on water quality at your beaches by following our <a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/search/label/Fecal%20matters">Fecal Matters</a> blog posts, connecting on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EcologyWA">Facebook</a>, or joining our <a href="http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=BEACH">listserv</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Julianne Ruffner, our BEACH Program Manager, is available at 360-407-6154 or <a href="mailto:julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov" target="_blank">julianne.ruffner@ecy.wa.gov</a> for questions.</span></div>
Julianne Ruffnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12868683265621344984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-25335545603588173122019-12-19T15:08:00.001-08:002019-12-19T15:08:18.809-08:00What do you do when the polluter is a mountain?<br />
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Sumas Mountain has been losing weight. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For decades, a slow-moving landslide has been exposing the
side of Sumas Mountain, in Whatcom County. The landslide material contains
naturally-occurring asbestos and heavy metals – and it all ends up in Swift
Creek. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Can we stop the
mountain from sliding? No dice.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Sumas
Mountain landslide (upper center) is polluting</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Swift Creek with naturally-occurring asbestos and heavy metals. </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></h2>
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Ecology originally considered engineering a “fix” to stop
Sumas Mountain from sliding and depositing asbestos into Swift Creek. Further
research and design revealed that Mother Nature would win that fight.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The slide can’t be stopped by a human-engineered approach,
no matter how massive. Sumas mountain, or at least one side of it, is slowly
coming down. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So <a href="http://www.ecology.wa.gov/SwiftCreek">Ecology</a> and <a href="http://www.whatcomcounty.us/513/Swift-Creek">Whatcom County</a> are left to
manage the effects: chronic flooding and huge volumes of landslide debris and
stream-born sediment damaging property and crops downstream. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Check out the <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Asset-Collections/Doc-Assets/Contamination-cleanup/Sediment-cleanups/Swift-Creek-Action-Plan-Final">Swift
Creek Action Plan</a> to learn about this flood control and sediment management
plan.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
A round peg in a square hole<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHsH3244AC9sFUwchi0XVtlI_6leVdjxUEnNpz-4PnD9HYcKnM1JwQPRMSXUfoeiBZM8jU745AXGWzxsRzckcoAh-WmD3lTeKX8Zy5q9SA_0MhvbZHU-hY4Wfxj4WoTmY11-DPdtajSG5/s1600/Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="779" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHsH3244AC9sFUwchi0XVtlI_6leVdjxUEnNpz-4PnD9HYcKnM1JwQPRMSXUfoeiBZM8jU745AXGWzxsRzckcoAh-WmD3lTeKX8Zy5q9SA_0MhvbZHU-hY4Wfxj4WoTmY11-DPdtajSG5/s320/Creek.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoCaption">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sediment </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">in Swift Creek f</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">rom the Sumas Mountain Landslide</span></div>
<div class="MsoCaption">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> is contaminated with <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">naturally-occurring asbestos and heavy metals.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</h3>
Over the past <a href="https://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2019/03/cleaning-up-washingtons-environmental.html">30
years since the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) became law</a>, Ecology has
become skilled at managing <i>cleanups</i> –
and then comes along a unique project that’s <i>NOT a cleanup</i>. MTCA gives Ecology legal authority to clean up contaminated
sites – and to make Potentially Liable Parties (PLPs) pay for it. At Swift
Creek, the only PLP is Mother Nature, and as much as we all wish, money does
not grow on her trees. We can’t get her to the table to sign a legal agreement,
either.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, we’re left with the challenge of fitting a round
peg into a square hole: a long-term project implemented with a MTCA-based <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Asset-Collections/Doc-Assets/Contamination-cleanup/Sediment-cleanups/Swift-Creek-Consent-Decree-Final">legal
agreement</a>, but with no PLP and no rigid MTCA process to guide management.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h3>
Twists and turns<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1gx0OxRWsOw58zsks1M3UlGLRr9YEyb9aQLyvq__T2YztK-d3fYvYrrNrONeHVQEVCAV1F6zNhaj9mSMb9fuhxW9DuKHGyRvMK6rrM4TPEJHwiA_cddSCkPf0pYUlo0EbL7dlDJRrRTb/s1600/meeting.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="659" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1gx0OxRWsOw58zsks1M3UlGLRr9YEyb9aQLyvq__T2YztK-d3fYvYrrNrONeHVQEVCAV1F6zNhaj9mSMb9fuhxW9DuKHGyRvMK6rrM4TPEJHwiA_cddSCkPf0pYUlo0EbL7dlDJRrRTb/s320/meeting.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Swift Creek public meeting October 9, 2019.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Public input was a big part of the process.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</h3>
<h2>
<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Given the unusual challenges and need for coordination
among Whatcom County, EPA and Canadian agencies, Ecology’s project manager,
Cris Matthews, relocated to the Bellingham Field Office years ago to better
manage the project. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since Mother Nature wasn’t ponying up and Whatcom County didn’t
have the money to complete the project, outside funding was critical. Several
trips to the state legislature over the years for budgetary help were
eventually rewarded with appropriations to pay for the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With funding available, Ecology and Whatcom
County crafted a grant agreement that allows flexibility to provide for the
complicated mix of property purchase, contracting, and long-term construction
goals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The twists and turns
didn’t stop with the finances. The project requires the County to purchase
approximately 200 acres of private timberland, and those negotiations are
currently in progress.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then there was keeping the
community involved and informed -- in two nations. Swift Creek flows into the
Sumas River and, eventually, the Fraser River, northeast of Abbotsford, British
Columbia.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maintaining relationships with our Canadian agency counterparts and
proactively engaging the community were key. The public meeting was
well-attended and various outreach outlets helped spread the word. Our story even
landed on the <a href="https://www.lyndentribune.com/news/a-fresh-plan-to-deal-with-swift-creek/article_abc2bb22-e54c-11e9-bdd0-37e7234ec820.html"><span style="color: #0070c0;">front page</span></a> of the local newspaper.)<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
Different flow, same goal</h3>
<h2>
<o:p></o:p></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For all its differences, the end goal of the Swift Creek
project is the same as Ecology’s goal for any project: protect human health and
the environment. Since Ecology and Whatcom County can’t stop the asbestos
problem or remove it from the environment, we work to control the effects to stream
conditions, flooding and manage the sediment in a way designed to reduce risk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be where we are today took a team effort, dedication,
perseverance, more than a few cups of coffee, and a unanimous “yes” vote by the
Whatcom County Council on Tuesday, November 19 to sign the Consent Decree that
defines the relationship and responsibilities for Ecology and the County. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoucJmPiOEI1_FaezRLoPqmRzS8GfnAMG40AvHuKW6VCvGqvWe5WQBxrFtkCxH2P5cknqPIFC7M8Bnmb2ryuUFQLF0KCRl9_Ob3_FmyDTFXYbgY9TDi599FGhEagvVp55G8z6pcEfrQvz/s1600/signing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="815" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoucJmPiOEI1_FaezRLoPqmRzS8GfnAMG40AvHuKW6VCvGqvWe5WQBxrFtkCxH2P5cknqPIFC7M8Bnmb2ryuUFQLF0KCRl9_Ob3_FmyDTFXYbgY9TDi599FGhEagvVp55G8z6pcEfrQvz/s320/signing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoCaption">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Swift Creek project Consent
Decree signing on</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Dec. 6, 2019 </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">was an exciting milestone that </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">allows</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">us to move forward with solutions. </span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday, December 6,
2019 marked a huge milestone with the Consent Decree signing. Unfortunately, a
photo couldn’t quite capture the satisfaction in the room, but you can see a
few smiles accompanying the pens. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well done team. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sumas Mountain keeps sliding. Sediment keeps accumulating.
Swift Creek keeps flowing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our team keeps innovating, managing
and persevering.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Mother Nature gives us a “square hole,” we make that
“round peg” fit the best we can.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>By Ian Fawley & Cris Matthews, Toxics Cleanup Program Bellingham Field Office</b></div>
<br />Cheryl Ann Bishophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00795288222352263622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-56084586668216243942019-12-18T10:20:00.000-08:002019-12-18T10:20:50.978-08:00Protecting Puget Sound’s No Discharge Zone<h3>
Ecology will continue to implement the NDZ and protect Puget Sound while the court case proceeds</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since May 10, 2018, a federal “No Discharge Zone” (NDZ) has made it illegal to discharge both treated and untreated sewage from boats and vessels into Puget Sound.<br />
<br />
Vessel sewage can contain bacteria and viruses that are harmful to people and the environment. These contaminants are harmful to water quality, beaches, and shellfish beds. Eating shellfish that have been exposed to pollution can make people sick. The presence of one type of bacteria, fecal coliform, has closed shellfish beds throughout Puget Sound.<br />
<br />
While this is Washington’s first NDZ, there are more than 90 No Discharge Zones in 27 states. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the Puget Sound NDZ and has continued to approve NDZs across the country, including a new NDZ in Maryland on Dec. 16, 2019. <a href="https://www.epa.gov/vessels-marinas-and-ports/no-discharge-zones-ndzs-state" target="_blank">View the full list of EPA-approved NDZs.</a><br />
<br />
We are implementing the NDZ and Washington’s boaters are using the more than 100 pumpout stations in Puget Sound. We have seen approximately 700 acres of shellfish beds reopen since implementation, a sign that the NDZ is working to protect and restore Puget Sound.<br />
<br />
At the same time, a coalition of marine businesses have challenged the NDZ in federal court. While the U.S. District Court for D.C. has not yet ruled on the case, there are recent developments in the case and we wanted to share the current status of Washington’s NDZ. </div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gVchIIEytsXdxPG-1UtzPzwYrsqzYJ0_3i6VD9EsrpRDRTzIUFB3HxE00VI37dG0Wogabq98yc9h7ghaG2llLkX1FemgT7-AXC8up9FjpStz9ma1pTVeEUU-lVA61uFPfrAXGTYLfIw/s1600/puget+sound+off+limits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="view of puget sound with text Puget Sound off limits to vessel sewage" border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gVchIIEytsXdxPG-1UtzPzwYrsqzYJ0_3i6VD9EsrpRDRTzIUFB3HxE00VI37dG0Wogabq98yc9h7ghaG2llLkX1FemgT7-AXC8up9FjpStz9ma1pTVeEUU-lVA61uFPfrAXGTYLfIw/s640/puget+sound+off+limits.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Legal Matters</h3>
<div>
<div>
In December 2018, the American Waterways Operators (AWO) filed suit in federal court against EPA, challenging EPA's determination that there are adequate pumpout facilities in Puget Sound to support a No Discharge Zone. We intervened in the AWO lawsuit because we support the NDZ and know it is a critical part of helping restore and protect Puget Sound. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The court granted our motion to intervene on March 25, 2019. Washington Environmental Council, Puget Soundkeeper, and Friends of the Earth were also granted intervention.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In late May 2019, EPA filed a motion with the court asking the court to remand the case to EPA, so EPA could evaluate the cost of its adequate pumpout determination. Industry joined EPA’s motion and requested the court vacate EPA’s adequate pumpout determination during the remand. On December 13, 2019, the court ruled against the motions to remand the NDZ decision back to EPA and the case is now proceeding on the merits. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
What's next for Washington's NDZ?</h3>
<div>
<div>
We will continue to implement the NDZ as the court case proceeds. We believe EPA correctly determined there are adequate pumpout facilities in Puget Sound to support the Puget Sound NDZ and are confident the court will ultimately rule in Washington’s favor. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="map of pumpout stations" border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="643" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnkTDmb8rdVCiSkxG2D8DwoIL31Enkq6ihagj8bqvgL9K0CkwzqaXR4DO3MC4DasFEUM2xMDlABOgekWR5PaStaESNVV9dPRPSbPQn6paVPV5OqAeth-vh4-tWRl9a_ONDQg9UTUyjPQ/s400/pumpout+washington+map.JPG" title="" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="https://pumpoutwashington.org/where-to-pumpout" target="_blank">Visit pumpoutwashington.org to learn more about </a></span><a href="https://pumpoutwashington.org/where-to-pumpout" style="font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">pumpout </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pumpoutwashington.org/where-to-pumpout" style="font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">stations in Puget Sound.</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are well over 100 recreational and commercial pumpouts on Puget Sound and funding is available through Washington State Parks grants to establish more. Washington boaters are already using these convenient locations to safely dispose of vessel sewage. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We provided an extended compliance timeframe for the rule, so some operators, including tug boats, have until 2023 to fully retrofit all their vessels to hold sewage. Vessel operators have begun investing in retrofits to comply with the rule.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
Investments in the newly upgraded shellfish beds have begun and we expect more good news as the NDZ continues to be a part of Puget Sound. </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Why does Washington have an NDZ?</h3>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We established the NDZ to stop the discharge of vessel
sewage into our waters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Puget Sound
is a regional treasure of great economic importance and preventing vessel
sewage from being released throughout Puget Sound is a common sense decision. </span>The
NDZ is an important part of <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Puget-Sound">protecting and
restoring the sound.</a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
To learn more about why we have an NDZ and how it protects Puget Sound, read our <a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2018/04/puget-sound-officially-no-discharge-zone.html">April 2018 blog post.</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Additional NDZ information is available on our <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Puget-Sound/No-discharge-zone">NDZ webpage</a>.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://pumpoutwashington.org/" target="_blank" title="Link leaves our site, opens a new window"><span style="background: white; color: #1a5a91;">Find a pumpout</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #343434;"> in Washington or visit the </span><a href="http://parks.state.wa.us/657/Pumpout" target="_blank" title="Link leaves our site, opens a new window"><span style="background: white; color: #1a5a91;">State Parks pumpout website</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #343434;">.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEo_P-aISmEvPImY1iWAZymtihUTwWPIT_h6kDQE_WFlFVvIRAACF_pGiA3vBar8F4EnzlTGPgi8URvxwn6JdabS-O8cm6TwtGgkw8zzUCYdmdDg6NOep5dnyRnvmMqlwTqREB75o1_I/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEo_P-aISmEvPImY1iWAZymtihUTwWPIT_h6kDQE_WFlFVvIRAACF_pGiA3vBar8F4EnzlTGPgi8URvxwn6JdabS-O8cm6TwtGgkw8zzUCYdmdDg6NOep5dnyRnvmMqlwTqREB75o1_I/s640/IMG_0005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Washington's NDZ helps protect water quality,</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> beaches, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">and shellfish.</span></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #343434;"></span></div>
<h4>
<span style="background: white; color: #343434;">By Colleen Keltz, Water Quality Communications</span></h4>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Colleen Keltzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03436988327262231662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-37265521080321937892019-12-18T08:22:00.000-08:002019-12-18T08:22:05.992-08:00Floodplain redesign delivers downstream benefits for all<h3>
Southeast Washington project will restore fish habitat, reduce flood risk</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BVgM2PxXl-o/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BVgM2PxXl-o?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
Cobblestones crunch under a dusty yellow excavator dragging a 20-foot length of tree by its roots. The grappling arm weaves the log between two cottonwoods and into the river, where upset water raises its voice in response. <br />
<br />
This deliberate logjam is one piece of a plan to restore a functional floodplain along a three mile stretch of the North Fork Touchet River in southeast Washington. Boulders and woody debris will influence the river’s flow while creating deep pools for fish. Native trees and grasses, planted along the banks, will lower downstream flood risks and shade cooler water. More than a mile of levee will be removed or set back to reconnect 50 acres of floodplain, slowing the springtime surge and storing water in underground aquifers for healthier late summer flows. <br />
<br />
Construction will take about three years and $5 million to finish. The Salmon Recovery Funding Board, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), and Bonneville Power Administration are contributing about $3 million to the project, while our Floodplains by Design (FbD) program is providing $2.1 million. Ecology co-manages FbD with The Nature Conservancy and Puget Sound Partnership, helping Washington communities reduce local flood hazards while restoring aquatic habitat, improving water quality, and enhancing outdoor recreation.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWLFuz1fmYe4zLRayBCkshaUh3nYD9F34_KXzZZNKoklnsmmvnN9x_ylmeQkUtFxqBtay49cF3_shYmbk79yF_MhvBOvq-AmcUfPr_9BPwO2p3B_NZy7veuqb9LhWZHeh3fKMxVCTr96D/s1600/NFTouchetSite_MedBlue22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWLFuz1fmYe4zLRayBCkshaUh3nYD9F34_KXzZZNKoklnsmmvnN9x_ylmeQkUtFxqBtay49cF3_shYmbk79yF_MhvBOvq-AmcUfPr_9BPwO2p3B_NZy7veuqb9LhWZHeh3fKMxVCTr96D/s640/NFTouchetSite_MedBlue22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ecology's Floodplains by Design program is helping to fund restoration of a functional floodplain along a three mile stretch of the North Fork Touchet River in southeast Washington.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Restoring lost vitality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</h4>
<br />
“Over the last decade or so we’ve realized that we’re losing the battle on protecting communities against flood risk,” said Scott McKinney, who leads the FbD grant program. “We’ve also realized that, much like wetlands, floodplains are vital ecosystems that provide a lot of services, and we’ve been losing those as well.” <br />
<br />
Floodplains moderate the flow of water, deliver rich soil for farms, and offer important habitat for fish such as steelhead trout, which have been struggling for survival in the Touchet River watershed. Chinook salmon – a primary food source for Washington’s endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales – haven’t lived in the river for years. Improving habitat in the North Touchet will help the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and CTUIR in their efforts to reintroduce Chinook. <br />
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“We’re working under a umbrella philosophy that the tribes call ‘the River Vision,’ which is meant to not only restore habitat, but to improve the hydrology, geomorphic and biological function of the river,” said CTUIR project leader Jerry Middel. “The North Touchet is a relatively small river when you look on the map, but it’s extremely important. What we’re doing here is going to directly benefit all our downstream neighbors.” <br />
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The city of Dayton, while not directly involved with the project, is among the downstream beneficiaries. Adding logjams and other material to the system will prevent sediment from rushing into town to undermine levies and increase flood risk when river flows are high.<br />
<br />
“The reason why this project is important is, it shows collaboration between tribal agencies, government agencies, and private landowners, and that’s not an easy nexus to form,” Middel said. “By us being out here, we can find common ground and get these projects on the ground.” <br />
<br />
Snake River Salmon Recovery Board executive director John Foltz is primarily focused on salmon recovery, but he agrees a return to natural conditions will be better for everyone. <br />
<br />
“If we can give the river a little more space, there’s so many multiple benefits to that – for the ag community, for flooding, for citizens downstream, and for the environmental condition of the ecosystem,” he said. “Sometimes we don’t have that luxury because of what’s occurring in the watershed, but in places where we do have that option and we have willing landowners, we feel like we can really have a win-win situation.” <br />
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<h4>
Providing space to move <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_UIJ0GtqvMt-ecdI7SarytVxvRcq1FqJyP0XBiBoBKIHl1wheGTibU-JB2YXfFXOGxAhHPZB9sonxYyMWAHmRtQiqMO5lBYD6lfnA1f5SGoZr5hGKQnJfvbyte5ZsSvvJ2Kr7wHzl_GJ/s1600/IMG_054411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_UIJ0GtqvMt-ecdI7SarytVxvRcq1FqJyP0XBiBoBKIHl1wheGTibU-JB2YXfFXOGxAhHPZB9sonxYyMWAHmRtQiqMO5lBYD6lfnA1f5SGoZr5hGKQnJfvbyte5ZsSvvJ2Kr7wHzl_GJ/s400/IMG_054411.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;">
An excavator lifts a log into the North Touchet River.</div>
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</h4>
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One landowner involved in the project is Bill Warren, whose family has farmed here since his grandparents arrived in the early 1900s. A section of his land will be given over to floodplain through a conservation easement. <br />
<br />
“It makes sense to do these types of projects on this type of ground,” he said. “We don’t have houses on this property; it’s still pretty open and available.” <br />
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Past attitudes about flooding in the North Touchet and other watersheds have focused on control. Landowners attempted to tame rivers with levees and dikes, while property development annexed natural floodplains. Restricted rivers pushed their energy downstream, decimating salmon runs and leaving more towns and farmland in the path of dangerous floods. <br />
<br />
Warren has learned the value of letting the river flex, a belief he’s sharing with his neighbors. <br />
<br />
“My neighbors are curious about what I’m doing...They know I ask a lot of questions and they know I’m satisfied, so they could probably be satisfied as well,” he said. “With this project, when you’re working with hydraulic engineers, you’re working with geologic engineers, you can do modeling to see how the river’s performing at 20, 30, 50 year floods. When we worked on the rivers in the past we didn’t have those tools.” <br />
<br />
“We do a lot of planning, a lot of assessment work, and that effort doesn’t always lead to something on the ground,” Foltz said. “As we’ve built working relationships and been on the same page and been advocates for each other, that’s led to successfully getting funding that we can actually get on the ground to make improvements." <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8q0jVQyf1F03mUXP-ROeYX5FxSDcaWDFrR9hSlk-CeMRjh18scG0ROW4b3HIMH_vQZai3bPjMG9i9VTUYQUg1r-GimainbXgeQPrGNWsGnkjhlZtnLqteieGYDrzkALvSW3X_NAGBLtE/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8q0jVQyf1F03mUXP-ROeYX5FxSDcaWDFrR9hSlk-CeMRjh18scG0ROW4b3HIMH_vQZai3bPjMG9i9VTUYQUg1r-GimainbXgeQPrGNWsGnkjhlZtnLqteieGYDrzkALvSW3X_NAGBLtE/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Boulders and woody debris influence river flow and create pools for fish.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Funding is available</h4>
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Since 2013, Washington’s Legislature has appropriated $165 million through FbD, reducing flood hazards in 38 Washington communities to protect hundreds of homes and farms, as well as restoring salmon habitat in more than 25 miles of river systems. <br />
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Ecology administers these funds through a competitive grant program, collaborating with the Nature Conservancy and Puget Sound Partnership to score applications and issue awards to eligible entities. Together, we make sure state money is invested well and restoration milestones are reached. <br />
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Have a project in mind? We're accepting pre-applications for new Floodplains by Design grants through Jan. 31, 2020. Ecology uses pre-applications to screen projects and help determine their suitability for the program. Grants will be awarded for the 2021-23 biennial state budget period, which starts July 1, 2021. <br />
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Learn more at <a href="http://www.ecology.wa.gov/FloodplainsByDesign">www.ecology.wa.gov/FloodplainsByDesign</a>. <br />
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<br />Ryan Lancasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09009745222054303889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-87734237018786776402019-12-16T14:09:00.003-08:002019-12-16T16:10:54.845-08:00Ecology adopts rule to strengthen railroads’ oil spill response efforts<i>New rule ensures railroads transporting oil are even more prepared to respond to a spill than before</i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH-bIlQUYYVrLpMEwTpUQO0N6ksUDzncyohn7zydKokgCNlb9dOEvOm-TTPO4iVR6z-_wW9GZ1q3JvHO_N0-URATLZHm4-MRRv1f4AAM_uiO0dH_EsPK0NJu5rDVxX5SZ1RkVRn18HETY/s1600/OilTrainThroughSeattle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1050" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXH-bIlQUYYVrLpMEwTpUQO0N6ksUDzncyohn7zydKokgCNlb9dOEvOm-TTPO4iVR6z-_wW9GZ1q3JvHO_N0-URATLZHm4-MRRv1f4AAM_uiO0dH_EsPK0NJu5rDVxX5SZ1RkVRn18HETY/s320/OilTrainThroughSeattle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oil train rolling through Seattle</td></tr>
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Failing to plan for an oil spill is a risk we can’t afford to take. Washington has one of the lowest oil spill rates of any state in the nation because we routinely assess spill risks and take measures to keep pace with changing trends in how oil is moved around the state, and emerging spill response capabilities.<br />
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Our planning work with railroads is vital because rail lines stretch across thousands of miles in Washington, crossing many rivers, streams, bays, harbors, and aquifers.<br />
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Ecology just completed rulemaking work to increase spill preparedness and response requirements of companies that move oil by rail. Specifically, this rule requires rail companies to:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Enhance readiness requirements for non-floating oils – Washington wants to address response measures for oils that may degrade and sink when spilled. This type of oil is a challenge to traditional cleanup plans that are designed to respond to floating oils.</li>
<li>Establish new requirements for spill and wildlife response teams – Spill Management Teams are the groups of people who respond to oil spills. Wildlife response service providers locate and care for oiled animals during a spill.</li>
<li>Require railroad operators to conduct new oil spill preparedness drills – Drills help companies and their partners (local governments, tribes, state and federal agencies, etc.) know what to do when an oil spill occurs. Companies will be required to test their plans and staff, depending on the size of their operation and type of oil they transport.</li>
<li>Streamline plans for smaller rail lines – Some short-line railroads haul non-crude oils, such as lube and vegetable oils, as cargo. Though these small railroad companies do not carry crude oil and serve small communities, oil of any kind is an environmental toxin and planning for spills is important. The new rules streamline planning requirements for smaller rail companies, depending on the type and volume of non-crude oil carried. </li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVvHg_NO5k0_nraYtjemW_aqKcmDSsJED_bguvrVtGcN_ZROraIPD6UsTiUwNavHH3uC2_L-2ipvoeLHOD9NIdkPVc4L8MJk7Fe4r6EIzYVxTw6tY3nLT1DQbtHPje2Gbr03zeWVdI0cI/s1600/Oil+Train+near+Richmond+Beach2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVvHg_NO5k0_nraYtjemW_aqKcmDSsJED_bguvrVtGcN_ZROraIPD6UsTiUwNavHH3uC2_L-2ipvoeLHOD9NIdkPVc4L8MJk7Fe4r6EIzYVxTw6tY3nLT1DQbtHPje2Gbr03zeWVdI0cI/s400/Oil+Train+near+Richmond+Beach2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An oil train near Richmond Beach</td></tr>
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Railroads provide important contributions to all of us, by funding the pre-staged response equipment we have throughout the state. It’s there in case it ever needs to be used. These updates will help protect Washington’s vital environmental, cultural, and economic resources. The rule passage concludes a long public process that included several public hearings and a comment period.<br />
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This rule is the next evolution of several legislative efforts to reduce the threat to the environment, human health, and local economies from a rail spill, the first being the Oil Transportation Safety Act in 2015.<br />
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The adopted rule will go into effect on January 18, 2020. With the passage of this rule, railroads transporting oil in Washington will be better prepared to respond to a spill of various types of oil, work closely with spill management teams and wildlife response service providers, and train routinely on a number of scenarios. For more information about this rulemaking, visit our <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Regulations-Permits/Laws-rules-rulemaking/Rulemaking/WAC-173-186">webpage</a>.<br />
<br />Ty Keltnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01976283944364812403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-66901060330207505602019-12-13T13:59:00.000-08:002019-12-13T13:59:41.258-08:00Let it snow!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH92W80k8z1um5GfqfY51hLu5Q4I-YJ-GQlwR_-c0I8jc0ArpRwoAScFQH52JtVE90BGMcg4giJJ0gOAJY1bbFTcwN_YAOEGYbFdH26gBK9VZ2xIUd8OIS5qZjmS5dByvAeoKs0493pg/s1600/Palouse+Falls+Winter+RBradbury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1080" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaH92W80k8z1um5GfqfY51hLu5Q4I-YJ-GQlwR_-c0I8jc0ArpRwoAScFQH52JtVE90BGMcg4giJJ0gOAJY1bbFTcwN_YAOEGYbFdH26gBK9VZ2xIUd8OIS5qZjmS5dByvAeoKs0493pg/s640/Palouse+Falls+Winter+RBradbury.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter at Palouse Falls<i> (Credit: Randy Bradbury, Dept. of Ecology)</i></td></tr>
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More than half of the state's water supply starts out as snowpack, which is why it is so important to keep an eye on it—not just for ski conditions, but as part of our drought monitoring.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdS4bF5IwrJLi1VM484w8xnwWr7SgE2WmhW-QY8eUHxdFomLhamLl6Mz0sgEdxZnrxfWQa2F0c34-kZwo8Dwswd90oAv57SyVZ17l0_attTu3tM-hRTsGQG88BdlwPg1JcSxc0BzTWiI/s1600/SWOTEL+20191209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1041" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdS4bF5IwrJLi1VM484w8xnwWr7SgE2WmhW-QY8eUHxdFomLhamLl6Mz0sgEdxZnrxfWQa2F0c34-kZwo8Dwswd90oAv57SyVZ17l0_attTu3tM-hRTsGQG88BdlwPg1JcSxc0BzTWiI/s320/SWOTEL+20191209.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowpack coverage is 28% for Washington on Dec. 9, 2019 <br /><i>(Credit: USDA)</i></td></tr>
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We started this week with snowpack at 28% of normal for this time of year, and after a little bit of snow, it’s at 36% as of Dec. 13. The increase is welcome since NOAA’s latest <a href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/national-climate-201911">monthly climate report</a> listed November as the fifth driest for Washington since 1895. According to Karin Bumbaco, assistant state climatologist, it is especially concerning that November was so dry since it’s usually one of our wetter months of the year.<br />
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“Snowpack is just as, if not more, important than just rainfall because it delivers benefits long after the storm has passed,” said Jeff Marti, Ecology’s water supply specialist.<br />
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Last year at this time we were at 59% of normal snowpack, and this past spring Gov. Jay Inslee <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/News/2019/May-20-Inslee-expands-drought-emergency">declared a drought emergency</a>.<br />
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The level of snowpack isn’t the only reason we issue a drought declaration. In fact, in Washington, we have a legal definition of drought that is based on water availability. There are two factors we consider before an emergency drought declaration to be made:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Water supply conditions, such as streamflow levels, are currently or projected to be at or below 75 percent of average, and</li>
<li>There is potential for undue hardships to water users and uses</li>
</ul>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYLiR0stW0mapndLec3iG_Ih7SJwEbl5ZZbX5dRyAqOCp1S5Li6kkJ0baOL72a7x6aRTSoxhN91Iv9WUjx7dOiOVW4Ui8RoZYr4gqzzKjCAKC1l3jRN7WdWQnqY_OwQy_IZXRvSkDyuU/s1600/20190624NachesRiverNaches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYLiR0stW0mapndLec3iG_Ih7SJwEbl5ZZbX5dRyAqOCp1S5Li6kkJ0baOL72a7x6aRTSoxhN91Iv9WUjx7dOiOVW4Ui8RoZYr4gqzzKjCAKC1l3jRN7WdWQnqY_OwQy_IZXRvSkDyuU/s320/20190624NachesRiverNaches.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naches River during drought conditions in 2019<br /><i>(Credit: Dept. of Ecology)</i></td></tr>
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When these conditions occur, we can declare a drought emergency. This designation allows us to expedite emergency water right permitting. For instance, one farmer may lease water to another farmer and we can expedite that transfer. It also empowers our partner state agencies and local conservation and irrigation districts to provide a range of emergency services<br />
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Additionally, the declaration allows us to make funds available to address hardships caused by drought conditions. This year, our grant program provided $688k to help communities around the state with drought response.<br />
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At this time, there is no designation that exists describing a milder status, such as an advisory, though we have <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/How-we-operate/Legislative-priorities">recommended to the Legislature</a> that such authority be granted.<br />
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Our suggestion? Add “more snow” to your holiday wish list!<br />
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By Keeley Belva, Communications Manager, Water Resources ProgramKeeley Belvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06686201097861029530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-29749044425011077712019-12-11T09:48:00.000-08:002019-12-11T09:48:08.972-08:00Brighten your holiday season with the northern opalescent nudibranch <br />
<h2>
Eyes Under Puget Sound — Critter of the Month
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This month’s aquatic critter looks like a luminous holiday spirit carrying dozens of flickering candles. Definitely don’t try this at home, no matter how festive the effect might be!<br />
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<h3>
Glow your own way</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDitw88hDksv4JNDA9Fz_WtY9flgLr3bbo-15wyXd4-qBZrY94TEtUgBimx-TAwT0QZt8zbyGOq64T6yY5Rl4UBgEkSuksglcK3TLXngQMpFzqLQ1lDtpHvvqf-z82wkyJn6IvXa4veWWA/s1600/KevinLee_HermissendaCrassicornis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A translucent white and orange sea slug with tentacles extended crawls towards the camera across a pink and black background." border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDitw88hDksv4JNDA9Fz_WtY9flgLr3bbo-15wyXd4-qBZrY94TEtUgBimx-TAwT0QZt8zbyGOq64T6yY5Rl4UBgEkSuksglcK3TLXngQMpFzqLQ1lDtpHvvqf-z82wkyJn6IvXa4veWWA/s320/KevinLee_HermissendaCrassicornis.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hermissenda crassicornis</span></i><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> from Hurst
Island,<br /> British Columbia. Photo courtesy <br />of Kevin Lee, </span></span><a href="https://www.diverkevin.com/"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">diverkevin.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div>
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The northern opalescent nudibranch has been called the most beautiful invertebrate in Puget Sound, and it’s easy to see why. Outshining its drab land slug cousins, this “sea slug” seems to radiate its own glowing light. With variable blue, orange, and snow-white markings, it’s ready for a holiday party! However, it’s more of a warm-weather fan, commonly found during spring and summer on intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats. These include mud flats, eelgrass, dock pilings, and rocky pools.</div>
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<h3>
Mistaken identity </h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnipLUszkBW_qFYlgCoihvEGR86m5FiQ8X5r6DzTBrIvDLjDNSlerwyIWdrEHtYN1LBnhbPsfjl5lbbNydGVNZV8vNTSzIQeE5sb-QmhfT4nkc4zzDn0Sbp2IxIRXCNK20x5mB5ElcID8R/s1600/classification+box_shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Mollusca, Class Gastropoda, Order Nudibranchia, Family Myrrhinidae, Genus Hermissenda, Species H. crassicornis" border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1600" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnipLUszkBW_qFYlgCoihvEGR86m5FiQ8X5r6DzTBrIvDLjDNSlerwyIWdrEHtYN1LBnhbPsfjl5lbbNydGVNZV8vNTSzIQeE5sb-QmhfT4nkc4zzDn0Sbp2IxIRXCNK20x5mB5ElcID8R/s320/classification+box_shadow.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a>The northern opalescent nudibranch, or <em>Hermissenda crassicornis</em>, was once thought to occur all over the west coast. But in 2016, genetic analyses revealed that there were actually two west coast species: <em>H. crassicornis</em>, occurring from Alaska to northern California, and <em>H. opalescens</em>, occurring from northern California to Mexico. The southern species appears the same, but it doesn’t have white lines running down the <strong>cerata</strong> — those candle-like projections along the animal’s back, used for respiration.<br />
<br />
To avoid confusion, the northern opalescent nudibranch is sometimes referred to as the “thick-horned nudibranch” in the area where the two species overlap. The “horns” are actually a pair of large tentacles, each with a tiny eye at the base. Behind the tentacles are a pair of sensory organs called <strong>rhinophores</strong>, used to “smell” prey. This species is so good at smelling that it can use the unique chemical signatures of its favorite prey species to pinpoint their locations — a skill known as <strong>chemotaxis</strong>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIOFSKnUSF6pI9rsC7qzc5CzY3_9xU9J8nx49GQB1yGpJ77HNBc10r0XcUxmps2S4SRbmD1atsHyOibZRJX7R0QD8ExBxudiWVeix2SWp_7rv6i5GCfxpX9uB5g0ITqVf0TSZEDhVJNpN/s1600/MINETTE+LAYNE_Nudibranchia_%25283560037731%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Top view of a translucent white sea slug sitting atop a round patch of bright orange bryozoan encrusting a dark gray rock." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIOFSKnUSF6pI9rsC7qzc5CzY3_9xU9J8nx49GQB1yGpJ77HNBc10r0XcUxmps2S4SRbmD1atsHyOibZRJX7R0QD8ExBxudiWVeix2SWp_7rv6i5GCfxpX9uB5g0ITqVf0TSZEDhVJNpN/s200/MINETTE+LAYNE_Nudibranchia_%25283560037731%2529.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Photo of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hermissenda crassicornis</i>
<br />by </span></span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/7232133@N08"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">Minette
Layne</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">, Seattle, Washington. <br />This file was downloaded from
Wikipedia<br /> and is licensed under the Creative Commons<br /> Attribution-Share Alike
2.0 Generic license.</span></span></div>
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Movable feast</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeIfMUoY0P_Ksh06a8kxMHlPfVp8nlOqEGJcJ2KcI6CDdiLa7ICWu4OhDSQ9S4vpHf9IsRupBRZXc9Lb7aF0liEXGyUF06J-JCtNi8dUTMTX1kDCnTRndtNl17bXZ7skVuTMx3WNdc1Wc/s1600/DAVE+COWLES_Hermissenda_crassicornis_DLC2018-04s_retouch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A white slug with its tentacles and pointed tail extended. On one side, the rounded edge of the glass dish curves across the dark gray background." border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1600" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeIfMUoY0P_Ksh06a8kxMHlPfVp8nlOqEGJcJ2KcI6CDdiLa7ICWu4OhDSQ9S4vpHf9IsRupBRZXc9Lb7aF0liEXGyUF06J-JCtNi8dUTMTX1kDCnTRndtNl17bXZ7skVuTMx3WNdc1Wc/s400/DAVE+COWLES_Hermissenda_crassicornis_DLC2018-04s_retouch.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;">Dorsal
(top) view of a northern opalescent nudibranch crawling in a glass petri dish.
<br />Photo courtesy of Dave Cowles, </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://inverts.wallawalla.edu/Mollusca/Gastropoda/Opisthobranchia/Nudibranchia/Aeolidacea/Hermissenda%20crassicornis.htm"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #0563c1;">wallawalla.edu</span></span></a></span></div>
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At a holiday buffet, this nudibranch would certainly be a member of the Clean Plate Club. In lab tests, it eats pretty much anything offered, including tunicates, worms, crustaceans, small clams, and even dead things. However, its prey items of choice are cnidarians such as hydroids, sea anemones, and sea pens (in Puget Sound, it is a main predator of the orange sea pen, <em><a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2017/09/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-month.html">Ptilosarcus gurneyi</a></em>). These cnidarian prey contain a secret ingredient that is at the top of the nudibranch’s wish list — stinging cells called <strong>nematocysts</strong>. The nematocysts don’t hurt the sea slug, but pass directly through to its cerata, making it toxic and distasteful to potential predators. For this reason, it doesn’t have camouflage and doesn’t need it…the bright colors warn predators to nibble at their own risk!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5THLfvQ30qFyTGDGDi_SInKxpf8wbduKbXeybTfX8LmVQQo2I6ha3NqFzEyFXcjn20pwXKDiqUpsr7STiaBSb3sEZS9oIfgdl8hC4ev5JD5CEYmIxBm-hTSjWRdrxtTsNdRAqYexn7VkO/s1600/KIRT+ONTHANK_Hermissenda_crassicornis2007-1010041_2s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Head-on view of a white and orange sea slug on a green and pink background." border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="583" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5THLfvQ30qFyTGDGDi_SInKxpf8wbduKbXeybTfX8LmVQQo2I6ha3NqFzEyFXcjn20pwXKDiqUpsr7STiaBSb3sEZS9oIfgdl8hC4ev5JD5CEYmIxBm-hTSjWRdrxtTsNdRAqYexn7VkO/s320/KIRT+ONTHANK_Hermissenda_crassicornis2007-1010041_2s.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">A northern opalescent nudibranch crawls across<br /> an encrusted
rocky habitat amongst snails and chitons. <br />Photo by Kirt Onthank, August 2007, </span></span><a href="https://inverts.wallawalla.edu/Mollusca/Gastropoda/Opisthobranchia/Nudibranchia/Aeolidacea/Hermissenda%20crassicornis.htm"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">wallawalla.edu</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span></span></div>
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Naughty or nice?</h3>
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Beneath the northern opalescent nudibranch’s cheery exterior lies the heart of a true humbug. When one nudibranch touches another of the same species, a fight is imminent, complete with lunging and biting (including biting off chunks of the other’s head — ouch)! In some cases, the winner of the altercation eats the loser.<br />
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Despite their violent tendencies, these feisty critters can have a positive impact on human lives by sacrificing their own. They are easily reared in labs and have been used extensively for biomedical and behavioral research, including learning and memory studies and studies on lead toxicity. Maybe every grinch has a softer side after all.<br />
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<strong>By Dany Burgess, Taxonomist, Environmental Assessment Program</strong></div>
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Critter of the Month <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWVlZfOxnVkC3QNzmAq_ACsnO5P-IgeeCaNJ4vbq62PpCiXaY1-DYdABqmlytY8PPLQIvEKhG9YjS9kHmzHh_SDCWHfyH0eyguHlIF17pP1GInMI6r8oXVeTc9UB_triwoa2SDlokHWR8/s1600/Dany+at+scope4_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="A red-haired female wearing a dark gray sweater and white blouse smiles while sitting at a microscope, holding a worm with a pair of forceps." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1103" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWVlZfOxnVkC3QNzmAq_ACsnO5P-IgeeCaNJ4vbq62PpCiXaY1-DYdABqmlytY8PPLQIvEKhG9YjS9kHmzHh_SDCWHfyH0eyguHlIF17pP1GInMI6r8oXVeTc9UB_triwoa2SDlokHWR8/s320/Dany+at+scope4_crop.jpg" title="" width="220" /></a></h4>
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Dany Burgess is a <a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2015/05/eyes-under-puget-sound-our-taxonomists_29.html">benthic taxonomist</a>, a scientist who identifies and counts the sediment-dwelling organisms in our samples as part of our Marine Sediment Monitoring Program. We track the numbers and types of species we see to detect changes over time and understand the health of Puget Sound.<br />
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Dany shares her discoveries by bringing us a benthic <a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/search/label/Critter%20of%20the%20Month">Critter of the Month</a>. These posts will give you a peek into the life of Puget Sound’s least-known inhabitants. We’ll share details on identification, habitat, life history, and the role each critter plays in the sediment community. Can't get enough benthos? See photos from our <a href="http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/search/label/Critter%20of%20the%20Month">Eyes Under Puget Sound collection</a> on Flickr. <br />
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<br />Diana Ruth Olegrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11730953022700805866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-89723990803902457332019-12-10T16:25:00.000-08:002019-12-10T16:25:10.928-08:00We can't effectively regulate Hanford cleanup without access to key information from U.S. Department of Energy To effectively regulate cleanup of the Hanford Site in southeast Washington, we rely on the U.S. Department of Energy to provide us access to a broad range of critical information. Currently, Energy isn’t giving us access to all of the information we need, and much of what it does provide isn’t available in a timely fashion.<br />
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Missing milestones</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
When Nuclear Waste Program inspectors are on site at Hanford, </div>
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they need access to critical information in real time in order to </div>
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provide effective, efficient regulatory guidance.</div>
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Because of that, we’ve issued a <a href="https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/ezshare/NWP/Blogs/19-NWP-199%20-DirectorsDeterminationM-35Letter12-05-2019.pdf">Director’s Determination</a> that gives Energy 30 days to meet our information requirements. We issued the determination after Energy failed to meet a March 31, 2018, deadline set out in a Tri-Party Agreement (TPA) milestone. It’s a deadline our agency extended four times, through March 31 of this year.<br />
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In addition to missing TPA milestone M-035-09K, Energy also is out of compliance with two other sections of the Tri-Party Agreement. Energy has told us it plans to appeal the Director’s Determination.<br />
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We are allowed to fine Energy $15,000 for the first week of the missed deadline, and $30,000 for each week after, but have not yet issued any fines.<br />
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<h3>
Information is key</h3>
Our agency’s mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. At the Hanford Site, we do this by permitting the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste; making cleanup and corrective action decisions; and doing regular inspections to ensure the proper cleanup and management of hazardous waste.<br />
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To carry out these crucial responsibilities, we rely on in-depth access to relevant information and data.<br />
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Without that information, our permit writers, inspectors, scientists, and management can’t make sound, comprehensive, and timely regulatory decisions. In addition, we’re unable to verify and validate Energy’s and its contractors’ cleanup activities to ensure compliance with applicable laws.<br />
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For those reasons, access to Hanford site information and data is vital, and Energy’s compliance to data access requirements is essential for proper cleanup, management and regulatory oversight of Hanford’s waste.<br />
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It’s information many Energy employees and contractor employees already regularly see electronically on demand.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYz3B8WL5loxJSDcas13PHEaKFbq5kbU5LpivRg4hZb25uvjsb-94JHtrVavD4nNtude-zKQsdplLcqU91OzFgqdFa6sizbNaPkCRBZOwzUbZB1FdXy_yUDQIovDXEa2pKx34BvQqAMg/s1600/Saltcake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYz3B8WL5loxJSDcas13PHEaKFbq5kbU5LpivRg4hZb25uvjsb-94JHtrVavD4nNtude-zKQsdplLcqU91OzFgqdFa6sizbNaPkCRBZOwzUbZB1FdXy_yUDQIovDXEa2pKx34BvQqAMg/s640/Saltcake.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look at the toxic, radioactive waste inside one of Hanford's 177 deteriorating underground storage tanks.</td></tr>
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To ensure access to this information, the Tri-Parties included the M-035 milestone series in the Tri-Party Agreement to ensure that both our agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have appropriate access to data relevant to our regulatory and oversight roles.<br />
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<h3>
Attempts to resolve</h3>
On a number of occasions during the last year, in addition to extending the deadline four times, our staff reached conceptual agreement on mutually agreeable solutions. However, each time, Energy management has refused to sign off on the tentative agreements, choosing to instead pursue the dispute process.<br />
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Our <a href="https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/ezshare/NWP/Blogs/M35-DirectorDetermination-Copy.pdf">Director’s Determination</a> resolves the dispute with a reasonable schedule that would bring Energy into compliance with data access requirements. If this schedule was carried out, we’d be assured proper access to the information we need, and we’d be better able to make timely regulatory decisions without resorting to litigation.<br />
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We hope to see a resolution to the dispute soon, so we can continue to effectively <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Nuclear-waste/Hanford-cleanup">regulate the cleanup</a> of the 586-square mile Hanford Site, including the 56 million gallons of highly radioactive and chemically hazardous waste in 177 aging underground storage tanks.<br />
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<i>– Ryan Miller, Media Coordinator, Nuclear Waste Program</i><br />
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Randy Bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15577861078943044138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-57585357471656599122019-12-04T08:32:00.000-08:002019-12-04T08:31:13.186-08:00Boots on the Ground: Salmon carcasses make a splash in Chiwawa RiverThis is my first year as an AmeriCorps member with the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC). I serve on a “spike crew” – or travel assignment crew – based out of Wenatchee.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfexVh6mJR1DLICvdLvhRnzHSr3DglbUyylpabUZN9zO7KKs-SXwz2b6MSj-a75Ot0pbcezHMuQTDi9EKGqDl6Cr92vz7jXhpVDuvmTSI_3YRPDWCCs_HhtXYttl4_9NGbJGh0DGFJ0Rw/s1600/Kevin_Wenatchee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfexVh6mJR1DLICvdLvhRnzHSr3DglbUyylpabUZN9zO7KKs-SXwz2b6MSj-a75Ot0pbcezHMuQTDi9EKGqDl6Cr92vz7jXhpVDuvmTSI_3YRPDWCCs_HhtXYttl4_9NGbJGh0DGFJ0Rw/s320/Kevin_Wenatchee2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WCC AmeriCorps member Kevin Wooldridge*</td></tr>
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I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and recently lived in New York City. I moved back to Washington this summer to be closer to family. I enjoy working outdoors and even once operated a smolt trap, so I knew WCC would be a good fit. Now, I’m just one month into the position but I believe the networking opportunities and hands-on experiences with our state, federal, and non-profit partners will help me decide if I want to pursue a career in the environmental field.<br />
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Day one: meeting my new crew</h3>
I met my fellow AmeriCorps members in Wenatchee on our first day of service, and we prepared for our first project on the Chiwawa River. Kelly Gilchrist, my crew supervisor, and fellow crew members Khalil English, Rilea Dills, Chance Smith, and Bailey Haller are all awesome people with unique personalities. I look forward to serving alongside them. Since our first project was a spike, WCC provides food and lodging. So we got to stop along the way to purchase groceries. Then we headed out to meet the team from Cascade Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group (CFEG), our partner organization for our first project.<br />
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Project orientation: Chiwawa River gets a nutrient boost</h3>
Our task during the first half of October was adding marine-derived nutrients into the Chiwawa River. This meant tossing in thousands of pounds of salmon carcasses compressed into pellets (also called analogs)! As the analogs decompose, they return nutrients to the river. As insects move in to eat the pellets, they in turn become an excellent food source for juvenile salmon. Before we started unloading bags of stinky salmon pellets from a trailer into several truck beds, CFEG Executive Director Jason Lundgren gave us a brief introduction into what we would be doing and why. As we drove to the five-mile reach of the upper Chiwawa River where we would be applying the salmon analogs, I was impressed by the breathtaking mountains, crisp air, and fall colors. I had never been to the area before and even in the cold and rain it was easy to get distracted by all the sheer beauty that surrounded us.<br />
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“For the fish!” we all chimed in before hauling the 50-pound pound salmon pellet bags through a mile-long obstacle course of thick brush and fallen trees to access the riverside. We made trip after trip, stacking bags near the river until the trucks were empty. We then donned waders and made our way to different spots in the river, being careful to avoid areas with salmon egg nests – or redds. Some of the treatment spots required we wade long distances up or downstream, which was tiring but so much fun! The last step was cutting open the bags and pouring the nutrients evenly into the Chiwawa.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-Cn5L-NfjUWe_wAIk7yRFMMHqFhJ-F04vrS3HdiKTXxcBPIxF-bD327JDAQ7Ed4C-79fRuoBhcP6CZU-rDkz2s-nFRzKf7lQ1a4tp2T7dZfohJd2WEfNo9CxnGqaVTZ8OWS6tShO5b4/s1600/CFEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="640" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-Cn5L-NfjUWe_wAIk7yRFMMHqFhJ-F04vrS3HdiKTXxcBPIxF-bD327JDAQ7Ed4C-79fRuoBhcP6CZU-rDkz2s-nFRzKf7lQ1a4tp2T7dZfohJd2WEfNo9CxnGqaVTZ8OWS6tShO5b4/s640/CFEG.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CCFEG and WCC carry heavy bags of salmon analogs through the Chiwawa River before dumping them in.*</td></tr>
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Prioritizing safety on the daily</h3>
Although we did not know exactly what to expect on our first project, we knew what precautions to take along the way. It was important to wear enough layers and have extra socks handy on rainy, cold days to keep warm. Our strenuous activities also meant it was crucial to drink enough water and consume plenty of calories. To prevent accidents, we also had to be extremely careful how we placed our feet in the river. Although these seem like basic safety measures, being mindful of them was important to successfully complete the project.<br />
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By the second week, we were experts in hauling those stinky bags around. We learned the best way to carry them, cut them open, and effectively dump the pellets in the water. We knew all the trails to the river by heart and were prepared to face any weather. We dispersed a total of 42,000 pounds of salmon analogs into the Chiwawa River! Because we were ahead of schedule, some of us got the opportunity to help Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife with electrofishing, a fun learning experience. Electrofishing is a common technique used to sample fish populations. Biologists deliver an electrical charge into a body of water to temporarily stun and collect the fish, record data, then release the unharmed fish back into the water.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qPetGtRwB462v9Lbs3R9uAuQaxis3CrTJPeFXp-c_M0JXuxIwfAA7LWPgkJZ2P0XdVGn1OeLRzxUPBn_LMRfm45sMvDBl0WpNPmmSrEKM4KxWTadTGoWa5q1cGulaZMD50_C3QkQKpI/s1600/gilchrist+group+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="637" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qPetGtRwB462v9Lbs3R9uAuQaxis3CrTJPeFXp-c_M0JXuxIwfAA7LWPgkJZ2P0XdVGn1OeLRzxUPBn_LMRfm45sMvDBl0WpNPmmSrEKM4KxWTadTGoWa5q1cGulaZMD50_C3QkQKpI/s320/gilchrist+group+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
L to R: Kelly
Gilchrist, Bailey Haller, Kevin Wooldridge,</div>
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Rilea Dills, Chance Smith (not
pictured Khalil English).*</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3>
Inspiration and bonding</h3>
I was inspired by CFEG staff members’ passion, drive, and ability to face adversity head on every day. The life of an environmentalist can be uncertain, and it is admirable these people are doing all they can to help save local wildlife. Everyone seemed to love the work, and their passion was contagious. The feeling of being part of something larger than myself kept me going when the cold or fatigue hit. I want to give a huge “thank you” to CFEG for their hard work, and making our first project experience memorable.<br />
<br />
This project was so much more than just dumping pellets into the river. I got the opportunity to spend quality time with my fellow AmeriCorps members! Making communal dinners, playing cards and video games, and sharing stories next to the warm fireplace after a long day outdoors made everything so much better. Being able to share the experience together was one of the best parts of the Chiwawa River Nutrient Enhancement Project.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>By Kevin Wooldridge, WCC AmeriCorps member, </b><b>Wenatchee Spike Crew </b><br />
*Photos contributed by Kelly Gilchrist (1, 3) and Cascade Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group (2).<br />
<br />Laura Schlabachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14947716735227070326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-83609554744967919942019-12-03T12:59:00.000-08:002019-12-04T09:37:17.215-08:00Updating fresh water rules to protect salmon spawning <h4>
<em>Ecology is starting conversations about rule changes to help salmon recovery</em></h4>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC2Mh7rBSBUoZ4QTWf_Xc_WfQ4hEhYbZSbDZTD2Qj7DYPUwP0Bu5NxkNBsKs2vWF9ZFUVwXG7qAJ42IEGdj3aSQc66iYHnC2sIW06qW6NE8AjpAP1dAeSYjm7yxtvAbifDcyKpD-vWFU/s1600/manysalmonriver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="many bright red blobs, which are salmon, in a clear river " border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1023" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC2Mh7rBSBUoZ4QTWf_Xc_WfQ4hEhYbZSbDZTD2Qj7DYPUwP0Bu5NxkNBsKs2vWF9ZFUVwXG7qAJ42IEGdj3aSQc66iYHnC2sIW06qW6NE8AjpAP1dAeSYjm7yxtvAbifDcyKpD-vWFU/s320/manysalmonriver.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by NOAA Fisheries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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All across the state, people and organizations are asking what they can do to help salmon and orca. There are <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-involved/What-you-can-do/Washington-Waters-ours-to-protect" target="_blank">simple, every day actions</a> we can all take to prevent water pollution, like limiting the amount of chemicals we use on our lawns, as they can be washed into streams and rivers. At Ecology, we are <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Puget-Sound/Orca-task-force/Our-work-helps-protect-orcas" target="_blank">taking a wide variety of actions</a> to better protect and restore these iconic species, including grants for community projects, reducing toxic chemicals from getting into our water, providing scientific support, and taking regulatory actions.</div>
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<h2 style="border-image: none;">
Salmon Spawning and Water Quality</h2>
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Salmon play a critical role in our fresh and marine water ecosystems. Unfortunately, salmon populations have been declining in our state for more than a decade. In Washington, 15 distinct populations of salmon and steelhead are listed as either threatened or endangered, and according to the <a href="https://stateofsalmon.wa.gov/" target="_blank">most recent State of Salmon report</a>, eight of those populations are either getting worse or not showing signs of recovery. </div>
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To support salmon recovery, we are considering making changes to the<a href="https://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=173-201A-200" target="_blank"> state’s fresh water standards</a>. These changes could help improve the physical habitat and water quality for our rivers and streams to benefit all salmonids; including trout such as cutthroat, redband, bull, brown, rainbow, and brook. Specifically, we want to ensure salmon nests (called redds) have enough oxygen to support incubating eggs and newly hatched young. We also want to better protect these nests from the effects of too much fine sediment in the water. </div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="border-image: none;">
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“Salmon need a healthy environment to spawn and thrive. If we want more salmon in our rivers, we need to continue to help improve their environment,” said Heather Bartlett, Ecology’s Water Quality Program Manager. “The rule changes we are considering would help improve the spawning habitat for salmon across the state and compliment all of the great work being done to rebuild and protect salmon habitat.” </div>
</blockquote>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/66yiuV-bt9Q/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/66yiuV-bt9Q?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<h3 style="border-image: none;">
Oxygen </h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e5p6RdMxLut1nSlV61koZw_7ZE4N6X2G0n1Rona69le7XSoKIfWvfru4btdpawMW6L4krzeK4R_mDIwnrz2HTVBX9fzyiHIMyWngKJ7h2kTr4NVTNbisvhM9a26WTwbPXyWehXFkJhc/s1600/baby+salmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bright orange eggs with small translucent fish sticking their heads out. " border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e5p6RdMxLut1nSlV61koZw_7ZE4N6X2G0n1Rona69le7XSoKIfWvfru4btdpawMW6L4krzeK4R_mDIwnrz2HTVBX9fzyiHIMyWngKJ7h2kTr4NVTNbisvhM9a26WTwbPXyWehXFkJhc/s1600/baby+salmon.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larval salmon, called alevin, stay protected between the stream<br />
gravel until they absorb their yolk sack and emerge as young fish.<br />
Image by pnwsalmoncenter.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Salmonid eggs incubate in the gravel of fresh water streams and need enough oxygen to properly grow into larvae and emerge from the gravel. In regulatory terms, we refer to the oxygen in the water as Dissolved Oxygen and have a water quality criteria for how much oxygen needs to be in the water for aquatic species to be healthy. <br />
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We are considering adding an additional measure to the existing criteria to help ensure habitat conditions in gravel are ideal for salmon spawning. We want to make sure our standards provide the necessary conditions for growth, survival, and reproduction. Improved standards would help us better identify waters throughout the state that have oxygen issues that could be affecting salmon spawning. </div>
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There are a number of reasons why a water body could have low dissolved oxygen, including warm water temperatures and excess nutrients.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe09MZr7-syUNkuihbvHknotWcKaMspV4ixng6jx80zvsax8FtqZLZHyDuUvzCaAvPDslurKcXG9iMh2WXsd2agzJg8KdZDLN7EJ3hbZqA_tCs7SkURnbE-SaS8p80UDDhYb_NEZB1XE/s1600/oxygenSalmonDiagram.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Salmon eggs and larvae need oxygen to breathe. A line drawing of a fish in a river with a gravel bottom. Arrows showing water flows through gravel and carries oxygen to group of small red eggs (called a redd). Arrows showing dissolved oxygen moves between the water column and the gravel bed. Redds often have lower dissolved oxygen than the water column. line drawing showing eggs outlined between gravel and baby fish. " border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1204" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe09MZr7-syUNkuihbvHknotWcKaMspV4ixng6jx80zvsax8FtqZLZHyDuUvzCaAvPDslurKcXG9iMh2WXsd2agzJg8KdZDLN7EJ3hbZqA_tCs7SkURnbE-SaS8p80UDDhYb_NEZB1XE/s640/oxygenSalmonDiagram.PNG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
<h3 style="border-image: none;">
Fine Sediments</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwOkq2URNo1tFZg8ia_7b_ZYTNx8DOUbD9r3njtAZ8CFYRH352ERAScB_lYBJzsuqt9pgG_UcdU8cJ5AEyVG_YenUbNgLSxKMRFFZSdpmU6l-7RwKLmkEEpKVIZeZYB9Jf5Yv3S1gNME/s1600/salmonReddGravel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="898" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwOkq2URNo1tFZg8ia_7b_ZYTNx8DOUbD9r3njtAZ8CFYRH352ERAScB_lYBJzsuqt9pgG_UcdU8cJ5AEyVG_YenUbNgLSxKMRFFZSdpmU6l-7RwKLmkEEpKVIZeZYB9Jf5Yv3S1gNME/s320/salmonReddGravel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pink salmon excavates a loose gravel area to create<br />
a nest (called a redd). She lays her eggs in and covers them up. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We are also considering the addition of new water quality criteria to limit the impact of fine sediment on salmon spawning gravel beds. Currently, the Water Quality Standards provide protection for spawning habitat but do not specifically address fine sediments.</div>
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Fine sediments are an issue for salmon nests because sediments can settle on the nests and block the flow of water through the gravel, depriving eggs and larvae of the oxygen they need.</div>
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In addition, adding fine sediment criteria is consistent with our agreement in the 2018 U.S. District Court Stipulated Order of Dismissal between Northwest Environmental Advocates, EPA, and Ecology. In the agreement, we committed to completing draft rule language by Oct. 18, 2021.</div>
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Fine sediment is the result of soil erosion, which can happen for a wide variety of reasons, including development or construction, agricultural practices, and forestry. There are generally best management practices in place for these industries and activities to mitigate erosion and sediment pollution. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTZgTfQWzDXgdN7aTDreDD1tO5V4qxWDXK333ffa3X8ZOf8u2N4Udmdh7j1h0KBXyP03VWmK86H5SQSdyb0Sbhyphenhyphen3-p3-Rj7cCe2v-zMwndFJsikMKJ-6fAjQXdqQqWHf_rkkzPjZmsck/s1600/SedimentSalmonDiagram.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fine sediment is not suitable spawning habitat. Line drawing of fish in river with gravel bed. Shows fine sediment covering the redd. Fine sediment blocks the flow of water and oxygen. Less oxygen reduces hatching success. " border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="810" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTZgTfQWzDXgdN7aTDreDD1tO5V4qxWDXK333ffa3X8ZOf8u2N4Udmdh7j1h0KBXyP03VWmK86H5SQSdyb0Sbhyphenhyphen3-p3-Rj7cCe2v-zMwndFJsikMKJ-6fAjQXdqQqWHf_rkkzPjZmsck/s400/SedimentSalmonDiagram.PNG" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="border-image: none;">
Next Steps</h2>
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This is the development phase of the rule, which means we have not yet drafted a proposed rule. Over the next few months, we will meet with tribes, stakeholders, and government agencies about the potential rulemaking, to seek their ideas on solutions, alternative approaches, and concerns. </div>
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We plan to propose rule language for comment in fall 2020. At that time, we will host workshops and public hearings. After evaluating the feedback we receive, we will make decisions on changes to the water quality standards for dissolved oxygen and fine sediments in fresh water. </div>
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To learn more about the rulemaking, visit our <a href="http://ecology.wa.gov/Regulations-Permits/Laws-rules-rulemaking/Rulemaking/WAC173-201A-Salmon-spawning-habitat" target="_blank">rulemaking webpage</a>. <br />
<br /><br />
By Stacy Galleher and Marla Koberstein</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<img height="77" src="https://img1.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="left: 485.53px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 774.84px;" width="96" />Stacy Galleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17046085613222696158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4510056950479922035.post-31016159127416803702019-11-27T10:59:00.000-08:002019-11-27T11:04:59.170-08:00Eyes Over Puget Sound: Conditions still favorable for fish growth<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSRRaLOdLWto5rhb8fXyPAfLg4V3YHiQfMoq9hgpxqRKPtvlw_sxig4TfLGEfSOBZFGPiWbIZEICfxLLdBaNugm_GF8I5x56ffrD9QIbOIUT_v1aSYhzGnKtIxTpUtlcuw84GxenzGlk/s1600/1903076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSRRaLOdLWto5rhb8fXyPAfLg4V3YHiQfMoq9hgpxqRKPtvlw_sxig4TfLGEfSOBZFGPiWbIZEICfxLLdBaNugm_GF8I5x56ffrD9QIbOIUT_v1aSYhzGnKtIxTpUtlcuw84GxenzGlk/s640/1903076.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">New <a href="https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/documents/1903076.pdf" target="_blank">Eyes Over Puget Sound report</a> now available</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once a month, we take high-resolution photos of Puget Sound water conditions, using seaplane to travel between our long-term monitoring stations. We publish these, along with monitoring station data, in the <a href="https://ecology.wa.gov/EOPS" target="_blank">Eyes Over Puget Sound</a> report.<br />
<br />
During our monthly flight in October, we saw plumes of river water starting to flow into Puget Sound. Though recent rainfall was higher than expected, river flows remained lower than they were at this time in 2018.<br />
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<h3>
Temperatures still support salmon and herring</h3>
After a warm spring and summer, October air temperatures dropped to historic lows for the month. However, water temperatures remained warm enough in South and Central Sound for anchovies to spawn and to support optimal growth for herring and salmon in Whidbey Basin. This could be good news for Puget Sound’s food web.<br />
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<h3>
Rafts of wrack ride the waves</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSjwDuBFVvkI6fLffrh7R3hPRQoIURbeADDt4MnrbTAQOlyhojNhn_Y_HpLP58qONqfNOkYQ0Fx-5tOc9QAbtq6T6QwcHi0mYdHDPJ-UxAq7Y6qaRxqJVrUmwf7T1sdUn-w8ErKzPsVI/s1600/HatIslandWrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image A shows Hat Island and Anacortes labeled. Inset Image B, land labeled Bayview. Arrows labeled "debris" point to orange spots in the red and green water." border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="721" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSjwDuBFVvkI6fLffrh7R3hPRQoIURbeADDt4MnrbTAQOlyhojNhn_Y_HpLP58qONqfNOkYQ0Fx-5tOc9QAbtq6T6QwcHi0mYdHDPJ-UxAq7Y6qaRxqJVrUmwf7T1sdUn-w8ErKzPsVI/s400/HatIslandWrack.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Organic debris in North Sound</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the end of October, many red-brown algae blooms vanished from South Puget Sound, yet some waters were still green with other phytoplankton. The red-brown blooms still painted Henderson and Sinclair Inlets, as well as Sequim Bay.<br />
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In some places, we watched rafts of organic debris drift on the water’s surface. These were especially evident in South Sound, Whidbey Basin, East Sound, Discovery Bay, Bellingham Bay, and Padilla Bay. Macroalgae rafts were clearly visible around the islands of the North Sound, accumulating at the edges of tidal gullies.<br />
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<h3>
Feature — Marine Waters Report</h3>
Readers of Eyes Over Puget Sound may also find the <a href="https://www.psp.wa.gov/PSmarinewatersoverview.php" target="_blank">Puget Sound Marine Waters 2018</a> overview to be of interest. This latest annual report details the effects of a changing climate in Puget Sound for 2018. We update this overview report as part of our participation in the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program’s Marine Waters Work Group. It is published by the Puget Sound Partnership.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>By Diana Ruth Olegre, Environmental Assessment Program</b><br />
<br />Keeley Belvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06686201097861029530noreply@blogger.com0