Public to review plan of action for Hangman Creek pollution

Would you like to see something done about the muddy water in Hangman Creek? The plan to take action on reducing pollution in the Hangman Creek watershed is out for public review and comment until March 18, 2011. The Hangman Creek Implementation Plan (or action plan) is based on the water quality improvement report, also known as a “TMDL” or total maximum daily load, which was approved last September. The water quality improvement report includes information on how much pollution was in Hangman Creek and from where that pollution was coming. The implementation plan builds on the TMDL report by outlining what needs to take place, and who needs to do it, to make sure the pollution decreases and the creek’s health improves. The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the Spokane County Conservation District (SCCD) drafted the plan that outlines actions that will be taken to reduce fecal coliform bacteria and turbidity (muddy water). It also includes measures to decrease the temperature of the water that is often too warm to support fish and other aquatic life. Because phosphorus pollution adheres to sediment particles, the implementation plan will naturally decrease phosphorus before the creek gets to the Spokane River. Hangman Creek is a tributary to the Spokane River. Phosphorus pollution is a major problem in the Spokane River where high amounts of it encourage the growth of algae, which in turn uses up the oxygen that fish need to survive. The creek and its tributaries originate in Idaho and flow northwest into Washington. The watershed encompasses over 689 square miles. Agriculture has been the dominant land use in the Hangman Creek watershed since the early 1900s. The Washington portion of the watershed also contains six permitted wastewater treatment plant facilities that discharge to streams. Ecology and the SCCD developed the water quality improvement plan, with this accompanying implementation plan, because Hangman Creek and several of its tributaries were identified on Washington state’s list of impaired waters in 2004 and 2008. They were listed because they did not meet the state’s water quality standards for fecal coliform, temperature and turbidity. Water quality issues, such as agricultural runoff, stream bank erosion, stormwater runoff, and livestock and forestry practices, all are pollution concerns in the area. The goals of the implementation plan are to: ·Reduce erosion. ·Reduce runoff carrying sediment. ·Reduce livestock damage. ·Increase shading of streams. ·Inform and educate watershed residents about water quality issues. To reduce erosion from agricultural field ditches, the plan recommends that farmers adopt “direct seed” tillage —a seeding practice that minimizes soil disturbance and uses new best management practices to decrease erosion and runoff. When livestock and wildlife congregate along streams, they deposit fecal matter, trample vegetation and break up the soil. The plan calls for installing streamside fencing with off-stream watering facilities in livestock areas to ensure the stream corridor is protected. It also calls for planting the kind of vegetation that discourages wildlife from standing in the stream or on the stream bank. Another action item to prevent bacteria pollution is to ensure residents are properly maintaining septic systems so that pollutants don’t enter the creek and streams. To reduce the temperature of streams, the amount of sunlight reaching the stream must be reduced. That can be accomplished by planting native vegetation to increase shade. Even beavers have a role. The Lands Council in Spokane is working to reintroduce beavers in the Hangman watershed because they can significantly reduce pollution. Go to http://www.landscouncil.org/beaversolution/ for more information. The Lands Council is one of many organizations and agencies that have a role in helping to clean up Hangman Creek. To review the action plan online, go to www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/1110012.html, or request a copy from Elaine Snouwaert at 509-329-3503; by email at Elaine.Snouwaert@ecy.wa.gov. Comments should be sent to Elaine Snouwaert at the Washington State Department of Ecology, 4601 N Monroe Street, Spokane, WA, 99205 by March 18, 2011. Comments can also be sent to Elaine.Snouwaert@ecy.wa.gov.