WRIA 62 WMP 032305 - Washington State Department of Ecology

March, 2005 -76- 023-1289-003.3040
The WPU also acknowledges that all entities involved in grazing in riparian areas (including the
NRCS, USFS, DNR, BLM, Pend Oreille Conservation District and private land owners) should be
involved in development of actions plans to address any negative impacts associated with livestock
operations utilizing riparian areas.
4.5.3 GR&LU-2b Background and Rationale
Problem Statement: There is a continued need to identify funding for education and program
implementation related to livestock management in riparian areas.
The WPU agreed that there is a continued need to educate landowners with livestock operations about
the potential for their operations to impact riparian areas and water quality, and to identify resources
for these landowners to implement improvement measures. Educational materials, technical
assistance and funding resources are available from a number of sources, including Ecology, Pend
Oreille Conservation District, Washington State University Extension and NRCS. The WPU agreed
that the Pend Oreille Conservation District is the appropriate entity to coordinate and implement these
actions, contingent upon available funding.
4.5.4 GR&LU-3 Background and Rationale
Problem Statement: Road building and improper maintenance can negatively impact water
quality and aquatic habitat.
Although there are road building / maintenance standards and Best Management Practices (BMPs)
used in WRIA 62, the WPU feels strongly that there continues to be the potential for negative impacts
to water quality. These impacts may be caused by roads built in the past and from roads that are
currently being built or that will be built in the future by all entities involved in road building in
WRIA 62.
Forest Service roads and roads managed under the Forest Practices Act are not included in these
strategies since they are built and maintained under existing regulations and the watershed planning
process cannot obligate entities guided by the Forest Practices Act (per RCW 90.82.120(3)). Road
building and maintenance guidelines and rules for Federal, State and Private forest lands are
contained within the Washington Forest Practices Rules (for private and state forest lands) and the
Northwest Forest Plan and various BMPs and national / regional specifications (for federal forest
lands). In order to have input to road building and maintenance issues in WRIA 62 on National
Forest land, the Planning Unit developed the action for the Implementing Body to become involved in
revisions to the Colville National Forest Plan. In addition, Ecology has a memorandum of agreement
(MOA) with the USFS aimed at improving water quality for people and fish. The most significant
element of this MOA is an aggressive commitment to a road maintenance schedule that mirrors the
requirements of the 1999 Forests and Fish state legislation. In the MOA, the USFS agrees to manage
its lands and activities to meet or exceed state water quality standards. In the event that the USFS
causes a water quality violation on or outside USFS land, Ecology will first use the MOA between the
USFS and Ecology to address the violation. If there is no resolution, Ecology will take enforcement
action against the USFS for violating state water quality standards. Note that this does not include
temperature or fecal coliform in streams on Colville National Forest land since these are currently
being addressed by TMDLs.
WRIA 62 WMP 032305