WRIA 62 WMP 032305 - Washington State Department of Ecology

March, 2005 -62- 023-1289-003.3040
The Watershed Planning Unit feels it is important that the Washington State Department of Ecology,
the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the Kalispel Tribe, all assisted by EPA,
coordinate the development of the TMDLs for the Pend Oreille River, particularly at the technical
assessment phase. For example, the Watershed Planning Unit feels it is important that natural
temperature conditions are identified correctly (through modeling) and that this is done for the upper
watershed in Idaho (Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River in Idaho) before modeling efforts
are conducted for the lower Pend Oreille River in Washington. Only after natural temperature
conditions are understood should Ecology and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality try to
quantify any potential increases due to projects in Idaho and Washington. The efforts to understand
natural temperature conditions will determine whether or not the Pend Oreille River temperatures are
truly an impairment or if some (or all) of the elevated temperatures are due to natural conditions. The
Planning Unit has emphasized the need for coordination in letters sent to EPA, Ecology and IDEQ on
February 2, 2005. A copy of these letters are included in Appendix H.
Ecology held the initial TMDL public meeting, in Newport, in January, 2005. At this meeting,
Ecology explained the overall TMDL process, presented the study plans (i.e., the TDG and
temperature QAPPs) and solicited questions and concerns from those present. The Kalispel Tribe
explained the Tribe’s involvement. The Tri-State Water Quality Council asked those present to sign
up to be contacted about upcoming meetings and development of a stakeholder advisory group. The
WRIA 62 Watershed Planning Implementing Body can provide input to the TMDLs by becoming
involved with this advisory group. The Tri-State Water Quality Council will be facilitating and
coordinating this stakeholder advisory group.
In addition to the ongoing TDG and temperature TMDLs for the Pend Oreille River mainstem in
WRIA 62, the Pend Oreille River is being assessed to determine whether or not it should remain on
the 303(d) list for Aldrin in fish tissue (Ecology, 2004d). Aldrin (a toxic chemical) will be analyzed
in fish tissue and the results compared to the criteria specified by Ecology’s Water Quality 303(d)
Listing Policy. The QAPP for the assessment (http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0403115.html) was
completed in October 2004 and the sampling in November 2004. The final report is due in May
2005.
4.2.5 WQUAL-4a Background and Rationale
Problem Statement: The natural quality of drinking water provided to some communities does
not meet Washington State secondary drinking water standards.
Within Section 3.8.2 of the Phase II, Level 2 Technical Assessment (Golder, 2005) information is
presented on groundwater quality within the Kalispel Reservation, groundwater supplied to the Town
of Ione and an assessment is made of the groundwater quality for public water systems in WRIA 62
based on information contained within the WDOH water quality database. The findings of the
assessment are that groundwater quality is generally good in WRIA 62 with little evidence of human
related impacts to groundwater quality. However, high levels of hardness, iron and manganese (due
to natural geochemical processes) are common in WRIA 62 groundwater and have been detected in
wells completed in the unconsolidated and consolidated sediments, and in bedrock. Elevated
hardness causes scale on the inside of pipes and boilers. If groundwater containing dissolved iron and
manganese (from a reducing environment) is exposed to the atmosphere, the iron and manganese in
solution is oxidized to a less soluble form and precipitates as an oxide or carbonate. Iron and
manganese oxides and carbonates can clog well screens and water distribution piping, can cause taste
WRIA 62 WMP 032305