Scott River TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads for
pollutants) Action Plan update: Bryan
McFadin of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) recently gave an
overview of the TMDL process and current status of the Action Plan. Under the federal
Clean Water Act and CA Porter Cologne Water Quality Act, “beneficial uses” of
water bodies are determined, (such as fishing, recreation or agriculture.) The numeric or
narrative water quality standards needed to support these uses are established. Water
bodies that do not meet these standards are listed on a “303(d) list.” An “Action
Plan” is written to work toward achieving water quality objectives.
In the Scott, cold water habitat, rare and threatened and endangered
species, migration of aquatic species, spawning, early development of fish and fishing are
beneficial uses that are not supported by water quality. Specifically, high water
temperature (solar radiation) and sediment have been identified as pollutants in the
Scott. The Action Plan looks at how regulation of human activities can reduce pollution.
It also takes into consideration what is
“natural” in setting limitations on objectives, (such as shade that actually
existed in the past determined from historic photos.)
In the Scott, the objectives are to: (1) control excess sediment
discharge; (2) increase riparian shade; (3) understand how groundwater use affects stream
temperature and use that information to help address the temperature issue. Action Plan
tools to achieve the objectives are: (1) absolute prohibition on any discharge of the
pollutant, (with potential issuance of abatement and cease and desist orders if violated):
(2) Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) permits; and (3) conditional waivers of a WDR.
Currently, some Scott Valley activities are covered by a specific
permit – such as timber harvest. Some are on the way to being covered – such as
road maintenance for the County, US Forest Service and private timber companies. Some
activities, such as agriculture, are currently covered under a conditional WDR. The five
year waiver is conditional upon participation in a locally led collaborative process. For
instance, the Siskiyou RCD (Resource Conservation District) and NRCS (Natural Resources
Conservation District) offer programs for riparian planting and vegetation management;
stream maintenance, and grazing management.
There are about two years left on the conditional waiver. Concerns
are being raised outside of our area that there is no accountability for progress under
the current locally led process. (In Shasta Valley, individual land owners are required to
report participation and actions to be covered.) Should the conditional waiver not be
successful in making progress toward objectives, the default would be discharge
prohibition with possible enforcement actions.
Klamath TMDL: NCRWQCB staff has reviewed input on
recent proposals to list several watersheds along the mid-Klamath River corridor for
sediment levels above maximum pollution standards. Staff has reduced the areas proposed
for new sediment listing to Beaver Creek, West Fork of Beaver Creek, Cow Creek, Deer Creek
and Hungry Creek. Wooley Creek, which was at one time proposed for delisting, is
recommended by staff to remain listed. The Klamath is also listed in various sections of
the river for low dissolved oxygen, high nutrients, and high water temperature.
A draft Action
Plan to reduce pollutants will be released next month with a 60 day comment period. There
will be four public meetings including July 7 in Yreka; July 8 in Orleans, and July 9 in
Klamath on the coast. The NCRWQCB itself will hold a workshop on the Klamath TMDL in Yreka
on September 9 or 10. The final TMDL is scheduled for adoption by the NCRWQCB at the Yurok
tribal headquarters on October 28-29.
http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/northcoast/
|
