Skagit River Temperature Pollution

Past Challenges and Proposed Solutions

Presented byAmy Trainer

Environmental Policy Analyst

Skagit RiverLargest in Puget Sound & Most Chinook

Stream Temperatures Matter!

Salmon need plentiful cool, clean water to thriveat all life stages

-- Ideal stream temps = 55-64�F / 13-18�C

-- Lethal stream temps = 73-77�F / 23-25�C

-- Warm Stream Temps = decreased health, Increased susceptibility to toxins and disease, reduced food supply and reduced ability to avoid predators

Majority of WA Assessed Waters Are Impaired by Warm Temperatures

Salmon Streams Throughout Puget Sound Suffer from Temperature Pollution

Ecology’s2004 Lower SkagitTemp TMDL

2004 2005 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

12 (Nook. Cr .) 24.2 20.6 17.3 21.8 23.5 23.4

13 (E.F. Nook) 21.5 19.8 21.6 20.1 18.5 17.7 23.3 20.8 20.9

15 (Nook. Cr .) 22.4 21.6 23.2 22.9 24.9 21.9 21.9 24.7 23.3 22.3

16 (E.F. Nook.) 21.3 19.8 20.6 20.1 22.1 20.4 17.9 23.4 21.2 20.8

17 (Nook. Cr ./Big Lake) 24.9 24.6 25.1 25.1 20.8 25.1 23.4 24.7 26.4 27.1 25.2 25.5

18 (Lake Cr.) 18.8 17.6 18.4 18.4 22.4 18.2 17.5 17.4 18.2 17.9

19 (Hansen Cr.) 21 19.7 20.7 20.6 20.3 18.9 19.2 21.2 21.1 20.5

20 Hansen Cr.) 19.6 18.9 19 18 20.7 15.2 16.3 17.1

42 (Hi ll Ditch/Carp.Cr.) 23.8 24.6 20.2 27 23.1 19.5 23.8 27.3 25.9 24.9

48 (Fisher Cr.) 15.7 14.5 15 14.7 14.4 14.4 16.4 15.1 14.8

DOE Max. Temp 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Lower Skagit Creeks - Summary of County's Temperature data [Numbers represent degrees Celsius]

Main Cause = Lack Riparian Habitat on main stem, tribs

What dosalmon streams need to look like?

2008 Water Quality Improvement ReportØ Recognized temperature

may be most influential factor limiting health, distribution of fish

Ø Set goal of 100% riparian areas in Temperature TMDL planted by 2020

Ø Relied on voluntary methods like CREP, Critical Areas Ordinance

Ø Enforcement if voluntary efforts fail

Level of Success re Ecology’s 2008 Voluntary Water Quality Strategy?

2006 Coverage

(Acres)

Current Coverage

(Acres)Change (Acres)

Functional Vegetation

142.4 142.2 -0.2

Dysfunctional Vegetation

161.2 137.7 -23.4

Infrastructure 12.0 12.0 0.0

Restoration Planting

0.0 23.6 +23.6

Total 315.5 315.5 0.0

Nookachamps Creek 100-foot buffer zone Skagit River and Lake McMurray.

Creek Miles

Relative Distance

100% Functional Buffer 0.8 2.1%

< 100% Functional Buffer 34.2 92.1%

Plantings 2.2 5.8%

37.2 100.0%

Functional buffer & riparian planting Nookachamps Creek 100-foot buffer zoneSkagit River and Lake McMurray.

2005 Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan + Treaty Rights at RiskRecommended but No Action:

Ø Agricultural Practices Act or mandate BMPs with regulatory enforcement

Ø Eliminate exemption for Ag in SMAØ Amend CWA so NPS and point

sources Ø Provide review of Farm Plans, CREPØ Adopt BAS stream buffers or BMPs

Requested and Implemented:Ø CREP needs to apply BASØ EPA, Ecology adopted riparian

standards for CWA Section 319 funds

How does Washington Law Address Temperature Impairment?

Chapter 90.48 RCW: Water Pollution Control ActMandate to control and prevent

Washington Attorney General 2004 MemoEcology authority to act proactively to prevent NPS pollution

WAC 173-201A-200Temperature standards for salmon streams

State Supreme Court 2013 Lemire rulingEcology charged with implementing pollution-prevention purposes of WPCA

What is the path forward?Challenge is lack of political will

June 2018 letter from Swinomish to Ecology

SRC resolution to Leadership Council

Statutory Changes

Farmers who do the right thing

Orca emergency

In Conclusion . . .- Warm stream temperatures are adversely effecting salmon throughout Puget Sound

- Ecology continues to be reluctant to use its regulatory authority to address temperature impairment

- Not enough $$ to buy all riparian habitat along all impaired salmon streams

- If we are serious about salmon recovery – and thus Orca recovery – we need enforcement of water quality regulations for temperature in salmon streams

Thank you!

Amy TrainerEnvironmental Policy Analyst

Swinomish IndianTribal Community