WASHINGTON: UPPER SKAGIT INDIAN TRIBE
(USIT), HELMICK ROAD RESERVATION
EPA Grant Supports Protection and
Contingency Planning
Background
Location: The Upper Skagit Indian Reservation was established September 10,
1981. Part of the reservation's land base is situated on terraces just above the
floodplain of the Skagit River at the toe of Lyman Hill in Skagit County, Washington.
This reservation land base is called the Helmick Road Reservation, which includes 74
original acres of Reservation lands and 70 adjacent acres. The Helmick Road
Reservation is the administrative and community center of the Tribe. There are 76
residential connections within the reservation and 6 off-reservation residential
connections, plus 8 commercial connections.
Water Supply: One public water system fed by ground water aquifer is the source of
the community's drinking water supply.
Source Water Assessment: EPA funded an initial project in 1993 that resulted in the
Wellhead Protection Plan, Helmick Road Reservation, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, by
Shannon & Wilson, Inc.. This 1993 report delineated the source water protection area
and identified potential sources of contamination. Susceptibility analysis was not
performed at the time due to the lack of area wells to generate the underlying aquifer
hydrostratigraphy. In 2003 funds from EPA provided for the development of the
Contingency Plans for short and long term disruptions in water supply and to further
develop source water protection measures.
Priority Contamination Threats
The major threats to the reservation's water supply according to the 1993 Wellhead
Protection Plan are the locations of three community on-site septic wastewater
facilities located within the two-year travel zone of the community's drinking water
ground water wellfield, and an additional three community on-site septic wastewater
facilities located within the five-year travel zone. Another contamination threat is from
untreated stormwater runoff. Area land use is primarily rural residential, rural
agriculture, and industrial forest. An abandoned coal mine is also nearby.
Subsequent studies show a reduced threat of contamination from on-site septic
systems due to the presence of aquitards protecting the ground source.
Local Team and Developing the Protection Plan
Representatives on the contributing team were from the USIT Environmental
Planning Department, Public Works Department, Safety Committee, and Utility Board.
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10050 January 2010
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Management Measures
The Upper Skagit Indian Tribe has developed reports to assist in establishing long-
term protection and source water contingency alternatives. These reports are the
USIT Helmick Road Reservation Overall Water System Plan (OWSP), the USIT
Helmick Road Reservation Overall Wastewater System Plan (OWWSP), the USIT
Helmick Road Reservation Water and Wastewater Systems Operational and
Maintenance Manual, and the USIT Helmick Road Reservation Water Contingency
Plan. The Overall System Plans incorporate asset inventories, describe the use and
projected use of the systems, analyze the systems' deficiencies and propose
improvement projects that will provide for existing and future demand, and the health
and safety of the lands and people. These reports include environmental, economic,
and operational assessments of alternative source water and wastewater options.
The Water Contingency Plan addresses the short-term and long-term steps for
conserving water, water storage, and a contingency plan in the event of an
emergency disruption or catastrophic loss of the existing ground water source and
refers to the OWSP and OWWSP for long-term protection of the existing groundwater
source through different alternatives.
Contingency Plan
The Tribal Water System Contingency Plan was developed to identify the means and
procedures to have alternative emergency water supplies available to the customers
of the Tribal water system in the event of water quality or water quantity failure.
Highlights of the Contingency Plan include: assessment of possible natural and
technological hazards with respect to risk and vulnerability; the means and
procedures for responding to short-term system disruptions and planning needs for
long-term system disruptions. The Contingency Plan also includes a water demand
reduction plan for minor shortages, moderate shortages and a regional disaster water
rationing program. The Contingency Plan addresses emergency response
preparedness for the water system, and is a key component to providing overall water
system reliability.
Measuring Program Effectiveness
Community outreach and awareness occurs through regular events such as the
Annual Health Fair. Successes have included improvements in the water system
infrastructure, establishment of emergency power systems, progress in stormwater
management practices, and significant efforts slated for wastewater treatment
improvements. Further success demonstrated by the program is inclusion of the
Contingency Plan as a part of the Tribe's Comprehensive Emergency Management
Plan. The Contingency Plan and Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
provide for Tribal responders to facilitate decision-making management for multi-
agency and multi-jurisdictional response.
For further information, contact:
Lauren Rich
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10050 January 2010
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Environmental Planning Department
(360) 854-7006
LaurenR@UPPERSKAGlT.com
Office of Water (4606M) 816F10050 January 2010
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