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Section 319
NDNPDINT SOURCE PI
RAM SUCCESS STORY
Multifaceted Approach Reduces Bacteria from Numerous Sources
Waterbody Improved
Washington State added the South Fork Skagit River (South Fork) and
several tributaries of the lower Skagit River to the 1996/1998 Clean
Water Act section 303(d) list of impaired waters because of high levels
of fecal coliform (FC) bacteria from urban and agricultural sources. The FC levels impaired recreation use
and raised concerns about the health of shellfish beds downriver. State and local government entities
implemented a nutrient management program to control manure on dairy farms, reduced the number
of failing septic systems, and upgraded a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Bacteria levels have
decreased, and the South Fork meets water quality standards. Washington plans to remove this segment
from the 303(d) list for FC in the next listing cycle. Although the South Fork has improved, several tributar-
ies of the lower river continue to have elevated FC levels and will remain on the impaired waters list.
Problem
The Skagit is Washington's second largest river
(Figure 1). The lower Skagit River divides into North
and South Forks before emptying into Skagit Bay
in northwest Washington. Land uses in the water-
shed include forestry; small farms; rural residential
areas; several rapidly urbanizing areas; and dairy,
ranching and other forms of agriculture. In the early
1990s the Washington Department of Health clas-
sified portions of the shellfish beds in Skagit Bay
as restricted or conditionally approved because of
bacterial contamination, raising concerns about the
Skagit River's quality. A 1994/1995 monitoring study
showed that the lower Skagit River and several
tributaries violated water quality standards for FC.
Therefore, Washington Department of Ecology
(Ecology) added these waters to the state's list of
impaired waterbodies (section 303(d) list).
Ecology developed a total maximum daily load
(TMDL) for FC for the lower Skagit River watershed
in 2000. The TMDL estimated that likely sources
of FC contributing to violations of the water quality
standard include stormwater, failing septic systems,
agricultural manure and effluent (including combined
sewer overflows) from WWTPs. The state bacteria
standard has two parts: (1) FC levels must not exceed
a geometric mean (GM) value of 100 colony forming
units (cfu)/100 milliliters (ml), and (2) no more than
10 percent of all samples obtained for calculating the
GM value can exceed 200 cfu/100 ml. Because the
lower Skagit River discharges to a shellfish habitat,
the TMDL outlines water quality targets that are
more stringent than the regular state standards. The
TMDL requires that (1) FC levels not exceed a GM
value of 24 cfu/100 mL and (2) that no more than 10
percent of samples exceed 74 colonies/100 mL.
Figure 1. The lower Skagit River flows through the
city of Mount Vernon, Washington.
Project Highlights
Efforts to improve water quality in the lower Skagit
River and its tributaries have been underway for
more than 10 years. Beginning in 1998 Ecology
required that all dairies have farm plans, and dairies
are subject to inspection by the Washington State
Department of Agriculture. The farm plans require
farmers to manage manure to protect water quality
and to apply vegetative practices, such as riparian
plantings and buffer maintenance, to protect water-
courses from surface runoff of sediment, nutrients
and bacteria. Approximately 25 dairy operations
with more than 10,000 animals operate under farm
plans in the watershed.
Since 2000 the Skagit County Public Health
Department has intensified efforts to reduce the
number of failing septic systems. Through its
septic improvement pilot project, it offers rebates
to homeowners for septic system inspections and
installing lids and risers to promote access. To
teach homeowners how to properly operate and
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maintain septic systems, it held 110 Septic 101 clin-
ics since September 2000, with more than 2,800
attendees as of October 2008. It has increased
numbers of septic system inspections—from about
100 in the second half of 2005 to more than 600
during the first half of 2008. It developed public
service announcements and is increasing its social
marketing efforts to spread the word about proper
septic operation and maintenance.
Additionally, Mount Vernon undertook a major infra-
structure expansion and improvement project at its
WWTP. This has reduced combined sewer overflow
discharges from an average of 116 million gallons
(MG) in the mid-1990s to 11 MG in 2007. The cities
of Burlington and Sedro-Woolley have expanded
or improved their municipal sewer systems, which
discharge to the Skagit, and likely eliminated failing
septic systems. Both cities are also working with
citizens and nonprofit organizations to restore
reaches of Gages Slough and Brickyard Creek,
small tributaries to the Skagit.
Results
Monitoring data for the past five years in the South
Fork show that it has consistently met both parts of
the state bacteria standard. Additionally, the river
has met the first part of the stricter TMDL target
year-round for the past five years (see Figure 2). It
has met the second part of the TMDL target during
the wet season (October through April) since 2005
and during the rest of the year since 2006 (Table 1).
Therefore, the river has met both the state standard
and the TMDL target for the past three years.
Because the South Fork consistently meets the
state standard, Washington plans to remove this
Table 1. FC monitoring data for South Fork Skagit
River—compliance with the second part (% exceed-
ances) of the state standard1 and the TMDL target2
Water year
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
October-April
%>200
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
%>74
7%
0%
0%
0%
0%
May-September
%>200
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
%>74
18%
27%
10%
0%
9%
1 State standard, part 2: No more than 10% of samples exceed
200cfu/100mLFC.
2 TMDL target, part 2: No more than 10% of samples exceed
74cfu/100ml_FC.
0.9-mile segment from the state impaired waters list
in the next reporting cycle. More work is still needed
in some lower Skagit River tributaries, including
Nookachamps, Fisher, Hansen and Brickyard creeks,
which continue to violate state bacteria standards.
Partners and Funding
Oct-Apr May-Sept
2004
Oct-Apr May-Sept
2005
Oct-Apr May-Sept
2006
Oct-Apr May-Sept
2007
Participating organizations include Ecology,
Washington Department of Agriculture, Skagit
Conservation District, Skagit County Public Health
Department, Skagit County Public Works, Skagit
County Planning and Development Services, local
organizations and the cities of Mount Vernon,
Burlington and Sedro-Woolley.
Funding for projects came from several sources.
Ecology's Centennial Clean Water Funds supported
projects to install Mount Vernon's larger combined
sewer overflow interceptor ($434,735), develop a
watershed action plan and education efforts in the
Nookachamps Creek watershed ($164,511), monitor
water quality ($495,000), improve
septic systems ($152,976), and
implementTMDL-related outreach
and technical assistance projects
in lower Skagit River tributaries
($499,000). Washington State
Water Pollution Control Revolving
Funds supported an ongoing
local loan program for replacing
or repairing failing septic systems
($5.8 million) and WWTP upgrades
($27 million). A $246,000 Clean
Water Act section 319 grant
supported watershed education
and riparian restoration efforts in
Nookachamps Creek.
Oct-Apr May-Sept
2008
Figure 2. FC monitoring data for South Fork Skagit River—compliance with the first
part (GM value) of the state standard and TMDL target.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC
EPA841-F-08-001GG
January 2009
For additional information contact:
Sally Lawrence, Washington Department of Ecology
425-649-7036 • slaw461@ecy.wa.gov
Steve Olsen, Skagit County Public Health Department
360-336-9380 • steveo@co.skagit.wa.us
Rick Haley, Skagit County Public Works
360-336-9400 • rickh@co.skagit.wa.us
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