Approaches to Water Quality Protection

Protection of our water supply and aquatic habitat is vital to the viability of our economy, as well as the overall sustainability of human and wildlife. Increased population and development threaten our water resources, and management practices must be put into place to protect these resources before they are contaminated beyond repair. Chemical analysis of our ground and surface waters indicate elevated levels of ammonia, nitrates, phosphorus, and suspended sediment. Streams show elevated temperatures and fecal coliform counts far exceeding regulatory limits. Studies of wildlife samples indicate toxicity levels far exceeding maximum federal standards of contamination. Nitrate and phosphorus levels are so high that they induce algal blooms (such as in Vancouver Lake) and make the waterbodies unhealthy for human contact. Turbidity and bacterial contamination are concerns throughout our region. Mitigating these conditions is key to riparian and watershed improvement efforts and is vital to protecting the source of our drinking water.

One of the key steps to managing our ground and surface water is to manage septic tank density and operation throughout the community. This requires the development of master plans and health codes that reflect environmental constraints to control septic system use and initiate septic abatement programs. Areas (such as the Burnt Bridge Creek Basin) are at greater risk from septic system contamination when there are steep slopes and coarse-textured and/or shallow soils that encourage rapid runoff and limit the biological uptake and retention of nitrate from septic waste.

Another necessary step is to better manage stormwater. Water quality decreases as stormwater volume increases because more water can carry greater quantities of sediment and pollutants. Vancouver and Clark County need stormwater plans and groundwater management plans that fulfill best management practices and standards, and these jurisdictions need to work cooperatively to assure water quality consistency throughout the area. So far, these cooperative plans have not been approved or implemented.

In light of the fact that the RNA has identified many serious water quality issues in our community, it is necessary for the community to adopt an action plan to remedy these serious problems. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Lake and Reservoir Restoration Guidance Manual includes “how-to” guidelines for controlling non-point sources of nutrients and pollution and identifying management alternatives that can be implemented at a local level. These action steps are appropriate for aquifer protection as well, and they can be implemented in our community. They are already being employed in communities throughout the country, even in areas that are vastly larger and heavily populated. The RNA has designed a process of collaborative problem-solving meetings that employ action steps to find answers to these serious issues. The RNA later discovered that the design of our proposed collaborative process follows the actual EPA model for these same issues. The EPA’s action steps are as follows:

1) Form a lake or watershed association to assure your voices are heard.

2) Identify potential problem sources (failed septic tanks and cesspools, industrial contaminants, waste treatment runoff, etc.) in the community, around Vancouver Lake, and in the Burnt Bridge Creek and Salmon Creek watersheds to define the extent of the problems.

3) Identify critical areas contributing sediments, nutrients and other pollutants. Consider ordinances and zoning regulations to control these sources.

4) Initiate watershed best management practices, such as integrated pest management, erosion control, and riparian/recharge area buffers.

5) Determine if riparian buffers, controls on fertilizers and other strategies are effective for our community’s particular problems.

6) Investigate regulations and zoning to help resolve problems in the watershed. Land use is a prime determining factors in water quality.

The RNA has developed a list of goals that mirror the EPA’s action items listed above. This list of goals has been formally endorsed by Governor Locke, and they have also been accepted by the following entities: The Clark Conservation District, Washington State Department of Health, Friends of Trees, Washington State Department of Ecology, The National Policy Consensus Center, Clark County Natural Resource Council, Addy Labs, Clark County Commissioners and the Clark County Health Department, and Tombstone, Citizens for Advocacy and Action. Letters of support for these goals have also been received from the Washington State Department of Transportation, Clark County Trout Unlimited, Salmon Nation/Ecotrust, and Clark County Neighbors. The RNA’s goals (as approved by consensus of the aforementioned organizations) are as follows:

Help make city and county waterbodies swimmable and fishable, as defined by the federal Clean Water Act and State of Washington water quality standards.
Help protect and manage ground and surface water throughout the Urban Growth Boundaries (in compliance with prescribed Puget Sound Best Management Practices, the Growth Management Act of Washington State, and other applicable studies or standards), including the development and implementation of a viable stormwater plan, the continuation of water quality testing, and participation in the Total Maximum Daily Loading (TMDL) analysis process.
Establish a Watershed Council as a forum for collaborative problem-solving to address urban watershed issues, including (but not limited to): zoning impacts, development and building codes, watershed protections, septic and sewer policies, toxic waste management, containment of industrial contaminants, and landscape/ecosystem restoration. This Council would include various community stakeholders from local, state and federal governments, neighborhood organizations, environmental advocacy groups, business and trade representatives, community groups, university and academic institutions, and concerned citizens at large. This council, by means of group consensus, would identify the goals outlined in this grant application as the scope of work.
Review and finalize the Masterplan for Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed (established in a city/county joint venture in the mid 1990’s), including the formal adoption of this plan by Clark County and the City of Vancouver.
Per the recommendations of the “Burnt Bridge Creek Microbial Source Tracking” report (October 1999), as prepared for the City of Vancouver by the University of Washington’s Department of Environmental Health, pursue the following action steps:
- Reduce the number of septic tanks in the Burnt Bridge Creek watershed to address the human sources of fecal coliform, especially in the areas close to the creek.
- Inform (educate) pet owners on proper waste handling for their pets, as dogs and cats are another major contributor of fecal coliform to Burnt Bridge Creek.
- Attempt to discourage the formation of resident populations of avian and urban wildlife, which are two other major contributors of fecal coliform to Burnt Bridge Creek.
- Encourage livestock owners to observe best management practices for pastures, particularly those with direct access to Burnt Bridge Creek, its tributaries and drainages. This involves fencing to restrict access, streamside vegetation effective at filtering pollutants, avoidance of over pasturing resulting in bare and/or compacted earth, collection and proper storage/disposal of animal wastes, and alternatives to direct stream watering of animals.
- Continue planting trees along the banks of Burnt Bridge Creek to provide more shading and reduce stream temperatures, which will reduce the potential for regrowth of fecal coliform in the creek.
- Evaluate the feasibility of increasing the stream flow of Burnt Bridge Creek through pumping high quality groundwater into the creek (upstream of NE 112th street) to 1) decrease the density of fecal coliform and the potential for infection from pathogenic organisms from contact with the stream’s water; 2) to decrease stream temperature in order to reduce the regrowth of fecal coliform; and 3) to increase the water’s capacity to contain dissolved oxygen (currently below standard) through aeration or spilling action.
Improve the management of septic tank inspections, septic tank inventories, and sewer/septic tank maps that identify areas lacking in sewer connectivity. This process will include the review of dye tests that are used to determine the proper connectivity and function of city sewer service.
Improve the management and inspection of backflow relief valves for outdoor sprinkler systems or other cross connections.
Identify and pursue funding sources to convert existing septic systems to city sewer service, beginning with septic tank abatement programs and sewer extensions for economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and/or areas that contain failing septic systems.
Provide community outreach/education on septic management and abatement.
Ensure that Vancouver’s Comprehensive Plan and Development Codes work cooperatively to mitigate watershed contamination (including the recommendation of amendments to the plan or codes), relative to Vancouver’s Urban Environmental Policies: environmental protection, stewardship, restoration and enhancement, environmental coordination, habitat and endangered species protections, water quality and quantity protections, tree and vegetation conservation and restoration, geological hazard areas, management of shorelines and wetlands, sewer and stormwater management, wastewater reclamation, sewer and water.

These outlined goals can be achieved through the design of a series of water summit meetings, wherein a watershed council can effectively be formed and implemented. The program design of this program is as follows:

Narrative Timeline with Activities, Outputs and Outcomes

Summit 1 — Formation of Solutions Team – Summit Agenda

Introduce convener and facilitator and describe respective roles to the collaborative process

Outline summit schedules, topics of discussion and timeline
Identify initial members of the Solutions Team brought together by the convener, which should include all the likely members of a Watershed Council
Review of funding matrix for implementation of projects (on file from other water projects)
Review the history of the water quality concerns
Review the proposed goals to address these concerns
Breakdown of goals into subcommittees, based on expertise and jurisdiction
Identify action steps and prepare flow chart for each subcommittee and Solutions Team
Identify benchmarks in timeline to measure success of project (using surveys)
Establish methods for progress reporting

Interim Tasks

Alternate Dispute Resolution and mediation as needed for any topic tabled at first Summit.
Review of Summit with OEJ staff to measure success, and make improvements to future agendas in order to compensate for obstacles to the collaborative process.
Subcommittees to follow agreed action steps and prepare report for upcoming Summit
Project Manager to review progress of all subcommittees and report to OEJ

Summit 2 — Septic and Sewers – Summit Agenda

Review first summit and reports from subcommittees Presentations by County, City, Hazel Dell and Health Department on present state septic/sewer inventories, maps, and inspections
Review most current water quality test results (fecal contaminant and pathogen levels)
Review positive dye test records and record what was done to alleviate problems
Establish target areas known to be in need of septic abatement
Review demographics of target areas
Review inspections of backflow relief vales, and collect recommendations
Collect recommendations for improvements to septic/sewer inspection/abatement schedules
Review alternative sewering methods and collect recommendations for implementation.
Implement suggested improvements to septic inventory and identification of septic failures.
Discuss pathway to enter into a proposed Declaration of Cooperation agreement to commit resources in order to achieve outlined goals.
Identification of members to the Solutions Team

Interim Tasks

Alternate Dispute Resolution and mediation as needed for any topic tabled at second Summit.
Review of Summit with OEJ staff to measure success, and make improvements to future agendas in order to compensate for obstacles to the collaborative process.
Subcommittees to follow agreed action steps and prepare report for upcoming summit
Project Manager to review progress of all subcommittees and report to OEJ

Summit Three — Testing and Monitoring – Summit Agenda

Review progress made on septic inventory, mapping, identification of septic failures, and backflow relief values, as reported by subcommittees.
Review 30 years of Ecology data on Burnt Bridge Creek, Salmon Creek and Vancouver Lake
Review Microbial Study from October 1999 (including recommendations)
Discuss perched water table issues
Review USGS Groundwater Study 1990.
Review Burnt Bridge Creek draft watershed plan from 1996.
Implement TMDL analysis program
Discuss avian pollution from ducks/geese, livestock, and domestic pets, and gather recommendations.
Review County stormwater pond projects.
Discuss how collection ponds are designed to recharge creek water.
Discuss aeration and spilling action to improve oxygenation of threatened waterbodies.
Collect recommendations on additional pond placements and construction.
Review tree planting requirement and collect recommendations for tree planting master plan — include funding opportunities
Review funding matrix for available funds for summit action items, and establish committee to pursue grants.

Interim Tasks

Alternate Dispute Resolution and mediation as needed for any topic tabled at second Summit.
Review of Summit with OEJ staff to measure success, and make improvements to future agendas in order to compensate for obstacles to the collaborative process.
Subcommittees to follow agreed action steps and prepare report for upcoming summit
Project Manager to review progress of all subcommittees and report to OEJ

Summit Four — Analysis of Ordinances

Review progress reports from subcommittees.
Review 1990 Puget Sound Manual on water quality.
Review 2000 Puget Sound Manual on water quality.
Review compliance issues with this manual based on city/county environmental ordinances.
Collect recommendations on how to improve compliance on water quality standards.
Review Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and Clean Drinking Water Act.
Review compliance with water acts and collect recommendations for improvements.
Review funding matrix available and identify grant opportunities.
Review need to step up septic abatement plans, and establish an improved abatement schedule, including incentives for homeowners.

Interim Tasks

Alternate Dispute Resolution and mediation as needed for any topic tabled at second Summit.
Review of Summit with OEJ staff to measure success, and make improvements to future agendas in order to compensate for obstacles to the collaborative process.
Subcommittees to follow agreed action steps and prepare report for upcoming summit
Project Manager to review progress of all subcommittees and report to OEJ

Summit Five—Declaration of Cooperation/Next Steps – Summit Agenda

Review objectives of each subcommittee and gauge level of completion of specified tasks
Review agendas for all summits and identify data gaps and action steps required.
Assign tasks to close existing data gaps and to follow up on agreed actions
Reach final agreement on Declaration of Cooperation and sign it.
Identify need for future follow-up meetings.
Identify regular meeting schedule for Watershed Council, and commence formal declaration of post-summit council activities.

Watershed Council Meeting

Active council appoints chairman and officers, adopts working agenda based on Summits