Table of Contents
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September to November 2024 Edition
Session 4: Water Quality Solutions Summary by Lisa Reymann – Water Resources Program Planner, WA Department of Ecology Session 4 focused on efforts to achieve tribal goals of healthy fish and waterways in the Columbia River, remove toxins in stormwater runoff through green infrastructure solutions before they can flow into rivers and lakes, and recover and treat reclaimed wastewater at treatment sites for beneficial use.
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Laura Shira, Yakama Nation Fisheries Program, discussed tribal perspectives and solutions for fish toxicity in the Columbia River Basin. Shira highlighted three focus areas that the Yakama Nation has targeted. The first is tribal engagement and cleanup work at hazardous waste sites that impact Tribal Treaty resources, species listed under the Endangered Species Act, and human health. This involves implementing cleanup techniques appropriate to the habitat impacted and in line with regulations, and tracking progress throughout the course of cleanup. The second is continued program development of fish tissue, water quality, and sediment monitoring, which could give indication of possible river contamination. The third is policy engagement to advance legislation and outreach to work towards the Yakama Nation’s goal of “clean, healthy fish that are safe to eat.” A long-term monitoring program is currently in development to understand trends in the stretch of the river between the Canadian border and the Bonneville Dam 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon. 
Vince McGowan, Washington State Department of Ecology, presented an overview of stormwater management solutions and investments utilized in the state. Runoff is a major contributor of pollution by carrying toxins into the environment, and high flows have potential for significant damage to habitat, roads, and buildings. McGowan acknowledges that the majority of our current infrastructure was built before modern stormwater techniques were established. Green infrastructure techniques are low impact solutions that have been utilized in both new development and repair projects. Through the Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM) collective, the Department of Ecology has been able to promote several solutions to accelerate retrofits to make urban areas greener and mimic the local hydrology. Bioretention is a concept that uses soil and plants to treat stormwater before it is discharged. One solution from SAM is to establish more greenery on the medians of highways for bioretention and to reduce the distance that stormwater travels across artificial surfaces where the water could pick up toxins. Another is to set standards for street drain cleaning to remove debris, prevent flooding, and maintain water quality. This work also benefits at-risk fish in lakes and rivers downstream by significantly reducing pollutants closer to the source.
Lisa Dennis-Perez, LOTT Clean Water Alliance, gave a walkthrough on how the Lacey-Olympia-Tumwater-Thurston County (LOTT) wastewater facility has been utilizing technology and benefits of reclaimed water in the Olympia region. LOTT uses sand and bio-membrane technology to filter wastewater, remove pathogens and contaminants, and recover reclaimed water and biomass resources. For close to 20 years, the facility has been producing Class A reclaimed water for community use and to address wastewater management needs. Reclaimed water has been utilized for landscaping irrigation, commercial and industrial processes, and cooling parks for families in the summer. Additionally, reclaimed water assists groundwater replenishment, and streamflow and wetland enhancement. Another recovered resource is biomass, divided into two categories. Class A Biosolids are used in consumer products for gardens, golf courses, and parks. Class B Biosolids are used in farming and forestry fertilizers that undergo regular monitoring. The wastewater treatment process is highly regulated to protect public health and the environment for which the resources will be used.
