Hangman
(Latah) Creek
Water Quality Improvement/Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Project
The TMDL Process
A phased planning process will be utilized for Hangman Creek. The process will identify and evaluate pollutant causes and develop recommendations to allow landowners to voluntarily select the practices that work best for them. The project will focus on
the reduction of pollutants listed on the 303(d) list. The following is an outline of the planning process:
Initiation of Local Watershed Group
- Recruit
representation of all stakeholders in the watershed
- Identify “affected” parties
- Develop and utilize a consensus building
process\
- Develop goals and objectives (realistic,
achievable, measurable)
- Develop public awareness program
Watershed Condition Assessment
and Problem Description
- Identify water quality standards
and criteria of concern, including beneficial uses being
impaired
- Identify water quality conditions
- Identify existing water
quality data gaps
- Identify types of pollution causing the
problem
- Identify potential sources of pollution (location,
practice, natural cause, or other source)
- Assess
the relative contribution of each source
- Assess the loading
capacity of Hangman Creek for the pollutants of concern
(best available
science,
modeling
approaches)
Propose Management Measures
- Develop implementation
and management recommendations for improving water quality
- Develop
reasonable timeframe for implementation and evidence of
results
- Develop plan for tracking implementation and
effectiveness of measures (monitoring
plan)
- Provide reasonable assurance of implementation
- Outline scope
for phase III (implementation funding sources)
Develop a Best Management Practices Program
- Develop
list of priority areas for planning
- Public promotion of
producer progress
- Promote and provide assistance on available
cost-share programs
- Write grants to obtain BMP implementation
funding
The project will also provide
an environment for local agencies
and stakeholders
to work together. We will
develop signed
commitments from agencies, local
governments, schools,
volunteer stewardship
groups, and other watershed stakeholders.
Project Status
The project began in September 2003. The TMDL analyses and report are scheduled for completion by December 2006. Work will continue beyond that time with additional analyses and implementation of the recommended water quality improvement practices.
The Spokane County Conservation District has conducted a series of water quality analyses in the watershed. These analyses are being used to determine the type and amount of water pollution concerns and will also be used to establish goals or targets to bring the creeks into compliance with water quality standards.
A Watershed Advisory Group has been formed to develop strategies to reduce the amount of pollution in the streams. The advisory group represents the diversity of interests in the watershed, including residents, agricultural, forestry, livestock production. Entities such as Spokane County, the City of Spokane, and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe are also represented. The group meets monthly to work on the plan.
Ecology is analyzing the data collected by SCCD and is working to publish a technical analysis of the data by mid 2006. The water quality improvement plan (TMDL) will be completed early in 2006 through the joint efforts of SCCD, Ecology and the Watershed Advisory Group.
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