Our
Mission
“Promote The Sustainable Use Of Water
Resources
In Spokane County Watersheds”
The Conservation District's
Water Resources Program has been addressing water related
issues since the early 1970's. Water quality and quantity issues
within
Spokane County are diverse and unique to the water bodies
that define the individual basins.
In an effort to foster effective
resource use, the District’s
Water Resources Program promotes a teamwork approach to
management of the watersheds in Spokane County. The continued
cooperation
among all local governmental, resource agencies and private
citizens is crucial to developing strategies to address
the important water resource issues that face the Coeur d’Alene/Spokane
River Basin. Our District’s Water Resources Program
(WRP) is an invaluable tool to the Department of Ecology
(DOE), local
governmental and resource agencies and the larger community
by conducting studies and implementing projects that provide:
water resource data, resource planning and management,
education, and water quality protection
The Department of Ecology (DOE) is currently
addressing the needs of the Spokane Water Quality Management
Area
(WQMA).
In June of 1998, The DOE compiled a report entitled, "Watershed
Approach to Water Quality Management: Needs Assessment
for The Spokane Water Quality Management Area." This
document summarizes the issues, needs, and expected actions
for our
local watersheds. The results of this assessment will
be used to develop a technical project list identifying
specific sites
for TMDLs and monitoring.
Each watershed in the WQMA is
unique in its character, function, and water resource
issues. There are 14 main
watersheds that
can be broken down into many smaller sub-watersheds.
Overall, these watersheds constitute over 1.2 million
acres. Thus
far, the District has primarily focused on the Little
Spokane and
the Hangman (Latah) Creek Watersheds. However, our
program continues to service assistance requests from every
corner
of Spokane County. We strive to meet the following
goals in order to provide high quality services within our
District boundaries:
- Characterize the status and
trends of Spokane
County's surface and ground water quality and
associated uses
through ambient monitoring.
- Determine whether
water quality standards are being met and beneficial uses
are being supported.
- Continue watershed planning, implementation,
and monitoring projects in cooperation with NRCS,
other agencies, and
Spokane County residents.
- Provide scientifically
based water quality information to users in accessible
forms to support decision
making.
- Develop, evaluate, and disseminate
knowledge on cost-effective agricultural systems
and Best Management
Practices
that protect water quality.
- Assist local
landowners with questions and projects concerning wetland
enhancement,
small
farm planning,
stream bank erosion, re-vegetation,
and permitting.
- Provide education through workshops, brochures,
newsletters, publications, and media to create a better
understanding of water resource issues
for adults and children.
- Cooperate and collaborate with
various tribes, agencies, and their liaisons to create
an efficient network of
communication and coordination
of water
quality projects.
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