Upper Yakima River Tributaries Temperature, Total Maximum Daily Load. Water Quality Improvement Report and Implementation Plan

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Date published: 2016

Authors: Creech, Jane, and Stuart, Tighe

Reference:

Creech, Jane, and Stuart, Tighe. 2016. Upper Yakima River Tributaries Temperature, Total Maximum Daily Load. Water Quality Improvement Report and Implementation Plan. Washington State Department of Ecology. Publication No. 14-10-037. March.

Abstract:

Some tributaries to the upper Yakima River have high water temperatures that do not protect fish and other native species that depend on cool, clean water. This report documents this problem and outlines the solutions needed to improve stream temperatures.

The project area for the Upper Yakima River Tributaries Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) includes (1) all perennial tributaries that enter the Yakima River upstream of and including Umtanum Creek (with certain exceptions noted later in this section), and (2) all perennial tributaries to the reservoirs in the upper Yakima watershed (Lake Cle Elum, Keechelus Lake, Kachess Lake)

Streams that are listed for temperature on the 303(d) list and included in this TMDL include; Big Creek, Cabin Creek, Caribou Creek, Cooke Creek, Little Creek, Log Creek, South Fork Manastash Creek, Naneum Creek, Swauk Creek, Taneum Creek, Umtanum Creek, and Williams Creek.

The mainstem Yakima River, lower Cle Elum River, lower Kachess River, Teanaway River, and the lower reaches of several lower Kittitas Valley creeks, are not included in this TMDL. While stream reaches located on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands are included in the TMDL, they are not included as part of the assessment report that appears in this document.

As part of the upper Yakima tributaries TMDL study for temperature, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) conducted field work during 2005-2006. The Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) assisted with the field work and collected data during the same period. Further data were obtained from the USFS.

The technical assessment portion of this TMDL document presents the analysis performed by Ecology and establishes effective shade load allocations for the upper Yakima River study area outside of USFS lands and portions of the lower Kittitas Valley. The TMDL also incorporates the allocations developed for USFS lands in the Wenatchee National Forest Water Temperature TMDL Technical Report (Whiley and Cleland, 2003). Effective shade is used as a surrogate measure of heat flux to fulfill the requirements of Section 303(d) for a TMDL for temperature. Effective shade is defined as the fraction of solar short-wave radiation that is blocked by vegetation and topography from reaching the stream surface. In general, the effective shade produced by full potential riparian vegetation is needed to meet water quality standards in the upper Yakima tributaries

Many individuals and groups will be involved in implementing this TMDL project, including individual landowners; agricultural producers; local, state, and federal government organizations; non-governmental organizations; the Yakama Nation; and other groups offering financial and technical assistance.

Actions needed to reduce summer water temperatures include: protecting existing riparian vegetation, restoring or installing riparian vegetation, preventing uncontrolled riparian grazing, restoring the natural shape of the creek, upgrading irrigation methods and putting saved irrigation water in trust, and increasing public outreach within the TMDL area.

Contact person/agency: Washington State Department of Ecology

File Format: pdf

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