Title
Budd Inlet and Deschutes and Tributaries TMDLs
Recommended Action/UAC Deliverable:
Briefing only.
Issue:
Receive a briefing on the water quality cleanup plans for Budd Inlet and the Deschutes River and Tributaries Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDLs).
Staff Contact:
Jesse Barham, Public Works Water Resources Director, 360.753.8164
Presenters:
Same as above
Background and Analysis:
The briefing will cover the relatively recent approved clean-up plans that include waters located within Olympia. The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), or water quality improvement project development process is a science-based approach to cleaning up polluted water so that it meets state water quality standards. A TMDL is a numerical value that represents the highest amount of a pollutant a surface water body can receive and still meet the standards. The federal Clean Water Act requires states to develop a TMDL plan for each water body on the state's polluted waters list, also known as the 303(d) list. The TMDL process is just one strategy used to clean up polluted waters. These plans are developed by the Washinton State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Budd Inlet TMDL was approved by EPA in October 2022. It covers actions required to improve low dissolved oxygen levels in Budd Inlet. The plan includes actions to reduce nutrients flowing to the inlet from various sources as well as improve flushing and water circulation that is impacted by the Capital Lake dam maintained by the State of Washington Department of Enterprise Services (DES). The Deschutes Estuary restoration project which will remove the dam was the preferred alternative identified by the 2022 Environmental Impact Statement process is a key aspect of this plan.
The Deschutes River and Tributaries TMDL was partially approved in 2018 and EPA finalized the remaining elements in 2020. The plan addressed water quality concerns of pH, dissolved oxygen...
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