High Summer Bacteria Concentrations in Streams November 2008 Publication No. 08-03-035 Publication and Contact Information This report is available on the Department of Ecology’s website at www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0803035.html Ecology’s Study Tracker Code for this study is 08-028. For more information contact: Publications Coordinator Environmental Assessment Program P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600 Phone: (360) 407-6677 Washington State Department of Ecology - www.ecy.wa.gov/ o Headquarters, Olympia (360) 407-6000 o Northwest Regional Office, Bellevue (425) 649-7000 o Southwest Regional Office, Olympia (360) 407-6300 o Central Regional Office, Yakima (509) 575-2490 o Eastern Regional Office, Spokane (509) 329-3400 Cover photo: Union River near Belfair (taken by Bill Ward). Any use of product or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the author or the Department of Ecology. If you need this publication in an alternate format, call Joan LeTourneau at (360) 407-6764. Persons with hearing loss can call 711 for Washington Relay Service. Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341. High Summer Bacteria Concentrations in Streams by Maggie Bell-McKinnon Environmental Assessment Program Washington State Department of Ecology Olympia, Washington 98504-7710 This page is purposely left blank Table of Contents Page List of Figures ......................................................................................................................2 Abstract ................................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................4 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................5 Results ............................................................................................................................6 Discussion ............................................................................................................................7 Bacteria Maps ................................................................................................................7 Annotated Bibliography .................................................................................................7 Studies in the Pacific Northwest ............................................................................8 Studies outside of the Pacific Northwest ...............................................................8 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................11 Recommendations ..............................................................................................................13 References ..........................................................................................................................14 Appendices .........................................................................................................................17 Appendix A. Bacteria Maps ........................................................................................19 Appendix B. Station Locations ...................................................................................35 Appendix C. Results Data ...........................................................................................43 Appendix D. Annotated Bibliography ........................................................................65 Appendix E. Glossary and Acronyms .........................................................................75 Page 1 List of Figures Page Figure 1. Maps A-M: Bacteria data stations. ............................................................................... 20 Figure 2. Map A: Jefferson County stations where bacteria data were collected by Jefferson County Health Department. ......................................................................................... 21 Figure 3. Map B: Kitsap County stations where bacteria data were collected by Kitsap County Health Department. ...................................................................................................... 22 Figure 4. Map C: Kitsap County stations where bacteria data were collected by Kitsap County Health Department. ...................................................................................................... 23 Figure 5. Map D: Mason and Kitsap County stations where bacteria data were collected by Kitsap County Health Department and the Washington State Department of Ecology. ....................................................................................................................... 24 Figure 6. Map E: Kitsap County stations where bacteria data were collected by Kitsap County Health Department. ......................................................................................... 25 Figure 7. Map F: Kitsap and Pierce County stations where bacteria data were collected by Kitsap County Health Department and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. .................................................................................................................. 26 Figure 8. Map G: Mason County stations where bacteria data were collected by Mason County Public Health. .................................................................................................. 27 Figure 9. Map H: Mason County stations where bacteria data were collected by the Washington State Department of Ecology, Skokomish Tribe, and Mason County Public Health. ............................................................................................................... 28 Figure 10. Map I: Pierce County stations where bacteria data were collected by Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. ............................................................... 29 Figure 11. Map J: Mason County stations where bacteria data were collected by Mason County Public Health. ................................................................................................. 30 Figure 12. Map K: Mason County stations where bacteria data were collected by Mason County Public Health. ................................................................................................. 31 Figure 13. Map L: Thurston County Stations where bacteria data were collected by Thurston County Environmental Health. ................................................................................... 32 Figure 14. Map M: Mason and Thurston County stations where bacteria data were collected by Mason County Public Health and Thurston County Environmental Health. ........ 33 Page 2 Abstract Data from Thurston County Environmental Health and the Squaxin Island Tribe document an ongoing summertime pattern of high bacteria concentrations in many South Puget Sound streams. Typically during the summer, elevated bacteria levels can follow two patterns: triggered by runoff or occurring during low streamflow. Summer low streamflow bacteria patterns can suggest a direct discharge that requires further investigation to identify. Local governments have been unable to address these bacteria problems without better information about what is causing high summer bacteria levels. In 2008, a project was undertaken by the Department of Ecology to study a set of stream bacteria data. This project was requested by Thurston County Environmental Health, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and Ecology’s Water Quality Program, Southwest Regional Office. The project goal was to identify and analyze streams with high bacteria levels during the summer. Bacteria data were compiled from streams in five counties: Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, and Jefferson. Data results were limited to bacteria concentrations measured from May through September, 1999 to 2007. A GIS map was produced documenting the stream location of bacteria levels above 100 colony forming units (cfu) or 100 most probable number (mpn). In addition, an annotated bibliography was assembled which highlighted other studies looking at the correlation between bacteria and other parameters such as stream discharge, temperature, and precipitation. Based on the literature review summarized in the annotated bibliography, it is important to consider timing and location in the collection of the bacteria samples. Also, because of the yearly variability which can occur in bacteria levels, documenting the environmental conditions (e.g., stream discharge, temperature) during the time of sampling is critical to understanding bacteria patterns. Page 3 Acknowledgements The author would like to thank: • Levi Keesecker of the Squaxin Island Tribe for producing the bacteria maps in Appendix A and for providing other relevant information used in this report. • John Konovsky of the Squaxin Island Tribe for providing relevant bacteria literature and reviewing this report. • George Onwumere, Scott Collyard, Kim McKee, and Paul Pickett of the Department of Ecology for reviewing this report and providing useful comments. • The following people for providing the bacteria data: o Ray Hanowell, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department o Sue Davis, Thurston County Environmental Health o Lyman Bullchild, Skokomish Tribal Nation o Stephanie Kenny, Mason County Health Services o Shannon Kirby, Mason County Conservation District o Glenn Gately, Jefferson County Conservation District o Daniel