Deschutes River, Capitol Lake, and Budd Inlet Temperature, Fecal Coliform Bacteria, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, and Fine Sediment Total Maximum Daily Load Technical Report Water Quality Study Findings June 2012 Publication No. 12-03-008 Page 1 Publication and Contact Information This Water Quality Improvement Report (WQIR) is published in two parts: 1. WQIR and Implementation Strategy – due 2013 2. Technical Report (Study Findings) – www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/1203008.html For more information contact: Publications Coordinator Environmental Assessment Program P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, WA 98504-7600 Phone: 360-407-6764 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 Project Codes and 1996 303(d) Water body ID Numbers Data for this project are available at Ecology’s Environmental Information Management (EIM) website www.ecy.wa.gov/eim/index.htm. Search User Study ID, MROB0001. Activity Tracker Code (Environmental Assessment Program) for this study is 03-077-01. TMDL Study Code (Water Quality Program) is DSCH13MP. Cover photo: Shoreline Aerial Photo THU0154 (May 13, 1992), Washington State Department of Ecology. 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 360-407-6764. Persons with hearing loss can call 711 for Washington Relay Service. Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341. Deschutes River, Capitol Lake, and Budd Inlet Temperature, Fecal Coliform Bacteria, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, and Fine Sediment Total Maximum Daily Load Technical Report Water Quality Study Findings by Mindy Roberts, Anise Ahmed, Greg Pelletier, and David Osterberg Environmental Assessment Program Washington State Department of Ecology Olympia, Washington 98504-7710 Water Body IDs: WA-13-1010, WA-13-1020, WA-13-1380, WA-13-1015, WA-13-1300, WA-13-1022, WA-13-9020, WA-13-1350, WA-13-0030, WA-13-1024 (See Tables 1 and 2 for complete list of water bodies addressed.) Page i This page is purposely left blank Deschutes River, Capitol Lake, and Budd Inlet TMDL: Technical Report Page ii Table of Contents Page List of Figures ......................................................................................................................v List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... xi Abstract ............................................................................................................................ xiii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... xiv Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... xix Introduction ................................................................................................................ xix Budd Inlet, Capitol Lake, and Deschutes River Watershed ....................................... xix Water Quality Standards ............................................................................................ xxi Technical Approach ................................................................................................... xxi Load Reduction Targets ............................................................................................ xxii Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................................ xxiii Next Steps ................................................................................................................ xxiv What is a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)? ...............................................................1 Federal Clean Water Act requirements ..........................................................................1 TMDL Process Overview ..............................................................................................1 Elements Required in a TMDL ......................................................................................3 Total Maximum Daily Load Analyses: Loading capacity .............................................3 Why is Ecology Conducting a TMDL Study in this Watershed? ........................................5 Overview ........................................................................................................................5 Study Area .....................................................................................................................5 Pollutants Addressed by this TMDL..............................................................................6 Impaired Beneficial Uses and Water Bodies on Ecology’s 303(d) List of Impaired Waters ............................................................................................................................7 Why Are We Doing This TMDL Now? ......................................................................11 Water Quality Standards ....................................................................................................13 Designated Uses ...........................................................................................................13 Criteria to Protect Designated Uses .............................................................................15 Antidegradation............................................................................................................22 Watershed Description .......................................................................................................23 Watershed Characteristics ............................................................................................23 Land Cover...................................................................................................................23 Regulatory Activities ...................................................................................................24 Fisheries .......................................................................................................................30 Potential Pollutant Sources ..........................................................................................31 Goals and Objectives .........................................................................................................37 Project Goals ................................................................................................................37 Study Objectives ..........................................................................................................37 Study Methods ...................................................................................................................39 Deschutes River, Capitol Lake, and Budd Inlet TMDL: Technical Report Page iii Data Collection Activities ............................................................................................39 Data Analytical Methods .............................................................................................47 Study Quality Assurance Evaluation .................................................................................51 Field and Laboratory Data ...........................................................................................51 Model Calibration and Confirmation ...........................................................................55 Results and Discussion ......................................................................................................61 Meteorology and Hydrology ........................................................................................61 Fecal Coliform Bacteria Results ..................................................................................66 Temperature Results ....................................................................................................69 Nutrients, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH Results.............................................................73 Fine Sediment Results..................................................................................................87 TMDL Analyses.................................................................................................................93 Fecal Coliform Bacteria ...............................................................................................93 Temperature ...............................................................................................................105 Freshwater Dissolved Oxygen and pH ......................................................................148 Fine Sediment ............................................................................................................180 Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet Dissolved Oxygen .......................................................187 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................213 Fecal Coliform Bacteria .............................................................................................213 Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, and pH ..................................................................213 Fine Sediment ............................................................................................................217