Non Point Source Advisory Committee Participants
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Washington Department of Ecology
Spokane County
Spokane County Conservation District
City of Spokane
City of Spokane Valley
Liberty Lake Water and Sewer District
Spokane Tribe
Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality
Kootenai County
Panhandle Health District
City of Coeur d’Alene
City of Post Falls
Coeur d’Alene Tribe
Spokane River DO TMDL Watershed Oversight Committee
Sierra Club – Center for Justice
Lands Council
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Groundwater Monitoring |
Watershed Planning |
Phosphorus Non Point Source Assessment |
Water Conservation |
Public Outreach & Education |
Phosphorus Non-Point Source Assessment
The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate existing scientific data to quantify non-point source (NPS) phosphorus loads in the Spokane River/Lake Spokane watershed. Where data are not available, the study will determine possible data gaps and suggest studies for quantifying them.
This study is the first phase of a three phase effort to identify and quantify NPSs into the Spokane River and Lake Spokane, to identify best management practices (BMPs) to address the NPSs, to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and longevity of the identified BMPs, and to prepare an implementation plan for reduction of NPS based on the selected BMPs.
The Spokane River and Lake Spokane are listed on the 303 (d) list for impairment of dissolved oxygen (DO). Modeling indicates that the main cause of the DO depletion is excess algae in the water bodies. The algae growth is primarily caused by excessive nutrients, with phosphorus being the growth limiting nutrient.
The Spokane River DO Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process has established a phosphorus discharge target of 10 µg/L for municipal wastewater treatment plants. The low phosphorus concentration is expected to help reduce excessive algal productivity that causes DO concentrations to fall below the water quality standard. The Foundational Concepts for the Spokane River DO TMDL will begin guiding TMDL implementation, and meeting the phosphorus target will require a combination of improved point source wastewater treatment technology and reduced non-point source pollutant loads.
The study area of the Phase 1 NPS study includes the watersheds associated with Coeur d’Alene Lake, the Spokane River and its tributaries Hangman/Latah Creek and Little Spokane River, and Lake Spokane.