Yakama Nation and Agencies Team Up to Develop Columbia River Water Quality Framework

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Published: Monday, 17 January 2022 18:02

EPA is funding the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation to develop a fish tissue and water quality monitoring framework to track the status and trends of toxics in the Columbia River. The tribe is partnering with the U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and Washington State Department of Ecology to develop the framework.

The $188,378 grant, which is funded through EPA’s Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, is the beginning of a multi-year effort to track the status of toxics in fish, water, sediments, and invertebrates in the mainstem Columbia River between Bonneville Dam and the Canadian border. Data that describe previous studies characterizing toxics in the study area have been compiled and will inform the experimental design of the monitoring program.

Currently, the group has established the project vision and expectations, compiled and evaluated historical data, is presenting to and receiving input from diverse stakeholders, and developing a community engagement and outreach plan. Over the next year, monitoring design considerations and field and laboratory protocols will be developed as part of the long-term monitoring program.