Mayor says town has not shown contamination

Public workshop held Tuesday in Ellensburg

WILSON CREEK — The Wilson Creek watershed may be facing increased fecal coliform bacteria, but Wilson Creek's mayor says it's not impacting the water system at the town where the watershed ends.

A plan for reducing bacteria in Wilson Creek and its tributaries will be discussed at a public workshop scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Hal Holmes Center, located at 201 N. Ruby St. in Ellensburg.

The amount of fecal coliform bacteria in the Wilson Creek watershed is much greater than the maximum allowed under state water-quality standards. Numbers are significantly higher during summer months, when people are more likely to be exposed to disease-causing bacteria.

The presence of fecal coliform bacteria indicates that human or animal waste is entering the water. Failing septic systems, livestock, wildlife and pets have been identified as sources of bacteria in the Wilson Creek sub-basin.

Kathy Bohnet, mayor of Wilson Creek, said that the town tests water regularly according to the schedule for required testing.

"We have not been notified of any problem," she said, noting that the town water system draws from wells.

The Wilson Creek watershed goes way beyond the town which shares its name, Bohnet pointed out, extending up to Preston, Wash.

"Wilson Creek ends at Wilson Creek, and we would be concerned about any contamination," Bohnet said. "We have continual testing. We have not had a problem. Our water system has not shown contamination."

Washington State Department of Ecology staff are working cooperatively with impacted residents and other interested groups and individuals to develop the most reasonable and effective strategies to keep bacteria out of creeks and streams.

Some approaches being considered include identifying and renovating failing septic systems, modifying livestock management practices to reduce animal access to the water, modifying irrigation practices to reduce the transport of bacteria to water and educating people to manage their pet waste.

Comments on the draft water cleanup plan for the Wilson Creek sub-basin will be accepted through May 10. Send written comments to Jane Creech, Department of Ecology, 15 W. Yakima Ave., Suite 200, Yakima, Wash/. 98902, or e-mail jton461@ecy.wa.gov.

Copies of the plan will be available at the workshop or may be reviewed on Ecology's Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0510041.html. A copy is also on reserve at the Ellensburg Public Library.

Call Jane Creech at (509) 454-7860 for more information.