11/7/08 Walla Walla Watershed

Walla Walla Watershed. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. People who live in the Walla Walla watershed district are being asked for comments on a project to help restore rivers, streams and lakes. You have until Dec. 5 to comment. According to Karin Baldwin, project manager with the Department of Ecology, they have identified some problems. BALDWIN: Basically this plan is to reduce some legacy toxic pollutants, pollutants that were banned in the 70's and 80's because they're probable carcinogens and we call those chlorinated pesticides or PCB's. And that is not the only culprit that is in need of attention. BALDWIN: The plan also hopes to reduce bacteria. Fecal coliform bacteria. Water temperatures and increased dissolved oxygen that is in the water for the fish as well as lower the pH value of the water and basically we do that by reducing the amount of nutrients in the water. People in the watershed are being asked to not only comment but contribute. BALDWIN: And we do that by asking everybody in the watershed and the agricultural communities to plant trees and shrubs along the streams, reduce erosion where possible and control pet and livestock access to the streams as well as correctly apply fertilizers and only apply them when you need them. So it's going to be a joint effort on everybody's part in the watershed. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.