Missoula County opposes SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Qualitative standards are weak, at best. Nutrients are a significant threat to some of our state waters by encouraging excess plant growth which, in turn, removes dissolved oxygen. Those standards are what sets discharge limits to major dischargers. Missoula and other communities have invested significant resources in technologies and policies that reduce nutrient pollution. Streams and rivers with elevated nutrients are not conducive to native trout and other aquatic species that need high quality waters.
Missoula County opposes SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for second reading this morning on the Senate floor. Qualitative standards are weak, at best. Nutrients are a significant threat to some of our state waters by encouraging excess plant growth which, in turn, removes dissolved oxygen. Those standards are what sets discharge limits to major dischargers. Missoula and other communities have invested significant resources in technologies and policies that reduce nutrient pollution. Streams and rivers with elevated nutrients are not conducive to native trout and other aquatic species that need high quality waters.
Missoula County opposes SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee this afternoon. Qualitative standards are weak, at best. Nutrients are a significant threat to some of our state waters by encouraging excess plant growth which, in turn, removes dissolved oxygen. Those standards are what sets discharge limits to major dischargers. Missoula and other communities have invested significant resources in technologies and policies that reduce nutrient pollution. Streams and rivers with elevated nutrients are not conducive to native trout and other aquatic species that need high quality waters.
Missoula County supports, as amended, SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for second reading this morning on the House floor. The strategy outlined in this bill can work, if done properly. Missoula County has worked to connect densely populated areas, served by septic systems, to municipal sewer. Our community invested significant financial resources to upgrade its treatment to a Biological Nutrient Reduction system to improve conditions in the Clark Fork. Adaptive Management Plans can work but must be conducted using sound modeling. This modeling is highly dependent on its inputs (data in the form of robust water sampling and stream discharge information). These inputs are critical to making Adaptive Management Plans successful. The monitoring should be done before, during and after adaptive management plans are developed and permits are issued. We urge inclusion of a fiscal note to provide DEQ with the ongoing fiscal resources necessary to conduct needed water quality monitoring. These adaptive management plans should seek to provide more understanding of the sources of nutrients within the watershed and receiving waters, including quantifying inputs of nitrogen and phosphorous from non-point sources.
Missoula County supports, as amended, SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for second reading this morning on the Senate floor. The strategy outlined in this bill can work, if done properly. Missoula County has worked to connect densely populated areas, served by septic systems, to municipal sewer. Our community invested significant financial resources to upgrade its treatment to a Biological Nutrient Reduction system to improve conditions in the Clark Fork. Adaptive Management Plans can work but must be conducted using sound modeling. This modeling is highly dependent on its inputs (data in the form of robust water sampling and stream discharge information). These inputs are critical to making Adaptive Management Plans successful. The monitoring should be done before, during and after adaptive management plans are developed and permits are issued. We urge inclusion of a fiscal note to provide DEQ with the ongoing fiscal resources necessary to conduct needed water quality monitoring. These adaptive management plans should seek to provide more understanding of the sources of nutrients within the watershed and receiving waters, including quantifying inputs of nitrogen and phosphorous from non-point sources.
Chair Welborn and Committee Members,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for hearing this afternoon in the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Qualitative standards are weak, at best. Nutrients are a significant threat to some of our state waters by encouraging excess plant growth which, in turn, removes dissolved oxygen. Those standards are what sets discharge limits to major dischargers. Missoula and other communities have invested significant resources in technologies and policies that reduce nutrient pollution. Streams and rivers with elevated nutrients are not conducive to native trout and other aquatic species that need high quality waters.
Please oppose SB 358.
Senators,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for second reading this morning on the Senate floor. Qualitative standards are weak, at best. Nutrients are a significant threat to some of our state waters by encouraging excess plant growth which, in turn, removes dissolved oxygen. Those standards are what sets discharge limits to major dischargers. Missoula and other communities have invested significant resources in technologies and policies that reduce nutrient pollution. Streams and rivers with elevated nutrients are not conducive to native trout and other aquatic species that need high quality waters.
Please oppose SB 358.
Representatives Curdy, France and Marler,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County opposes SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee this afternoon. Qualitative standards are weak, at best. Nutrients are a significant threat to some of our state waters by encouraging excess plant growth which, in turn, removes dissolved oxygen. Those standards are what sets discharge limits to major dischargers. Missoula and other communities have invested significant resources in technologies and policies that reduce nutrient pollution. Streams and rivers with elevated nutrients are not conducive to native trout and other aquatic species that need high quality waters.
Please oppose SB 358.
Representatives,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports, as amended, SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for second reading this morning on the House floor. The strategy outlined in this bill can work, if done properly. Missoula County has worked to connect densely populated areas, served by septic systems, to municipal sewer. Our community invested significant financial resources to upgrade its treatment to a Biological Nutrient Reduction system to improve conditions in the Clark Fork. Adaptive Management Plans can work but must be conducted using sound modeling. This modeling is highly dependent on its inputs (data in the form of robust water sampling and stream discharge information). These inputs are critical to making Adaptive Management Plans successful. The monitoring should be done before, during and after adaptive management plans are developed and permits are issued. We urge inclusion of a fiscal note to provide DEQ with the ongoing fiscal resources necessary to conduct needed water quality monitoring. These adaptive management plans should seek to provide more understanding of the sources of nutrients within the watershed and receiving waters, including quantifying inputs of nitrogen and phosphorous from non-point sources.
Please support SB 358, as amended.
Senators,
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports, as amended, SB 358: Repeal numeric nutritional standards for water quality, up for second reading this morning on the Senate floor. The strategy outlined in this bill can work, if done properly. Missoula County has worked to connect densely populated areas, served by septic systems, to municipal sewer. Our community invested significant financial resources to upgrade its treatment to a Biological Nutrient Reduction system to improve conditions in the Clark Fork. Adaptive Management Plans can work but must be conducted using sound modeling. This modeling is highly dependent on its inputs (data in the form of robust water sampling and stream discharge information). These inputs are critical to making Adaptive Management Plans successful. The monitoring should be done before, during and after adaptive management plans are developed and permits are issued. We urge inclusion of a fiscal note to provide DEQ with the ongoing fiscal resources necessary to conduct needed water quality monitoring. These adaptive management plans should seek to provide more understanding of the sources of nutrients within the watershed and receiving waters, including quantifying inputs of nitrogen and phosphorous from non-point sources.
Please support SB 358, as amended.