Study Reveals contamination of Bishop Creek
A Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board bacteriological monitoring study has revealed fecal coliform bacteria contamination in portions of Bishop Creek. Lahontan conducted the study from May of 2012 to December of 2013, collecting samples from 10 different sites, and delivered its findings to Inyo County earlier this year.
The Lahontan Regional Board adopts and implements Water Quality Control Plans throughout the State. One of the duties performed by the Lahontan Regional Board is a review of water quality in watersheds in the Lahontan Region, which includes Inyo County and most of Mono County.
Inyo County Environmental Health Director Marvin Moscowitz said the study of the Creek was conducted as part of Lahontan’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program.
The study shows concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria above the State Water Board standards base level of 20 fecal coliform per 100 milliliters of water. Moscowitz said that Lahontan “found exceedances in more than half of the samples in a two year period below Mumy Road [in Bishop].”
Possible sources of contamination include cattle, beavers, ducks, household pets, unidentified septic systems, leaky sewer lines, and urban runoff.
The findings suggest an ongoing human health risk from water contact in certain portions of the Creek.
Moscowitz explained that the samples upstream of Mumy Road were fairly clean; contamination increased as Bishop Creek flowed through the Bishop Paiute Reservation and through town.
In order to identify the sources of the contamination, Lahontan contracted with the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory (SNARL) to conduct microbial source sampling at Bishop Creek this year. The ongoing study will identify whether the fecal coliform bacteria is derived from human, cattle, or other sources. “That gives us a better idea of how to remediate,” Moscowitz said.
Moscowitz was on hand at Tuesday’s Inyo County Board of Supervisors meeting to head a workshop on the subject. “We wanted to get together to come up with some kind of common response,” he said.
Representatives of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Environmental Office, Lahontan Regional Board, Bishop Paiute Tribe, and Inyo County were all present.
“Are there illnesses being reflected in local hospitals or clinics?” wondered Board Chair Linda Arcularius.
“No,” Moscowitz replied; “However, that doesn’t mean low-grade illnesses are not occurring.”
Said County Public Health Officer Dr. Richard Johnson, “In reality, the risk is less than being injured driving on the [Hwy] 395 between Bishop and Lone Pine. I’ve been in this job for ten years and have no knowledge of anything linking illness to the water.”
The workshop concluded with an agreement by Moscowitz to draft and install signage at the canal at East Line Street, a popular swimming hole with high levels of fecal coliform bacteria contamination. “Hopefully we’ll have those [signs] up in a month,” Moscowitz said.
The County Environmental Health Office will also be working on a press release within the next week, he added.
Moscowitz said Lahontan has proposed placing the Creek on the State 303(d) list as an impaired water body. This could result in the assignment of a total maximum daily loading limit for the Creek watershed, which would reduce activities that could contribute to the Creek’s contamination. Inclusion on the list might also mean future notices of violation issued to specific individuals and property owners “who Lahontan feels are involved in the contamination and not doing the proper amount of remediation,” he said. “But that’s all well down the road.
“In meantime, if we’re proactive, it could limit any kind of enforcement actions by the Board, and allow us to do our own cleanup and restoration,” Moscowitz said. He said that both the Bishop Paiute Tribe and LADWP were on board in a collaborative effort to reduce contamination to Bishop Creek. The Tribe has already begun efforts to curb livestock grazing, and to post warning signage near the Creek in the summertime.
These partners await SNARL’s more detailed analysis of the bacteria contamination. “We’re expecting those results sometime later this summer,” Moscowitz said. “We can then concentrate on remediation efforts.”
