A Long-Term Monitoring Plan to Assess Aquatic Life Uses on Railroad Creek Using Biological Assessment, Washington State Department of Ecology

Railroad Creek, located in Chelan County Washington, has been negatively impacted by the effects of historic mining practices at Holden mine. Portions of Railroad Creek are on the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired waters for one or more metals. Beginning in 2015, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) will assess the status of aquatic life uses over time.
This Quality Assurance Monitoring Plan describes a long-term monitoring strategy in which Ecology uses a common set of protocols to assess watershed health in Washington State. Specifically, Ecology will conduct macroinvertebrate, periphyton, habitat, and water quality surveys in Railroad Creek at sites above, below, and within the Holden mine area of effect.

These surveys should be conducted every three years through 2024 or until sufficient evidence demonstrates that water quality has recovered and can support healthy aquatic life in Railroad Creek. The information collected under this plan is meant to supplement other monitoring efforts.