Washington state department of ECOLOGY (ECOLOGY) will use this funding to build upon their long-term commitment to toxics monitoring and reduction efforts in the columbia river basin

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $3,458,178 Project Grant to the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) under the Geographic Programs - Columbia River Basin Restoration (CFDA 66.962) program. The funding will support Ecology's long-term toxics monitoring and reduction efforts in the Columbia River Basin. The project has two main components: a synoptic survey of major tributaries to assess toxics loads and concentrations, and the use of fish otolith microchemistry to evaluate the movement and uptake of toxics by resident fish. Activities include water, sediment, and biofilm sampling, as well as fish tissue analysis. Key outcomes will include increased monitoring capacity, development of new assessment tools, and creation of a baseline dataset on fish toxics exposure. The grant includes a $420,158 sub-award to Ecology's Manchester Environmental Lab for conventional parameter, metals, and PFAS analysis in fish tissue.

ECOLOGY's toxics monitoring project has two primary components: a synoptic survey of the major tributaries and assessment of a fixed monitoring network, and a fish otolith microchemistry and baseline dataset to assess the movement and uptake of toxics by resident fish. Activities:the goal of the first component is to conduct a synoptic survey of the major tributaries, establishing a set of monitoring tools. Sites will be assessed as possible long-term monitoring station locations within the major tributaries of the mid and upper-columbia river basin. ECOLOGY is proposing to conduct the survey over two years at both high and low flow conditions to evaluate the loads and concentrations of toxics in surface waters, suspended and bed sediments, and biofilms. For the second component, ECOLOGY will use fish otoliths to evaluate where the sampled fish have been residing while accumulating toxics. To do this they will compile a baseline dataset of water chemistry and analyze conservative elements and isotopes in individual otoliths. Subrecipient:there is one subaward to ECOLOGY's manchester environmental lab which will be analyzing conventional parameters, metals, and PFAS in fish tissue throughout the project ($420,158). Outcomes:the anticipated outputs consist of a published quality assurance project plan (QAPP), a range of sampling events and analysis for polyethylene, sediment, biofilm, water isotope, particulate and dissolved, otolith, and fish tissue samples, and conducting project reports. The anticipated outcomes include increased quantity, quality, and technical capacity to support monitoring in the basin, providing sampling standard operating procedures, development of a passive sampling tool, development of a novel approach to assess resident fish toxics, and a baseline dataset for fish movement. ECOLOGY's project will further their collaborative networks and provide technical assistance and monitoring tools that are transferrable and scalable for the larger community. The outcomes of this project will support the EPA's efforts for greater coherence among monitoring strategies and benefit washington state communities.