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Storm drain contents go right to creek Communities in the Bear Creek watershed are hearing about plans to reduce pollutants By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune The day may come when local residents are cited for dumping motor oil down a storm drain, according to Cory Crebbin. Medford's public works director said he knows that some people don't realize that the city's storm drains lead directly into Bear Creek. "They think that that water is going to be treated, and it isn't," he said. New rules are requiring awareness. Medford is one of the communities in the Bear Creek watershed hearing presentations about new federal regulations regarding clean water to be in place by 2003. As part of a cooperative effort to implement regulations, form a regional plan and educate the public, Caitlin Quinby, natural resources specialist with Rogue Valley Council of Governments, and Brad Prior of the state Department of Environmental Quality, are speaking to community leaders in the Bear Creek watershed. Those communities include Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Medford, Central Point, Jacksonville, and some densely populated areas in the county. Quinby said that in a natural landscape rain falls and is slowly filtered through the soil before entering streams. But in urban areas, the rain hits rooftops and streets, and moves quickly into drainpipes. "You get fast, unfiltered water," she said, adding that oils, pesticides, and waste are washed along with it. Prior's presentation is in part a progress report about current water quality problems. In his state of the streams talk, he has been telling councils that while there has been a reduction in pollution into Bear Creek by industrial and sewage treatment plants, there are still water quality problems because of pollution carried from snowmelt and rainfall. High bacteria levels, high water temperatures, low flow levels and habitat loss are among the problems with an impact on the health of streams, he said. "It's bad for fish, bad for streams, bad for people," he said. So RVCOG and DEQ are taking the first step by proposing to work together with local government in a regional cooperation effort in cleaning up storm water. "This is going to require decades of work to bring streams back in to compliance," said Prior. He's looking, he said, for input from city staff and anticipates public hearings will be held in the fall. He said he hopes to have a plan in writing by early 2005. Bob Pierce, Central Point's director of public works, said people will still be able to water lawns, wash cars and fertilize grass. "The impact to residents will be minimal," he said. "The impact to municipalities will be great." Pierce said it's a challenge for cities to keep pollution from entering streams, and it's time to consider modified drainage, including filters on curb inlets. "Nobody really knows what the exact precise solution is," said Pierce. Quinby said there may be changes with new construction, such as required wetlands within developments. "The more we develop, the more our creeks are impacted," she said. Some of RVCOG and DEQ's proposed objectives include increasing creekside vegetation; limiting the disturbance of natural drainage, erosion and sediment control plans; and a water-quality monitoring program. Crebbin said that through such things as inserts in water bills, stenciling fish images beside storm drains, and classes on lawn care, he's hoping to increase public awareness. "People want to do the right thing," he said. "They just don't always know what the right thing is." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.