RE: BISHOP CREEK BACTERIOLOGICAL MONITORING STUDY
The Inyo County Board of Supervisors convened a workshop on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, to address the results of a fecal coliform bacteriological monitoring study of Bishop Creek conducted by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. The workshop was attended by representatives of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the City of Bishop, the Bishop Paiute Tribe, County of Inyo and other interested parties. Study findings showed frequently high levels of bacterial concentrations, exceeding both Water Board and US EPA water quality criteria, at some locations of Bishop Creek. State personnel indicated that Bishop Creek would soon be added to the State’s 301(d) listing of impaired water bodies.
Sampling was conducted in 2012 and 2013 as part of the Lahontan Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP). More information regarding this program can be found at HYPERLINK “http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/lahontan/water_issues/programs/swamp/” http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/lahontan/water_issues/programs/swamp/ . While the sources of the Bishop Creek contamination remain unknown at this time, the recurring high concentrations indicate potential risks to human health for water contact recreation. Further analyses are being conducted at this time in an effort to determine the source(s) of the contamination.
The workshop concluded with the following recommended actions:
Provide public awareness of the situation through the media.
Provide signage along Bishop Creek notifying persons of the contamination and advising against body contact water activities in at least one location. These advisories may be considered applicable for all sections of Bishop Creek between Mumy Lane and where the canal crosses East Line Street.
Advise the public to discourage your pets from drinking out of Bishop Creek.
Identify the source(s) of contamination and implement remediation plans. This will not occur until later this summer, after the microbial source tracking results are available.
Encourage residents with horses or other domestic animals, and who live adjacent to Bishop Creek, to evaluate and improve their animal waste management practices.
For more information, please contact the Inyo County Environmental Health Services Department at (760) 873-7867.
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im i right in reading that these samples were from 12/13 ,im i missing something here , ican only think its gotten worse seems we had more water flow then ?
p ite I didn’t catch the dates until you mentioned them if the samples were taken in 2012-2013 and the county is just now getting the results out to the public shame shame shame. If the results are so bad that some areas need postings about contamination then how many persons/animals have been endangered since 2012/13? All the water issues in Inyo need to be addressed.
How does the contamination affect branches of Bishop Creek flowing through the McLaren area, specifically Brookside Drive? Also, is the creek portion flowing through Elks’ Park involved? Vague identifications such as, “…all sections of Bishop Creek between Mumy Lane and where the canal crosses East Line Street.” are not helpful, as different branches, natural and man-made, criss-cross the vast landscape between Mumy Lane and the canal @ East Line Street. Definitions please, if at all possible.
Chris if the main ditch that being Bishop Creek is contaminated that means any water coming from it is contaminated. All parties listed in the above should be addressing the issue and possible solutions. Are they going to wait until there is a serious health problem to work on it? This seems to be the way things happen in Inyo County. Yes I have cattle that some times have access to Bishop Creek and if my 15 head are causing a problem I want to know so the situation can be taken care of. Much more information and definitions need to be made public.
DWP takes charge of the runoff of Bishop Creek below SCE Plant 6. I have tadpoles in the pond in West Bishop. They seem to be doing well, two legs coming and a continued symphony all night long.
How will this effect the water quality of the private domestic wells and the water quality of the neighborhood community water systems and the City of Bishop water supply . Answers and resolutions of Bishop Creek need to be addressed immediately.
what about the creek in west bishop and the owens, does this affect the aquatic animals