The Willapa River water cleanup plan called for 12 sampling surveys to be conducted from April through December 1998. The surveys counted fecal coliform bacteria levels, and larger surveys in May, August, September and November measured dissolved oxygen. Water monitoring and sampling are scheduled for completion in December 1998. A final report on the dissolved oxygen portion of the plan is due in December 1999. A final report on the fecal-coliform bacteria sampling is scheduled for release in July 2000.
Statistical software is used to discover patterns and trends in the data.
Another model will be used to analyze the tidal areas of the estuary. The power of the models is that worst-case situations can be simulated and evaluated, even though those conditions may not have occurred when water quality samples were collected. The plan will undergo extensive scientific review before it is published. Then, Ecology and the Willapa community will develop a plan with a schedule of steps to clean up pollution sources. Pollutant allocations usually include a reserve for future growth and for a margin of safety.