Mosier reviews TMDL plan to address stream temperature; timeline targets outreach by 2026 and restoration by 2030

City Engineer Stoner Bell and Oregon DEQ basin specialist Karissa Willits presented the Mosier Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan, explaining that Mosier Creek and Rock Creek have been identified as temperature-impaired since the 1990s and that the plan emphasizes riparian protection and restoration.

Key actions in the plan include producing educational materials for landowners by 2026, initiating annual stakeholder meetings beginning in 2026, identifying funding sources, updating city codes and policies, and implementing a riparian restoration project by 2030. The plan calls for annual evaluations and a comprehensive review at the end of a five-year cycle.

Mayor Witt Anderson expressed concern about the city's fiscal and staff capacity to carry out all proposed strategies and suggested adding a specific line item in the next budget to match tasks with available resources. Ron Wright requested more data on stream temperature monitoring; Stoner Bell and Karissa Willits explained the city does not currently conduct temperature monitoring but noted that DEQ and Columbia Riverkeeper monitoring exist for the basin and that data are available online. Karissa said the plan incorporates adaptive management to accommodate budget and staffing constraints.

Council members and staff indicated follow-up actions will include identifying funding sources and clarifying which monitoring data the city should rely on; the council did not adopt budget changes or new monitoring programs at the meeting.