Hydrocarbon Research
in the Kenai River
In 2008, KWF's monitoring program showed no water quality violations of hydrocarbon standards for the first time since sampling began in 2000 - thanks to KWF!
Hydrocarbon (gasoline) pollution in the Kenai River has been an issue KWF discovered, monitored and helped dramatically reduce. The decade long effort can be told in several parts and we will be writing a new Fact Sheet in 2009, for now here is the punch line.
This chart shows the actual measured difference in gasoline pollution before (2007) and after (2008) the "Clean Motor" regulations were enacted and the Motor Buy Back Program.
Regulations are not the only reason for the dramatic improvements. In addition to cleaner motors, there are at least three other factors that must be considered:
1) The Kenai River's natural flow was 30% greater in 2008, meaning there was more clean water to dilute pollution
2) 15% less motors were on the river during the 2008 Saturday, compared to the 2007 Saturday, meaning there were fewer sources of pollution.
3) The tidal deflection was significantly larger in 2008 compared to 2007, meaning there was a greater “flushing” effect in this lower stretch of the Kenai River.
In addition to the elimination of the non-DFI 2-stroke motors, all of these factors contributed to the measured reduction in gasoline pollution.
A huge thanks also goes out to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Yamaha Motor Corporation, and AK State Parks for their help and participation in the Motor Buy Back Program. We successfully bought back 200 2-stroke motors and helped individuals replace those motors with cleaner technology motors.
Regardless of what reduced the pollution, for the purposes of aquatic life and the state standards the actual reductions are what counts!