Welcome to Skagit County
February 2th, 2012
Samish Bay shellfish
beds reopened
SKAGIT COUNTY - The Washington
State Department of Health reopened Samish Bay shellfish beds yesterday, February
1, 2012. The Department of Health originally closed the beds on January 21,
2012, due to the greater than 300 cubic feet per second rise in the river level
and confirmed high fecal coliform bacteria levels. The bay reopened a day early
due to low fecal coliform counts in water quality samples. Samish Bay was closed
again on January 30 due to another greater than 300 cubic feet per second rise
in river flow, but reopened on January 31 when water quality samples showed
fecal coliform counts below the closure criteria verifying that the bay is again
safe for shellfish harvesting.
The State Department of Health has specific water quality criteria for Samish
Bay. If the Samish River and surrounding creeks and ditches contribute too much
pollution, the bay closes until water quality samples can be collected to ensure
bacteria levels have abated and the shellfish are again safe to consume.
When the bay is closed,
shellfish farms can’t harvest their crops and it is unsafe to consume shellfish
recreationally harvested from the bay. Farms may have safe shellfish for sale
during the closure that was either harvested prior to the closure or brought
in from growing areas elsewhere in the state
The major sources of polluting bacteria in the Samish River watershed are:
- Residential and business onsite septic systems
- Various small and commercial farming operations with livestock
- Farming operations that spread animal manure as fertilizer
- Human recreational activities including boating, hunting, fishing, and hiking
- Marine live-aboard boats
- Waterfowl attracted to fields planted in grain
- Mishandled pet waste
All of these sources, if
managed properly, need not pose a threat to water quality.
For more information on clean water efforts in the Samish Watershed, current
status of the bay (open or closed for harvest), a calendar of Samish bay shellfish
bed closures to date, or to report a water quality problem, visit www.skagitcounty.net/cleanwater.
For more information, contact Emma Whitfield at emmaw@co.skagit.wa.us
or at (360) 419-7667.