Welcome to Skagit County

April 26th, 2011

Hotline number and Water Pollution Report Form now available for reporting water quality problems

SKAGIT COUNTY - In an effort to provide a more thorough and dedicated response to water quality issues in the Samish basin and throughout the county, Skagit County Public Works has developed a hotline number and Water Pollution Report Form for citizens to report water quality problems.
Citizens can call (360) 336-9400 to report a problem, or visit www.skagitcounty.net/cleanwater to fill out a report form. Citizens are encouraged to report any form of water pollution, including failing septic systems, manure management, livestock in streams, dumping down storm drains, stormwater problems, or any kind of suspicious discharge.

"In order to make substantial changes to the Samish and throughout Skagit County, we need to target problem areas. With the hotline and report form, we hope that the community will help keep us informed of areas where they witness water quality pollution so we can follow up and correct the problem," said Dan Berentson, Skagit County Public Works Natural Resource Division Manager.

The hotline number and report form are part of Skagit County's enhanced effort to clean up the Samish. High fecal coliform levels in Samish Bay continue to threaten our health, shellfish beds, food production, and quality of life in Skagit County. In 2011, Skagit County will be dedicating about $473,000 towards cleaning up the Samish; $152,504 will come from the Skagit County Clean Water Fund, with $320,659 from an EPA grant leveraged by Clean Water Program dollars.

Skagit County will also enhance its response efforts and engage more personnel in water quality correction measures by increasing landowner contact, enhancing its media campaign, installing waste facilities for both pets and humans within the Samish watershed, and continuing its ambient and storm monitoring, along with continued outreach and education.

For more information, contact Skagit County Public Information Officer Emma Whitfield at emmaw@co.skagit.wa.us or at (360) 419-7667. Also visit www.skagitcounty.net/cleanwater.