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November 22nd, 2010

Similk Bay reclassified to "Approved"

SKAGIT COUNTY - Washington State Department of Health is reclassifying a portion of the Similk Bay commercial shellfish growing area from Prohibited to Approved. This change in classification was prompted by the results of a comprehensive review of pollution conditions and marine water quality data by the State Department of Health.

This reclassification will upgrade the 80-acre Prohibited area on the western side of Similk Bay to Approved. The Prohibited area was established in 2000 due to failing onsite septic systems in the Similk Beach community.
In 2001, the Skagit County Health Department surveyed 86 homes in the Similk Beach area and found that over 50 percent of onsite septic systems were failing.

"There were over five years of intensive work by Health, PUD, environmental groups and Similk Beach residents to try to bring in a community sewer to resolve the problem," said Corinne Story, Skagit County Environmental Public Health Manager. "In the end, however, the financial equation simply did not work so we had to go to Plan B. In the fall of 2005, we began working with Similk residents to ensure all septic systems were inspected and then repaired or replaced as necessary. It took five years, but we are finally seeing the end results of this effort."

Similk Beach residents will be required to have inspections completed on their systems every year to ensure they are working properly. "Similk Beach residents are to be congratulated on their achievement," stated Story. "However, maintaining good water quality requires diligence. Annual inspections are not only required by code, but they are also essential to assuring Similk Beach remains approved for commercial shellfish harvest."

"Similk Beach is a great success story and shows us that each property can, indeed, make a difference. We are now working intensely in the Samish watershed and hope that we can soon be writing a similar story about Samish Bay" Story added.

The reclassification is expected to be finalized by December 15, 2010. For more information, contact Corinne Story at 360-336-9380 or corinnes@co.skagit.wa.us .