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April 16, 2013

Samish Bay Shellfish Beds Reopened

SKAGIT COUNTY - The Washington State Department of Health will reopen Samish Bay shellfish beds effective Wednesday, April 17, at 8:00 a.m. The Department of Health closed the beds on April 13 due to the 100+ cubic feet per second rise in the river level and anticipated fecal coliform bacteria levels. This closure was confirmed by Storm Team volunteer samples taken on April 13 and 14; however, recently-collected water quality monitoring data have verified 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 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.
Potential sources of polluting bacteria in the Samish River watershed include:

•Failing onsite septic systems
•Manure from commercial and non-commercial farms with livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas, alpacas, etc.
•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
•Pet waste that is not collected and disposed of properly

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, and for a calendar of Samish bay shellfish bed closures to date, visit www.skagitcounty.net/cleanwater.

For more information, contact Patti Chambers at 360-360-9400 or pchambers@co.skagit.wa.us