Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211104_CWDACminutesAlways working for a safer and healthier community 615 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) (f) 360-379-4487 Jefferson County Clean Water District Advisory Council Zoom Meeting due to COVID-19 Thursday, November 4, 2021, 3:00 to 4:30 pm Attending: Mike Dawson, Heidi Eisenhour, David Steele, Richard Hull, Richard Wojt, Joe Holtrop, John Fleming, Monica MickHager. Staff: Jacquelyn Stenman, Tim Weissman, Amanda Christofferson. Guests: Trevor Swanson (DOH), Teri King (WA SeaGrant). Dawson called the meeting to order at 3:02 pm. Zoom Etiquette and Introductions 3:02 – 3:10 Dawson welcomed new Public Works representative John Fleming, replacing Wendy Clark-Getzin. Agenda and Minutes Approval 3:10 – 3:14 Eisenhour moved to approve the agenda, Steele seconded, no discussion, all in favor, agenda approved. Dawson corrected the date of the draft minutes from May 13 to August 12. Steele moved to approve amended minutes, Eisenhour seconded, no discussion, all in favor, amended minutes approved. CWDAC representatives 3:14 – 3:17 Dawson acknowledged the long contribution of service by Wojt, whose term ends in December, to the council and to the county, and announced he would be advertising for the District 1 citizen position in January. The proposed meeting dates for 2022 are Feb. 10, May 12, Aug. 11, Nov. 10. Updates from DOH 3:19 – 3:33 Swanson shared preliminary data from the most recent marine monitoring in Hood Canal #3. All stations of concern are under 30 FC, including last 30 samples. Station 137 steady, 140 went up, 136 improved. Mouth of Duckabush, 50+ seals noted. Potential Duckabush upgrade in next year or two if trends continue. Quilcene 123 in Pt Whitney lagoon had threatened status (>30 FC) last year, now it does not. Heat wave on June 30 resulted in very high hits at several sites (in the thousands FC). Station 123 too shallow at low tide to be sampled during heat wave. No classification downgrades imminent. Swanson shared a draft of the Early Warning System new format. MickHager asked about the rankings. Swanson replied that there are 14 counties with growing areas, and the rank is based on acreage. Dawson suggested that showing percentages on both pie charts would be nice. Tarboo/Dabob Bay shoreline 3:33-3:44 Weissman described the locations of dry season high hits and hotspots in the Tarboo and Dabob Bay shorelines as part of a data request by Michael Friese (of DOH) for an upcoming shoreline survey. Two marginal hot spots are in Tarboo Bay, two are on the Bolton Peninsula east shore, and two are on the Toandos Peninsula west shore. Swanson asked if flow measurements were collected and Weissman said yes, and that he would give those to Friese. Swanson said flow estimates would help determine if parcel closures were needed. Jefferson County Septic Repair Cost Share program 3:44 – 3:59 Christofferson talked about the development of the county’s Septic Repair Cost Share program, and how she has been re-reviewing previous applications under a revised scope of work intended to expand the number of awards. She acknowledged Holtrop’s help in consulting with her about his similar work in Clallam county. Holtrop added that it can be challenging to find the sweet spot of helping people that need it and spending public money wisely. Steele added that it would be a shame to have a waterbody Always working for a safer and healthier community Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) (f) 360-379-4487 impacted by someone who has something unpermitted if they’re willing to fix it. MickHager and Hull also expressed support. Long term funding still being sought as project ends next year. Chimacum Microbial Source Tracking 3:59 – 4:02 Dawson reported that the joint Conservation District/JCPH project to sample the Chimacum Creek drainage for microbial source tracking (MST) indicators reached a milestone in that the QAPP was approved by EPA and first sampling will happen next Tuesday. Will help identify human and animal bacteria contributions. Anderson Lake winter toxin testing by WA State Parks 4:02 – 4:04 Dawson reported that WA state parks arranged with KCEL to do monthly toxin sampling in the winter at Anderson Lake. State Parks staff will be collecting samples and paying for costs, Weissman trained a ranger, parks will be sharing data with JCPH. Harmful Algal Bloom Research and Monitoring Initiative 4:04 – 4:46 King shared the presentation “Hiding in plain sight: shellfish-killing phytoplankton in WA.” She described her research into shellfish mortality and harmful algal blooms, yessotoxin (YTX), and implications for Jefferson County. “Three bad actors”: Akashiwo sanguinea, Protoceratium reticulatum, Phaeocystis globose all found here. Mystery Bay tends to have heavy blooms, Discovery Bay lesser blooms, also found in Port Townsend Bay (but no blooms yet). YTX found and implicated in shellfish mortality, cell death in shellfish tissue, cysts can persist many years. YTX is regulated in Europe, but not in US. Highest YTX so far in US found in Allyn (Hood Canal). Historical research found oyster kills in the 1920s and 30s. Coccolithophore (non-toxic) and Heterosigma (fish kill) blooms also noted in 2021. Anyone can contribute a sample (water bottle) for analysis of suspicious blooms. Dawson asked: Starting ~2015 in Discovery Bay we had a grower reporting oyster mortality, concerned it was toxic metals related to sediments stirred up during restoration at head of the bay. Also wondering about high numbers in Mystery Bay – any mortality there? King: No phyto samples were submitted from the area around the grower in Discovery Bay. Samples taken at Discovery Bay Condos dock more recently showed P. globosa. Encouraged farmers to take samples when they see something. King thinks there is a chance the mortality was phyto-driven, might have been P. globosa. Swanson asked: Any association with environmental factors as far as temperature etc? KIng: Species have trigger points in term of temperature, blooms seem heat related, need more data. Swanson: Was heat wave and die-offs related to phyto blooms? King: Samples taken on June 23rd, shellfish producers called on June 28th to say shellfish were opening and dying on conveyor belts out of the heat – therefore must be toxin related. Need more farm integration and communication. Freezing samples to send in is fine. Just running analysis on heat wave samples now and expecting results soon. King mentioned she had been appointed to Mason county clean water district as a citizen, curious to hear other’s experiences. No public attendees, no public comment. Meeting adjourned at 4:46.