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Jefferson County Public Health – Planned Performance Measures 2012
WATER QUALITY DEPARTMENT
MISSION: The mission of the Water Quality Department is to protect public health by monitoring and
responding to threats to water quality for protection of human health and wildlife habitat by using
available local, state, and federal funding effectively and efficiently.
GOALS FOR FY 2012
1. Recreationalists at popular lakes such as Anderson Lake, Gibbs Lake and Lake Leland will be
increasingly aware of toxic algae threats to human and animal health.
2. Water quality trends for parameters such as fecal coliform, dissolved oxygen and temperature
will be better understood in the Hood Canal Watershed, Mats Mats Bay and Northeast Jefferson
County project areas.
3. Land use and its effects on water quality will be more completely surveyed in project areas.
4. Condition, status and use of approximately 500 more septic systems will have been surveyed in
project areas.
5. Actions to restore Leland Creek will be initiated.
6. Residents in eastern Jefferson County will be more aware of project activities and actions they
can take to protect water quality in their neighborhood.
7. Recreationalists at Jefferson County marine beaches will be notified of the status of water quality
in a timely and efficient manner.
8. The public will stay informed about the safety of recreational shellfish beaches relative to
biotoxin threats and will be educated on emerging threats such as Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning.
9. Water quantity and the interaction between surface and groundwater will be better understood in
the Chimacum Creek Basin.
OBJECTIVES FOR FY 2012
1. Monitor all lakes with public access weekly from April through September for bluegreen algae
toxins.
2. Maintain and improve JCPH Lake Status webpage and other outreach activities.
3. Use funds awarded by the state Centennial Clean Water Fund to carry out Clean Water projects
in Hood Canal, Mats Mats Bay and Northeast Jefferson County.
4. Organize a volunteer network of shellfish samplers to monitor for shellfish biotoxins in a timely
and cost effective manner. Coordinate with Washington Department of Health to communicate
risks from the recreational harvest of shellfish to the public.
5. Continue public education on the importance of clean water in Jefferson County focusing on
actions citizens can take to keep our water clean and productive.
6. Prepare reports on the status and trends of water quality in Jefferson County.
7. Monitor water quality at public swimming beaches on a weekly basis during the swimming
season to protect public health.
8. Continue to insure that the stream gauging network is maintained to accurately measure
streamflow and water quality in critical streams such as Chimacum Creek, Salmon Creek and
Snow Creek.
9. Obtain a groundwater computer model of the Chimacum Basin from the USGS with scenarios of
water use impacts.
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PERFORMANCE INDICATORS: 2006
Actual
2007
Actual
2008
Actual
2009
Actual
2010
Actual
2011
Projected
2012
Planned
Lakes monitored for cyanobacteria 9 9 9 4 3 5 4
Water quality stations monitored: Chimacum Creek 0 40 40 28 28 0 28
Water quality stations monitored: Salmon & Snow
Creeks 0 17 0 19 19 19 0
Water quality stations monitored: Hood Canal watershed 0 0 0 0 0 17 17
Miles of shoreline surveyed for pollution N/A 5 49 76 77 89 45
Marine water quality stations monitored N/A 7 7 7 17 17 7
Sanitary surveys completed N/A N/A N/A 259 241 350 500
Beaches monitored for shellfish safety 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
Swimming beaches monitored 0 2 3 4 3 6 6
Stream gauges maintained 8 8 9 8 8 7 7
This department implements the following strategic objectives for the 2012 Budget:
Addressing locally identified public environmental health issues.
Protecting and ensuring adequate clean water supplies for citizens, the shellfish industry and
wildlife.
Protecting and enhancing natural resources.
Operating within a business plan based on sustainable resources, measured performance, and
outstanding customer service.