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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20161110_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 Pacific Room, Jefferson County Public Health 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Thursday, November 10, 2016 3:00 to 4:30 pm Attending: Trevor Swanson, Dave Steel, Jill Zarzeczny, Zoe Ann Lamp Absent: David Sullivan, Richard Wojt, Richard Hull, Jean Synder (DOH) Staff: Michael Dawson, Alisa Hasbrouck The November 10, 2016 meeting of the Clean Water District Advisory Council was called to order at 3:05 pm by Michael Dawson. AGENDA AND MINUTES APPROVAL Due to not having a quorum, approval of the minutes of the August 11, 2016 meeting and the Agenda for November 10, 2016 was postponed. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. Dawson stated that the Hood Canal Clean Streams final public meeting will be held 12/5/16 at Quilcene Community Center from 5:30-6:30. The project is focused on streams in the Quilcene area that are on the 303d list. Restoration work has been done on Leland Creek, Tarboo Creek, and Little Quilcene River. Jill Zarzeczny announced that JCCD will host a Native Plant workshop at the Grange on 12/9/16 from 9:00 -12:00 pm. A panel will discuss plants that will be available at the future sale. WSU, Master Gardeners, Native Plant Society, and NOSC will attend. If anyone would like to have a table at the event, please contact Jill. PROJECT UPDATES Current Projects: • Hood Canal Regional PIC: Michael Dawson stated that Jefferson, Kitsap, & Mason Counties collaborate on this project. Irondale Creek had high levels of E. coli, but levels have recently decreased. Little Goose Creek had high levels of E. coli, and although levels declined during November, the Geomean remains high. A round of sanitary surveys will be done in the area. Many birds frequent the area, which may be an added source of bacteria. PGST is doing extensive monitoring; they’ve deployed a 24-hr sampler, are doing genetic analysis, and have detected optical brighteners. A final report should be available by March 2017. • Hood Canal Priority Basins: Michael Dawson stated that stream monitoring has been conducted in Chimacum Creek basin for a year with JCCD, and now is set to begin in Port Ludlow. Anna Bachmann of JCPH and Glen Gately of JCCD wrote an article which was featured in the Port Townsend Leader, and spoke on KPTZ about the project. Statistical analysis of the Chimacum data will be done to determine whether there is a significant long-term trend. Page 2 of 3 • Hood Canal Clean Streams: Michael Dawson stated that on the Big Quilcene River, fishing season at Riverside Park is always a concern. Sanicans and a dumpster were placed at the park; however, there was a week of high bacteria results in late August 2016. DOH determined it was not necessary to close shellfishing, as the bacteria levels at the mouth of the river were low. More Sanicans may be needed next year; Mike will discuss it with WDFW and PGST. Dave Steel mentioned he has property near the mouth of the river, and when bacteria levels are high he’d like to stay away from that area and not harvest. Mike said that when fishing season is open, generally late August and September, the area should be considered questionable. Dave said he has a connection with a lot of the growers, and could broadcast a message to be extra careful during that time of year. Mike said he will attend a fisheries meeting, which is organized by the hatchery, this Winter at the USFS office, and could communicate concerns that the shellfish growers have. Dave asked if the meeting is open to attend, and Mike said he could ask. • Quilcene-Dabob PIC: Michael Dawson stated that Alisa Hasbrouck is the lead on this project, doing shoreline sampling, and following up on a number of high hits. Stream monitoring began this month, including nutrients. Marine monitoring will begin soon, using the same sites as DOH but sampling on opposite months. Dave offered that they can take JCPH staff out in their boat to access sites for marine monitoring, and Trevor offered as well. • Strait Priority Areas: Michael Dawson stated that the draft Agreement is in progress. Mike will get together with Jill Zarzeczny to coordinate on the JCCD portion. The project area includes the eastern portion of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Discovery Bay, and determining which houses are still using septic systems in the City of Port Townsend. • Central Hood Canal PIC: Michael Dawson stated that this new project continues the previous work done on Hood Canal 3, Duckabush area and further south, and will begin next year. • Lakes Bluegreen Algae: Michael Dawson stated that there is currently a bloom at Lake Anderson, and toxin levels have declined to below recreational guidelines but there are still toxic species there. WDFW plans to stock the lake and open it for fishing, but they are holding off for awhile, and JCPH will issue a press release to notify the public about potential toxins, that there will be no rangers on duty, and that we will not continue monitoring there since the budget has been exhausted. • Septic System O&M inspections: Michael Dawson stated that this past summer the County mailed almost 2,000 letters to homeowners with alternative systems notifying them of the requirement to have an O&M inspection done on their septic system. About 50% have completed their inspections, and providers have been backed up. About 400 of those completed have been homeowner inspections; about 700 homeowners have taken the class and become authorized to do their own inspections. Today, another 732 letters were mailed to shoreline homeowners in the MRA (Hood Canal Watershed) with conventional systems. Another round of letters will be mailed to the remaining homeowners with conventional systems in the MRA soon. • Grant Applications: Michael Dawson stated that JCPH is submitting a grant application for a study of bluegreen algae in Anderson Lake, partnering with Dr. Hardy, who recently retired from DOH, and Dr. Moore from WSU, to include a detailed hydrology study and nutrient budget. Page 3 of 3 • Hood Canal 3: Trevor Swanson stated that Station 137 near the Duckabush River had a fecal coliform result of 350 in August, and it’s likely that DOH will downgrade the area by the end of this year. Stations 136 and 125 are at levels of concern as well. • Discovery Bay: Trevor Swanson stated that the Discovery Bay sanitary survey was completed in August 2016, and is posted on the DOH website. • Hood Canal 4: Trevor Swanson stated that the shoreline survey is halfway completed. WQ PROGRAM OVERVIEW, STAFFING Stephanie Fraser and Ashley Watkins have moved on. JCPH has filled the full time position, and has one more part-time position to be filled. Jered Keefer has also moved on, so Mike has filled in as the Interim Environmental Health and Water Quality Director, as well as covering his own position as Water Quality Manager since October. JCPH will be interviewing candidates for the Director position soon. 2017 QUARTERLY MEETING SCHEDULE PROPOSAL • Keep the same dates: 2nd Thursday starting Feb.: 2/9, 5/11, 8/10, 11/9 • Move Annual Report to May OTHER TOPICS Mike Dawson mentioned he’d like to revisit the Prioritized Workplan, and perhaps update it next year. Zoe Ann Lamp asked if DCD had contacted Mike about reviewing the Comprehensive Plan update. Mike said that from an Environmental Health perspective, dealing with the “Hirst Decision” regarding exempt wells and water resource issues will be important. Also, it may be good to revive the watershed planning process to some extent in WRIA17, especially in the Chimacum basin, and get everybody back to the table at least a few times. At some point the reserve will be met, JCPH has had questions from farmers, and newcomers are not aware of the issues. Jill Zarzeczny said that JCCD has been getting questions as well, and plans to host a workshop about water rights and water law this Spring. They plan to get Amanda Cronin, who was involved in the WRIA process, and a water attorney, to discuss the issues. PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment. ADJOURN The November 10, 2016 meeting of the Clean Water District Advisory Council was adjourned at 4:30 p.m. by Michael Dawson.