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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210513_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, May 13, 2021, 3:00 to 4:30 pm Attending: Mike Dawson, Heidi Eisenhour, Monica MickHager, David Steele, Richard Hull, Kara Cardinal, Richard Wojt, Joe Holtrop, Wendy Clark-Getzin Staff: Lara Gaasland-Tatro, Amanda Christofferson, Tim Weissman, Jacquelyn Stenman Guests: Scott Chernoff (DOH), Evan Dobrowski and Jessica Huybregts (Ecology) Dawson called the meeting to order at 3:05 pm. Agenda and Minutes Approval Steele motioned to approve the agenda, Wojt seconded. All in favor, none opposed, no discussion. Wojt motioned to approve the 2/11/2021 minutes, Steele seconded. All in favor, none opposed, no discussion. Puget Sound No Discharge Zone Enforcement Dobrowski and Huybregts gave background on the process of establishing the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone, and the preparation for enforcement of the rule. Currently in the education and outreach phase. Large social marketing and outreach push to inform boaters of the NDZ to avoid boat discharges. Secondary approach is through enforcement. Exploring the use of Environmental Reporting and Tracking System (ERTS), having a three-strike policy, and partner agreements with agencies (counties, DNR, state agencies, coast guard). For county health departments, Ecology is exploring partnerships to include local code revisions, coordinating ERTS responses, and outreach and education. Hood Canal #3 Data Chernoff discussed a report of recent DOH marine monitoring data. Stations 137, 139, and 140 showed slight declines in bacteria, though not statistically significant. Station 136 improved slightly. No approved stations in the threatened range of bacteria concentrations. In the Quilcene growing area there was a station that now appears on the early warning list. Station 123 (Point Whitney lagoon) had high bacteria at the end of 2020. Recent results have been better. JCPH has begun investigation at Pt Whintey including the OSS and public bathroom at the shellfish lab, the Hume property violation and work to achieve a septic repair there, and ongoing BEACH monitoring and additional sampling. WA State Cyanobacteria Guidance revisions Dawson reported the ongoing process by DOH to revise the Cyanobacteria Guidance. Moving from a 3- tier approach (caution, warning, danger) to a 2-tier approach (warning and danger). Mycrocystin went from a guideline of 6 to 8 ug/L. Cylindrospermopsin went from 4.5 to 15 ug/L. Warning during bloom events with toxins. Danger with high toxins and at lakes where there is a history of animal deaths or illnesses. Expected to be completed in June 2021. Lakes bacteria pilot project Weissman discussed the pilot bacteria monitoring and current status of lakes. Sampling Gibbs and Leland for E. coli monthly, April-September, to get background levels of bacteria. This is to assess whether or not JCPH needs to implement a fecal indicator bacteria monitoring program alongside the cyanobacteria monitoring program in the dry season. Protocols are similar to those of the BEACH 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 program. Anderson Lake is blooming with very high toxins (1,396 ug/L), nearly 1,400 times the recreational guideline. Port Hadlock UGA Water Quality Summary, Chimacum Creek Microbial Source Tracking Dawson shared information regarding the status of septic systems in the Hadlock Urban Growth Area. At least one station along Chimacum Creek has failed state WQ standards every year of monitoring. Irondale Creek has had high bacteria in the past and septic system repairs/replacements have led to improvements to the bacteria levels. Expanding shellfish harvesting in the lagoon near the Hadlock core area is a factor. Large number of septic systems in the proposed sewer: Only 20% are current on inspections and around 30% are 30 years old or older. Dosewallips Water Quality Dawson offered to defer discussion of Dosewallips water quality to a later date when there would be more time available. Announcements Next meeting is August 12, 2021. No public comments. Meeting adjourned at 4:35.