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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210812_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, August 12, 2021, 3:00 to 4:30 pm Attending: Mike Dawson, Heidi Eisenhour, David Steele, Richard Hull, Kara Cardinal (call in), Richard Wojt, Joe Holtrop, Wendy Clark-Getzin, Monica MickHager. Staff: Lara Gaasland-Tatro, Jacquelyn Stenman, Tim Weissman Guest: Scott Chernoff (DOH) Public: Jonathan Perkins from South County Dawson called the meeting to order at 3:02 pm. Zoom Etiquette and Introductions 3:02 – 3:10 Agenda and Minutes Approval 3:10 – 3:20 Dawson suggested adding public comment time after the Rocky Brook agenda item. Wojt motioned to approve the agenda as amended, Eisenhour seconded. All in favor, none opposed, no discussion. Steele motioned to approve the 5/13/2021 minutes, Wojt seconded. All in favor, none opposed, no discussion. Rocky Brook Falls Sanitation 3:20 – 3:44 Dawson gave an outline of the problems at Rocky Brook Falls: Site is privately owned by Rocky Brook Hydroelectric and has no sanitation facilities, but there is a requirement in the FERC agreement for allowing public access to trail to the falls. There are many visitors, especially during the pandemic, visiting a site with no sanitation facilities or trash collection, and the parking is inadequate. As a result, many people are using the woods and behind buildings as latrines and leaving toilet paper, diapers and trash. JCPH sampling has found occasional high bacteria at the site but never regular enough to confirm it as a hot spot. Stenman showed photos that she had taken recently at the site including significant trash, toilet paper. Dawson opened up public comment and Mr. Perkins, who lives near the site, explained that he has been doing regular trash pick up at the site for a couple of years, and shared photos showing 1-2 weeks of trash accumulation since he last cleaned it up. He explained that sometimes there are 50-100 cars that extend down Dosewallips Road. He said that the heavy use is from June-October and said a sani-can and trash container would be most useful. Clark-Getzin discussed parking and road danger, and that the county roads department might be able to help with barriers and other tools to make the situation safer. Education/signage with direction to local facilities was discussed, both on site and through guide websites. There was interest in looking into funding for Sani-cans if sampling shows that there is a bacteria problem/risk to public health. JCPH staff will commence regular sampling at the site. June Heat Wave: Algae Blooms, Shellfish mortality, Vibriosis cases 3:44-3:59 There was significant shellfish mortality in some of the areas that got particularly hot during the June heat wave. JCPH staff sent in a report on shellfish mortality to WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife on their request. Numerous algae blooms have been reported, coccolithophores in Hood Canal, brown algae in Port Ludlow, Noctiluca in Quilcene and a diarrheic shellfish poisoning closure from a Dinophysis bloom in Discovery Bay. The South Point area had bloom a month ago that included a fish kill. Eyes over Puget Sound has photos of blooms in the area. Vibrio illnesses were reported in Jefferson County from consuming raw oysters, one from oysters eaten at a Jefferson County restaurant, and one from oyster harvest at a private beach in Quilcene – Both were confirmed by DOH as being caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus. JCPH food safety staff helped to 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 obtain shellfish tags from the restaurant for DOH investigation, but the oysters were from multiple sources. No vibrio closures in Jefferson County resulted from the investigation. Social media posts were issued to educate about vibrio and shellfish safety. Vibrio warning signs had been posted all season. Steele commented on how there a lot of multi-source illnesses this year, FDA analyzing how they handle multi-source illnesses. Most tied to heat wave at end of June. Public not well educated about people who are more susceptible: e.g. taking antacids increases risk. Dawson commented that there is a correlation between high water temperatures and vibrio and that the heat wave likely caused vibrio in water bodies where we don’t typically see it. State analyzing if we need to change our response plan due to extreme conditions. WA DOH Data Update 3:59-4:15 Chernoff summarized DOH marine monitoring data from Hood Canal #3, Dabob Bay and Quilcene Bay. Quilcene and Dabob sites had high hits during the late June/early July heat wave. Dawson added that BEACH enterococcus results at Pt Whitney went down after heat event. Possible correlations were discussed, such as dead and dying algae, substrate, exposed areas during warm time of day = possibly unhealthy conditions. The BEACH program examines the correlation between wrack (macroalgae) and high enterococcus levels at BEACH sites. Lake Hazardous Algae Bloom (HABs) Guidance document 3:59-4:15 There is now a new two-tier system for HAB closures in lakes from WA DOH. Most of it is similar but there are some improvements. We have the new signs but have not had a chance to update our website yet. We are now using the new guidance for lake closures. Weissman explained that we recently recorded the highest ever Microcystin concentration of 46 which is 5 times the recreational guidance. Its significant as it’s the highest we have found since monitoring began in 2008. We collected two consecutive samples below the recreational guidance and reopened the lake, there was no sign of a bloom this week. Heidi asked the closure dates, Tim replied and also explained that it is not the first time we have found this organism and toxin at the lake but it was the highest. Water Quality Social Media Outreach 4:17-4:26 Stenman described a social media campaign called Water Wednesday. Each post includes a photo, caption, hashtags and links. All are peer reviewed. JCPH also uses social media for press releases, program highlights, outreach for closures, sewage spills and more. Stenman showed a number of examples. Annual Report 4:27-4:30 Dawson has completed the draft for the Clean Water District Annual Report and will be sending it out to the Council. Announcements Next meeting is November 4, 2021. Chernoff mentioned that the updates for the early warning system reports have been suspended for a year, with a new system that is more comprehensive and useful planning to come out next year. Meeting adjourned at 4:34.