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Jefferson County
Department of Community Development
Development Review Division
621 Sheridan
Port Townsend W A 98368
December 6, 2005
m:c - 8 2005
Attn: Mr. David W. Johnson, planer
Re: Land Use Application MLAOS-00276
Dear Mr. Johnson,
The wife and I favor this Land Use Application for a PUD water system on Marrowstone
Island and ask for it's rapid approval.
Some of those who oppose this water system claim that the laying of pipes for the project
will disturb the soil and when it rains cause the runoff of toxic materials which will
contaminate the waters of Scow Bay and Mystery Bay and cause harm to the Shellfish
operations in these Bays.
I have been a licensed Shellfish farmer in Scow Bay, since 1978, and I question the truth
and the validity of these claims.
During this time I have observed that the County road crews and now the State DOT
regularly clean the ditches along our roads, removing the weeds, extra soil and other
debris. This really'disturbs the soil. When it rains, especially during wet seasons, the
Islands ditches run fast and heavy with rainwater run off. At the south end of the Island
all of Hwy.116's ditches empty directly into Scow Bay.
My Farm "Scow Bay Oyster Farm" is located in the Bay. The State Health Dept.
routinely samples the water for quality in and around each shellfish operation,
approximately every 30 days.
In addition, samples of our shellfish: clams, oysters and mussels are routinely sent to the
State's Health Department Lab. in Seattle for analysis.
The quality of the Bays water and our shellfish has ~ been a problem in all of these
years. Occasionally we have had PSP, commonly called" Red Tide", PSP is caused by a
particular plankton bloom, not by rain water run off.
Checking with Carl Johnson, who operates a fourth generation shellfish farm in Mystery
Bay, you will find that he has had a similar experience in Mystery Bay.
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. al&nne' Rush'
5003 Ragler Road
NoMland ,WA98358
LOG ITEM
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