HomeMy WebLinkAbout08 1017 07
STATE OF WASHINGTON
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON
An Ordinance Creating the }
Jefferson County Clean Water District, }
Establishing Its Boundaries and Adopting }
A Water Quality Improvement Program }
ORDINANCE NO. 08-1017-07
WHEREAS, the Findings of Fact listed below lead to the inevitable conclusion that the creation
and establishment of a Clean Water District is not only authorized by state law but would promote the
general health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Jefferson County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS that the Jefferson County Clean Water District be and hereby is established in
conformance with the following:
Jefferson County Clean Water District
Sections:
Section 01
Section 02
Section 03
Section 04
Section 05
Section 06
Section 07
Section 08
Section 09
Section 10
Purpose
Findings of Fact
District Creation and Name
District Boundaries
Assignment of a Lead Entity
Adoption of a Nonpoint Pollution Plan Addressing the Shellfish Growing Area
Downgrade in Discovery Bay
Advisory Board
Program Evaluation
Severability
Effective Date
Section 01: Purpose:
The purpose of this chapter is to:
1. Create a shellfish protection district as required by RCW Chapter 90,72.
2. Establish the boundaries of the district.
3. Establish a district name.
4, Adopt a water quality improvement plan for Jefferson County,
5. Adopt a nonpoint pollution plan for the Discovery Bay watershed
Section 02: Findings of Fact:
The Board of Jefferson County Commissioners finds that the following facts require the need for adopting
this ordinance:
1. The Washington State Department of Health (WDOH) on January 24th, 2007 officially
downgraded the classification, from Approved to Restricted, of the commercial shellfish
growing area around station 48 within Discovery Bay, which is located on the Strait of
Juan de Fuca in Jefferson County.
08-1017-.07
Ordinance No, _ re: Creating A Clean Water District
Page: 2
2, A nearby portion of the Discovery Bay commercial shellfish growing area, station 62, has
been officially listed as "Concerned" status on the on the Washington State Department of
Health 2007 Early Warning System Summary,
3, A portion of the Mats Mats Bay commercial growing area is threatened with a downgrade
in classification due to water quality results according to the Mats Mats Bay 2006 Annual
Growing Area Review by the Washington State Department of Health. In order to avoid a
downgrade the source of fecal coliform pollution must be identified and corrected.
4. In the Hood Canal #3 commercial shellfish growing area three marine sampling stations
are officially listed as "Concerned" status for water quality on the Washington State
Department of Health 2007 Early Warning System Summary,
5, The Washington State Department of Health has determined that degradation of water
quality in the above mentioned shellfish growing areas is primarily due to nonpoint sources
of water pollution.
6, Jefferson County Public Health is responsible for regulating the operation and monitoring
of on-site sewage systems and conducting programs to remedy nonpoint surface pollution
as it exists in Jefferson County,
7, Annual Washington statewide revenue for commercial shellfish harvesting is
approximately $100 million, There are 57 commercial shellfish companies licensed to
harvest shellfish in Jefferson County. Commercial shellfish growing is a multi-million
dollar enterprise in and around Jefferson County, Protecting clean water will help the
county's commercial shellfish businesses survive and thrive,
8, There was $1,679,853 paid in wages by shellfish firms in Jefferson County in 2006. This
accounts for 1.23% of all private-industry wages in Jefferson County, There is an average
of 70 people employed (1,15% of private industry jobs) by shellfish firms, with a seasonal
peak of 88 people employed in July, in 2006. Protecting and fostering this multi-million
dollar enterprise is one of the most important economic development steps the County
Commission can undertake.
9. Nonpoint water pollution sources, including (but not limited to) agricultural surface water
runoff and failing on-site septic systems, threaten the public health and safety of
consuming shellfish harvested within the Discovery Bay, Mats Mats Bay, and the Hood
Canal #3 growing areas.
10, RCW Chapter 90,72, "Shellfish District" directs the County to establish a District within
180 days of such a downgrade and establish a program to address the reason(s) for the
downgrade, Jefferson County has asked for a 90 day extension to the 180 days.
11. Jefferson County is encouraged by the legislature to: "establish shellfish protection
districts and programs designed to prevent any further degradation and contamination and
to allow for restoration and reopening of closed shellfish areas" by Chapter 90.72 RCW,
08~l017-07
Ordinance No. _ re: Creating A Clean Water District
Page: 3
12. As this district is a comprehensive effort to protect a threatened and precious resource,
clean water, it shall be called the Jefferson County Clean Water District,
13, Clean water is essential to the health and well-being of all human beings, including those
who reside in this County and those who visit here.
14. There are 41 public beaches with known recreational shellfish harvest. Over 50,000 visits
were made to Jefferson County's public beaches for harvesting shellfish. There were
242,451 pounds of clams, 195,159 pounds ofgeoducks, and 261,024 oysters recreationally
harvested from Jefferson County beaches in 2006, A continuing supply of clean water
will continue to make this County an attractive tourist destination now and in the future.
15, The Clean Water District directly supports 13 of the 43 (30%) recommendations outlined
in the Draft Detailed Implementation Plan for WRIA#17,
16. The Clean Water District directly supports 17 of 84 (20%) recommendations adopted in
the Watershed Management Plan for WRIA# 16,
Section 03: District Creation and Name:
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby creates the Jefferson County Clean Water District
as authorized in Chapter 90.72 RCW.
Section 04: District Boundaries:
The legal boundaries of the Jefferson County Clean Water District include all lands in eastern Jefferson
County, including the City of Port Townsend, as described by the Hospital District #2 boundary.
Section 05: Assignment of a Lead Entity:
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby directs Jefferson County Public Health to serve as
the lead (in coordination with the Washington State Department of Health, the Washington State
Department of Ecology, the Puget Sound Partnership, the Jefferson County Conservation District, and
other appropriate entities),
Section 06: Adoption of a Nonpoint Pollution Plan Addressing Shellfish Growing Area Downgrade in
Discovery Bay:
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the Discovery Bay Closure Response Plan
which is attached hereto as "Exhibit A" and incorporated by reference.
Section 07: Advisory Board:
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will, through written Resolution, create a local "Advisory
Council" to assist it in implementing the purposes and goals of this Clean Water District. The "Advisory
Council" shall have no less than three or more than nine members, including members of the Port
Townsend City Council, commercial shellfish growers, Jefferson County Board of Health members, and
residents of Jefferson County.
Section 08: Program Evaluation:
The Clean Water District shall be evaluated for effectiveness by the Board on or before December 31 st of
every year the Clean Water District is in effect. Securing sustainable and permanent funding sources for
the Clean Water District will be the primary objective of the evaluation.
08-1017-07
Ordinance No. _ re: Creating A Clean Water District
Page: 4
Section 9: Severability:
If any section of this Ordinance is declared illegal or null and void by any legislative act or decision by a
court of competent jurisdiction, then all other sections of this Ordinance not affected by the legislative or
judicial decision shall remain in full force and effect.
Section,} 0: Effective Date:
This ordinance shall take effect seven (7) days after adoption.
I~~ day of o1f~
,2007.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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Approved as t~X'rm only: Ii) k )1>1
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David Alvarez, Chief CIvil DP A
Austin, M~
Closure Response Plan for Shellfish Growing Area
Downgrade in Discovery Bay
Updated March 26, 2007
Prepared by Jefferson County Public Health
Table of Contents
Purpose................................................................................................................. .3
Background ...........................................................................................................3
Discovery Bay and the Salmon-Snow Watershed ....................................................................................3
History of the Discovery Bay Growing Area............................................................................................ 4
Shellfish Downgrade Requirements........................................................................................................... 4
Efforts to Prevent Water Quality Degradation.........................................................................................4
Closure Response Strategy....................................................................................6
Objective 1. Establish a Coordinated Response....................................................................................... 6
Objective 2. Create Shellfish Protection District and Program.............................................................. 6
Objective 3. Develop Partnerships with Landowners .............................................................................6
Objective 4. Conduct Water-Quality Surveys ...........................................................................................6
Objective 5. Identify and Control Agricultural Sources .......................................................................... 7
Objective 6. Identify and Control On-site Sewage System Sources ...................................................... 7
Objective 7. Identify and Control Any Other Sources ............................................................................8
Objective 8. Continue to Monitor and Protect Water Quality ............................................................... 9
Objective 9. Expand Public Information and Involvement Programs .................................................9
Objective 10. Secure Funding Mechanisms .............................................................................................. 9
2
Purpose
This document presents a coordinated plan for cooperation of all affected parties in responding to
the January 2007 shellfish growing area downgrade in Discovery Bay. It outlines the steps that will
be taken to fulfill the directives of the Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan element SF-7
and RCW 90.72 to ultimately restore the Approved classification of the affected growing area. It
represents an understanding of the work to be done and the roles of various parties in carrying out
that work. While this document sets forth the initial framework of the response plan, it is our
intention that it will be a living document adapted and expanded throughout the course of the
project.
Background
Discovery Bay and the Salmon-Snow Watershed
Discovery Bay is a long, narrow embayment on the northeastern Olympic Peninsula, southwest of
Port Townsend in Jefferson County (Fig. 1) The 8,400 acre bay is approximately eight miles long
north to south, and tapers from two miles wide at its north entrance to one mile wide at the south
end. Cape George, Diamond Point, and Beckett Point frame the entrance from the Strait of Juan de
Fuca, with Protection Island sheltering this passage. Discovery Bay experiences mixed tides with
maximum amplitudes from +9.5ft to -3.5ft, resulting in strong tidal currents along its length. In
addition, the sill at the entrance rises from a depth of 110m to 60m, creating an upwelling of deep
water at this interface.
Salmon and Snow Creeks are the primary freshwater inputs into Discovery Bay. The creeks enter
the south end of Discovery Bay one-quarter mile apart, then flow together along the shallow
northwestern shoreline past marine stations 189 and 48. Numerous stormwater culverts also
discharge into Discovery Bay (DOH 2003), many of which accept flow from small upland streams
as well as roadside drainage ditches. The Salmon-Snow watershed, plus the smaller watersheds
draining into southern Discovery Bay, have been used to define the Closure Response Project Area.
(Fig. 2). We have chosen to limit the project area to those lands within Jefferson County, as the
Clallam County portion of the watershed is undeveloped National Forest and unlikely to be
contributing fecal-coliform pollution.
The Salmon-Snow watershed drains forty-two square miles on the east side of the Olympic
Mountains, with headwaters on the slopes of Mt. Zion. Historically, Snow Creek was a tributary of
Salmon Creek (confluence 0.6 RM upstream of Discovery Bay) but has been dredged and diverted
along the eastern portion of the valley to discharge directly into Discovery Bay. Snow Creek has two
main tributaries, Trapper Creek and Andrews Creek, as well as Crocker Lake. The entire watershed
is classified for Extraordinary Primary Contact Recreation standards by the Washington Department
of Ecology.
Land use in the project area is predominately forestland in the upper watershed, and a mix of
agriculture and rural residential in the lower valleys. The main residential concentrations are along
the shoreline of Discovery Bay. There are also ten acres zoned for commercial activities along U.S.
101 near the mouths of Salmon and Snow Creeks.
History of the Discovery Bay Growina Area
The Discovery Bay Shellfish Growing Area was first approved for commercial shellfish harvest in
the late 1950's. Prior to the 2006 downgrade, the entire bay was classified as Approved except for an
Unclassified portion in the southernmost part of the bay. Nine commercial growers are currently
licensed to operate within Discovery Bay, however there are only four active growers. The
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) monitors marine water quality using systematic
random sampling regime of six times per year at eighteen static GPS'd marine stations throughout
the bay. (Fig. 4) To be approved for commercial shellfish growing under the National Shellfish
Sanitation Program (NSSP) standards, a station must have a fecal coliform geometric mean not
greater than 14 organisms/l00mL, and an estimate of the 90th percentile not greater than 43
organisms / 1 OOmL.
Fecal coliform (FC) bacteria, a subset of coliform bacteria, are found in the feces of all warm-
blooded animals including humans, livestock, other mammals, and birds. Although most FC do not
cause disease, they are commonly used as an indicator of microbial contamination of water. Filter-
feeding shellfish retain FC and other microorganisms, which do not harm the shellfish themselves
but can cause disease in humans who eat the shellfish. Water-borne pathogens can also infect
people by pathways other than shellfish consumption, such as recreational contact with the water.
Shellfish Downarade ReQuirements
On January 24,2007, DOH downgraded 50 acres of the growing area around Station 48 in the
southwest portion of Discovery Bay to "Restricted:"
A Restricted classification is used for areas that do not meet water quality standards for an Approved
classification, but the sanitary survey indicates only a limited degree of pollution from non-human
sources. Shellfish harvested from Restricted growing areas cannot be marketed directly. They must be
"relayed" to Approved growing area waters for a specified amount of time, allowing shellfish to
naturally cleanse themselves of contaminates before they are harvested for market. (DOH website)
This downgrade is the first downgrade or closure in the history of the Discovery Bay Shellfish
Growing Area. There is one active commercial shellfish grower in the downgraded area and another
who has expressed interest in growing in the downgraded area. The Jamestown S'K.lallam Tribe,
Elwha K.lallam Tribe, Port Gamble S'K.lallam Tribe, and other Tribes have shellfish harvesting rights
in this portion of Discovery Bay.
Efforts to Prevent Water Quality Dearadation
Possible sources of pollution in the Discovery Bay area include onsite septic systems, livestock, pets,
and wildlife. The Jefferson County Conservation District aCCD) has water quality monitoring data
for the Salmon and Snow Creek watershed going back to the late 1980s. This data has been used to
focus efforts in agricultural best management practice (EMP) implementation activities.
Jefferson County Conservation Districts projects 1990-2006 in the Salmon-Snow watershed have:
. Installed 10,587' of riparian fencing to keep stock away from streams and ditches
. Constructed 12,715' of stream habitat improvements
. Planted native trees and vegetation in fifty acres of riparian corridor
. Installed one solar water pump to provide off-stream livestock watering
. Acquired 110 acres of livestock farms, removed livestock, and began habitat restoration
4
. Provided public outreach and technical assistance for many more landowner-conducted
improvements.
Washington State University Extension conducts public education involvement programs, such as
Shore Stewards and Water Watchers. These programs have developed a network of area residents
who are interested in and informed about local water-quality needs. WSU Extension also held a
Marine Shoreline Landowner Workshop in Gardiner in June 2005. Using an open-house format and
staffed displays, they and many other agencies (including the Puget Sound Action Team (pSAT),
Jefferson Marine Resources Committee, and North Olympic Salmon Coalition) provided water-
quality and stewardship information to Discovery Bay area residents.
5
Closure Response Strategy
Objective 1. Establish a Coordinated Response
The Washington Department of Health (DOH) convened an initial core response group on
February 1, 2007. Represented were: DOH, Washington Department of Ecology, Puget Sound
Action Team, Jefferson County Public Health, Jefferson County Conservation District, and shellfish
growers. This group, with JCPH acting as the lead agency, will continue to work together to
implement, review, and revise the closure response plan. JCPH will hold quarterly stakeholder
meetings to review past actions and future plans.
Table 1 outlines the actions of the Closure Response Strategy, along with the responsible parties,
timelines, and funding mechanisms.
Objective 2. Create Shellfish Protection District and Proaram
Under RCW 90.72, Jefferson County must establish a shellfish protection district and program to
correct the pollution that led to the downgrade. By July 2007, Jefferson County will draft and adopt
the District, define the boundaries of the District, the tasks to be implemented, and a means for
funding the tasks.
Objective 3. Develop Partnerships with Landowners
JCPH and JCCD both have a history of working with cooperative landowners to develop and
implement water-quality programs. The agencies involved in the closure response project will
continue to solicit voluntary cooperation as the primary means of accessing sampling sites,
evaluating septic systems, and implementing best-management strategies. This effort will be aided
by the availability of funds from a Centennial Clean Water Fund grant (pending legislative approval)
to implement agricultural best-management practices such as fencing and off-site watering, and from
low-interest loans to repair failing or substandard septic systems.
In cases where landowners are unwilling to cooperate and there are known or suspected violations
of public-health regulations, JCPH will work with the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department to
legally access the property.
Objective 4. Conduct Water-Quality Surveys
In December 2006, Jefferson County Public Health began water-quality surveys within the Salmon-
Snow watershed and along the marine shoreline. These surveys are designed to better characterize
the location and timing of fecal-coliform pollution within the Closure Response project area. These
surveys will help target further investigations and corrective actions.
JCPH staff will periodically survey the marine shoreline within the Closure Response project area,
especially following up on rain events. They will walk the shoreline and sample all flows for fecal-
coliform bacteria, and follow up on any results exceeding the Extraordinary Primary Contact
Recreation standard of 50 organisms/100mL. This work will follow the pollution identification and
correction protocols used for the Hood Canal Sanitary Survey project (Appendix A).
6
JCPH has established fourteen sampling stations within the Salmon-Snow watershed, (Fig. 4)
including stations that have been monitored by JCCD since the late 1980's. These stations have
been selected to divide the watershed into meaningful segments and also to bracket suspected
sources of pollution. Temperature measurements and fecal-coliform samples will be collected
biweekly from these stations. The stream sampling will be further augmented by JCCD efforts
through June 2007. All sampling will follow protocols currently being developed and submitted to
Ecology. The data from these studies will be combined with flow measurements from stream
gauges located on Salmon and Snow Creeks.
JCPH will also conduct further studies of Discovery Bay. The only information currently available
comes from DOH's systematic random sampling regime of six times per year at static GPS'd
stations to measure fecal coliform, temperature, and salinity. Future studies will explore the
temporal and spatial dynamics of fecal-coliform pollution within the bay under various tidal and
climatic conditions. These studies will coordinate with stream sampling in the Salmon-Snow
watershed to clarify the links between freshwater sources and their impacts on the shellfish growing
area.
Obiective 5. Identify and Control Aaricultural Sources
Since 1990, the Jefferson County Conservation District has made significant strides in reducing
agricultural sources of pollution. As part of this project, JCCD will continue and expand its work in
the project area. They will follow up on sites where stream sampling or direct observations suggest
agricultural sources of pollution. JCCD staff will consult with landowners to confirm any sources
and develop best-management practices to solve the problem. The CCWF grant will, if approved,
include funding for these consultations plus installation of 2500' of additional livestock fencing and
two more off-stream livestock watering systems.
Obiective 6. Identify and Control On-site Sewaae System Sources
All residential and commercial developments within the Closure Response project area are outside
of sewer utility boundaries, and must use on-site sewage systems (OSS) for treatment and disposal of
wastewater. The main concerns are: untreated (illegal) wastewater discharge; older substandard
septic systems that do not provide adequate treatment; and failing septic systems.
In 2003, DOH conducted a shoreline survey along the twenty-three miles of Discovery Bay marine
shoreline. In January 2007, Jefferson County Public Health began the process of identifying and
evaluating development in the Salmon-Snow watershed and along other creeks and drainages
flowing into Discovery Bay. The first step has been to use existing information sources: toilet
counts per parcel from the Jefferson County Assessor, and OSS permits from JCPH. These
databases have been used to generate GIS maps of the project area showing occupied sites without
OSS permits as well as the age of permitted septic systems (Fig. 3). JCPH staff will use the permit
information to further research existing systems and direct investigative efforts.
Current codes and practices have not resulted in the regular monitoring of all OSS within the
Closure Response project area. As a result, the actual functioning status of many of the OSS is
unknown. Draft ordinances under preparation, scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2007, will require
all OSS within a shellfish protection district to receive a professional Operation and Monitoring
(O&:M) inspection by the end of 2007 and annually thereafter. Preventative maintenance, such as
pumping tanks or replacing baffles, is a standard part of the O&M inspections.
7
While a more comprehensive O&M program is a crucial component of identifying and correcting
septic-related pollution, O&M alone is not sufficient to control all OSS sources of pollution. Not all
system failures produce symptoms that are visible during an O&M inspection. In addition, design
requirements for septic systems have changed radically since permits were first required in 1970, so
older systems do not necessarily meet current treatment standards. These systems may be
functioning properly yet still contributing pollution to ground or surface water - in which case it
meets the definition of a failure in state and county code and must be upgraded. Shoreline and
stream sampling will complement the O&M program by helping to detect OSS sources of pollution
that are not observed during O&M inspections.
JCPH staff will follow up on the shoreline and stream sampling to identify any sewage sources that
may be contributing to fecal-coliform exceedances. Protocols from the Hood Canal Sanitary Survey
project (Appendix A) will be used to identify and correct pollution sources. They will work with
residents to conduct sanitary surveys and dye tests to evaluate the septic systems. Owners of failing
or substandard systems will be directed to low-interest loans in order to repair and upgrade their
systems.
During a sanitary survey, JCPH staff interview the residents about wastewater generation, building
or land-disturbing activities on the property, and other activities that may affect the septic system.
Staff also walk the property with the residents to identify system components, evaluate the general
state of the system area, and educate the residents on the proper use and maintenance of the septic
system. If the situation warrants and the residents are willing, JCPH staff can also introduce a dye
into the system (usually flushed down a toilet) to test for system failure. The dye can be detected in
the environment either visually or by means of charcoal filter bags.
The results of the water-quality surveys will also direct and assist efforts to curb illegal discharges,
such as dwelling units without proper sewage disposal. Jefferson County Code 8.15 requires that all
residences, businesses, etc. dispose of all wastewater in an approved sewer or septic system. This
code provides sufficient regulatory authority to curb known illegal discharges, levying fines or
requiring the property to be vacated. Any illegal discharges found through the closure-response
project will be referred to septic inspectors at JCPH for immediate action.
Obiective 7. Identify and Control Any Other Sources
Known non-point pollution sources in the project area in addition to those addressed above include
stormwater runoff, pet waste, recreational boaters, and wildlife. Runoff may also contribute
indirectly to fecal-coliform pollution by increasing suspended solids and fine sediment, thus
increasing the survival of fecal-coliform bacteria. There is a known boater at long-term liveaboard
anchorage within Discovery Bay; live-aboard anchorage is not legal in this area and has been referred
to the Washington Department of Natural Resources for enforcement.
Southern Discovery Bay is not a major concentration of pinnipeds; the main contributions of
wildlife are expected to be from predators feeding on salmon runs in October. Current data
indicates that fecal-coliform pollution peaks in summer months and is low in October, suggesting
that salmon predators are not driving the downgrade. Migratory shorebirds and waterfowl also visit
the area in large numbers, but again not during the summertime peaks that are driving the
downgrade.
8
These and other sources will be identified through direct observation, information from community
members, or follow-up on stream and shoreline sampling. Corrective actions will be developed in
response to the sources located.
Objective 8. Continue to Monitor and Protect Water Quality
The Closure Response Project is a short-duration project in response to the immediate problems
affecting the growing area. In order to maintain water quality in Discovery Bay, it is essential that
monitoring and protection efforts continue long after this project is concluded and the growing area
restored to an Approved status. To help achieve these goals:
. DOH will continue marine water-quality monitoring
. JCCD will continue freshwater monitoring every other water year at four stations in the
Salmon-Snow watershed
. JCPH will increase and continue its efforts in septic operations and maintenance, both in
regulatory and educational capacities
. JCCD will continue to provide technical assistance to agricultural landowners
. WSU will continue its educational programs
Objective 9. Expand Public Information and Involvement Proarams
JCPH and WSU will collaborate on existing programs (e.g. Shore Stewards, Water Watchers) with
public outreach specific to the needs and actions of the closure response project. JCPH will hold
meetings and publish a quarterly newsletter to discuss project activities, best-management practices,
water-conservation tips, and other key issues. JCPH will also hold educational workshops to
educate homeowners on the use and maintenance of their septic systems. Through these programs,
area residents will become familiar with, and hopefully supportive of, the closure-response effort.
This is an important step in securing landowner cooperation to carry out project objectives.
Objective 10. Secure Fundina Mechanisms
JCPH is required to secure funding mechanisms to support the closure response activities. Property
owners in the shellfish protection district around southern Discovery Bay will not be taxed
specifically. Jefferson County is exploring the options of adopting a county-wide Clean Water
District that will tax unincorporated areas to support a range of clean water programs including, but
not limited to, this project.
Additional funds are already in place or proposed to further support the specific activities of this
closure response. JCPH has received funds from the Jefferson County general fund to begin
shoreline surveys, conduct water quality sampling and create a closure response plan. In addition,
Jefferson County Public Health has applied for a Centennial Clean Water Fund Grant to carry out
closure response activities. JCCD has received funding from Ecology, through the watershed
planning process, to carry out water sampling and implement agricultural BMP's through June 30,
2007.
9
Table 1:
Discovery Bay Shellfish Closure Response Strategy
Action Items
Objectives and Tasks Lead Timeline Fund Source Product/ Outcome Status
Agency/Partners
Objective 1: Establish a Coordinated Response
Develop shellfish closure jCPH, all partners jan-March General fund Final closure response plan, Revised draft 3.20.07
response plan 2007 updated as needed
Regular meetings of jCPH, all partners Quarterly General fund Coordination of Closure Initial meeting 2/1/07
coordinating group. response strategy, updates on
action items
Grant reporting jCPH,jCCD Quarterly CCWF updates on action items to
Ecology & DOH
Objective 2:Create Shellfish Protection District and Program
Adopt ordinance creating the jCPH by July 2007 General fund Discovery Bay Shellfish
Discovery Bay Shellfish Protection District
Protection District
Objective 3: Develop Partnerships with Landowners
jCPH and JCCD will continue to develop partnerships in all their aaivities. No specific action items are associated with this objective.
Objective 4: Conduct Water-Quality Surveys
Marine sampling DOH, jCPH On-going DOH, CCWF Systematic random sampling of On-going
stations; add'l studies
Shoreline sampling jCPH On-going General revenues, CCWF Pollution identification Started jan 2007
Salmon-Snow stream sampling jCPH,jCCD On-going General fund, CCWF, Pollution identification On-goingjCCD efforts augmented
Ecology grant by jCPH starting Dee. 2006
Objective 5: Identify and Control Agricultural Sources
Best Management Practices jCCD On-going CCWF; Ecology grant Fencing, off-site watering, waste
(EMP) for farmers management
Objective 6: Identify and Control On-Site Sewage System Sources
Parcel Research jCPH Feb-March General fund GIS and permit research on OSS underway
2007 ill are a
Sanitary Surveys - Marine JCPH On-going General fund, CCWF Sanitary Surveys of Discovery
shoreline Bay shoreline residences
Sanitary Surveys - Upland JCPH On-going General fund, CCWF Sanitary Surveys of streamside
residences
O&M notification JCPH July 2007 OSS program Contact Shellfish Protection
District residents about new
O&M requirements
O&M follow-up JCPH January 2008 OSS program Ensure all residences have
received O&M inspection
Objective 7: Identify and Control Any Other Sources
No speciflc action items are cumntfy associated with this objective. They mqy be added as needed.
Objective 8: Continue to Monitor Water Quality
Objective 9: Expand Public Information and Involvement Programs
Shore Stewards Education WSU Extension, JCPH On-going WSU, General Fund Inform, involve, and increase
Shore Stewards in project area
Project Public Meetings JCPH,JCCD Pending CCWF Two introductory, two mid-
project, two end-project
Informational products JCPH Pending CCWF Website, semi-annual newsletter,
brochures
Septic Workshops JCPH Pending CCWF Educational workshops on care
& feeding of septic systems
Objective 10: Secure Funding Mechanisms
Jefferson County General Fund JCPH On-going Jefferson County Obtained
Centennial Clean Water Fund JCPH Through June Ecology Application submitted and reviewed;
(CCWF) 2010 pending legislative funding
Watershed planning grant JCCD Through June Ecology Obtained
2007
JCPH = Jefferson County Public Health
JCCD = Jefferson County Conservation District
DOH = Washington Department of Health
Ecology = Washington Department of Ecology
CCWF = Centennial Clean Water Fund
11
Figure 1. Overview
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Appendix A: Sanitary Survey protocols
excerpted and modified from
Jefferson County Hood Canal Sanitary Survry
Quality Assurance Project Plan
February 2006
1. INTRODUCTION
This quality assurance plan describes quality assurance procedures for the Jefferson County Hood
Canal Sanitary Survey Project. Refer to the Manual of Protocol: Sanitary Survey Projects 2005 for
details on the procedures and background of the project. The focus of this project is on
identification and correction of sources of human pollution discharging to the shoreline of
Discovery Bay from onsite sewage systems (OSS). Data collected for this project will be used to
assist shoreline property owners in optimizing the function of their onsite sewage systems and
correcting failing systems. The plan includes the following elements:
1. Introduction
2. Project description
3. Project organization and responsibilities
4. Project schedule
5. Field sampling design
6. Field sampling methods
7. Analytical procedures
8. Quality control objectives and procedures
9. Data management
10. Quality assurance report
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this project is to protect Discovery Bay from human pollution sources.
. We will educate shoreline residents to optimize the function of their onsite sewage systems.
This will occur through community workshops, personal contact during sanitary surveys and
during field work or other public contact.
. We will identify failing systems by sampling shoreline freshwater sources and performing dye
tests on suspect systems.
. We will perform sanitary surveys on shoreline properties within the project area to assess
onsite systems' characteristics and performance and to educate residents about proper
operation and maintenance.
5. FIELD SAMPLING DESIGN
Shoreline Evaluation Sampling
The purpose of the shoreline evaluation sampling is to identify sources of fecal coliform in
freshwater discharges from the shoreline onto the beach in order to begin investigating possible
sources of human fecal pollution from beachfront Onsite Sewage Systems. The survey area for
shoreline sampling is the shoreline of southern Discovery Bay, focusing on the north/west shore of
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the bay between the mouth of Salmon Creek and Station 47. All the beaches will be accessed as long
as it is safely possible and samples shall be taken from streams, drainages, pipes and seeps. The areas
will be organized considering accessibility for tides and daylight, wet season/ dry season and priority
based on higher density of population. Uninhabited areas will be surveyed in the lowest priority.
Tides must be low enough for the drainages to be above the tide line and for the staff to have safe
access to the beach. Sample stations will be located at each drainage and will be sampled repeatedly
during the project period.
All sampled discharges with fecal coliform (FC) results exceeding 200 EC/l00 ml shall be tentatively
identified as "hot spots" in need of confirmation sampling. All "hot spots" shall be re-sampled for
verification of FC as soon as possible. Staff will prioritize "hot spots" for investigation by
calculating the geometric mean value (GMV) of the initial and confirmation sample. They will be
ranked in priority order according to the following table.
Indicator Organism High Priority Medium Priority Low Priority
Fecal coliform >500 FC/l00ml 101 to 499 <100 FC/l00ml
FC/l00ml
6. FIELD SAMPLING METHODS
Field Procedures
. Samples shall be obtained from all discharges for FC in 120 ml clear bottles.
. After every 10 samples, a duplicate sample for the site shall be obtained and labeled as
duplicate, for example DB10-dup.
. Samples shall be numbered consecutively throughout the shoreline sampling project.
. Field notes shall be recorded at the time of sampling and will include project name, sampler
name, date, time, GPS location and other pertinent observations as noted in the Manual of
Protocol under section 4.1.3, paragraph 10.
. Field notes shall be made in a waterproof field notebook and entered into the database upon
return to the office.
. Fill out the label for each sample bottle with an indelible marker noting date, client (us),
sample ID (DB with number of sample), analysis, sampler, sample location.
. Sample bottles shall be uncapped and capped with care to prevent contamination.
. Samples shall be delivered overnight to Edge Analytical of Bellingham.
Sampling Safety Issues
It is important for staff to use proper procedures to avoid accidental exposure to possible
pathogens. Samplers will wear disposable latex gloves when collecting samples, and wash and
sanitize their hands as soon as possible after the samples are collected.
Sample Handling and Custody Requirements
The following procedures will be used to assure samples are properly stored, shipped, and analyzed:
. Samples will only be collected by staff trained in the collection and handling of sample
materials.
. Samples will be stored upright in tightly sealed bottles that have been provided by the
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analytical laboratory.
. Samples will be stored on ice in a cooler kept at or below 40 C from collection until receipt
by the analytical laboratory..
. Samples will be shipped overnight to the analytical lab.
. A chain of custody record will be completed for the samples and included with the delivery
to the laboratory.
. Testing shall occur on samples within 30 hours from time of sampling.
7. ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES
Fecal coliform samples shall be tested using Most Probable Number (MPN) enumeration in order to
correspond to the DOH testing protocols within Discovery Bay.
Laboratory analytical procedures will follow U.S. EP A approved methods. The laboratories chosen
for this project will be certified by the W A Department of Ecology. The laboratories will report the
analytical results within 30 days of receipt of the samples. Sample and quality control data will be
reported in a standard format. The reports will also include a case narrative summarizing any
problems encountered in the analyses.
8. QUALITY CONTROL OBJECTIVES AND PROCEDURES
The objective of our quality control program is to assure that data from this project are scientifically
defensible. This objective will be attained through an understanding of the issues regarding quality
control and attaining data precision, accuracy, completeness, and comparability.
Quality control procedures that will be utilized can be categorized as procedures used during
preparation, sampling, laboratory analysis, and data management that will help ensure that the data
being collected for the project meet appropriate standards. Data management is detailed below in
Section 8.
Preparation
Sample containers will be stored indoors in a clean, dry area in their shipping container until needed.
The container will be carefully handled at all times to avoid damage and contamination. Sample
bottles will remain sealed until immediately before they are used, and any sample containers which
have been opened or whose seals are damaged will not be used.
Personnel that will be taking samples will be appropriately trained for data collection procedures to
be employed during the study. Training may include completing a "dry run" prior to collection of
actual samples.
Sampling
One field duplicate will be collected every ten samples. This rate of duplication allows for analysis of
sample accuracy and precision that is detailed in Section 10, QUALITY ASSURANCE REPORT.
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