HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources April 18 20001
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
April 18, 2000
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Committee Chair Dan
McShane in the Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Also Present:
L. Ward Nelson
Connie Hoag
Absent:
None
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL
2. DISCUSSION AND REQUEST FOR DIRECTION REGARDING THE
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT (AB2000 -132)
McShane stated this item was withdrawn.
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAYTON HARBOR WATER QUALITY DATA
(AB2000 -130)
Chris Woodward, Shellfish Protection District Project Manager, stated the last
update was on September 23, 1999. Grant Stuart, City of Blaine Public Works
Director, has joined the meeting. Blaine has been doing a lot of work. She
thanked the committee for its support and for their budget. This progress report
moves in a positive direction. With the help of the advisory committee, they've
been putting in many hours. The current budget for this year is in negotiation.
Hopefully they will be able to follow through with their activities. They are
negotiating with the water team to the end of December instead of September.
Hoag stated she was impressed with the amount of work they do and with
how this is finally coming together.
Woodward presented the executive summary. The best part of what has
happened is that they've received more cooperation from the agencies. The Puget
Sound Restoration Fund is spearheading the video camera project. They are
meeting with the state Department of Ecology (DOE) to discuss their role in
Drayton Harbor with Geoff Menzies and Jan Hanson. They were clear on what they
are going to do regarding the permits and water quality issues. They have worked
with Boundary Bay and Georgia Basin Ecological Initiative Work Group out of
Canada. They are working on a cooperative effort in Boundary Bay and Semiahmoo
Bay to discuss similar shellfish restoration efforts on both sides of the border. The
Whatcom County Health Department, with the exception of one or two units, has
completed upgrade of the onsite sewer system (OSS) in Drayton Harbor and the
immediate drainage area. The City of Blaine has made numerous improvements.
The video project she presented last September is going to happen May 1. They
accepted one bid for proposal. It is financed from the $9,000 from DOE, which was
Natural Resources Committee, 4/18/2000, Page 1
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received from a fine against the City of Blaine. In addition, the City of Blaine put
forth $5,000. The project is in the 15 -inch cement line running along Drayton
Harbor. It is part of the active collection system. It will be video taped because it
is a big issue with the consistent pollution of the marina. They will have a written
report and will present their priorities of what to do to get things fixed, depending
on what they will find.
Nelson asked if the data is premature, given the efforts toward retrofitting
and onsite sewage repair. He questioned whether they should expect better data
given the extra fixes that have been done.
Hoag stated the OSS was done some time ago and should be reflected in the
data they are looking at.
Nelson stated he didn't see much change, and they didn't anticipate the OSS
fix having much of an impact. He questioned what they are doing to promote
changes in the data. Woodward stated they are taking steps to find source
pollution beyond the OSS. Because the OSS was listed as a potential pollution
source in the DOE sanitary survey, they are taking care of the things that are
potentially causing pollution. They have done the OSS work. The marina shows
consistently high levels, the DOE is saying there is a consistent source of pollution
going on. In order to deal with that issue, they looked at the marina area and
concluded that they need to list the things to look at. The cement line came up as
a possible potential pollution source that could be leaking on a constant basis.
Hoag stated the videotape is not an educational videotape. The video
camera goes into the line and records a videotape of the inside of the line so they
can determine where there might be holes or cracks.
Nelson stated the data would be hard to pinpoint the high points in the creek.
Woodward stated pollution used to occur in Drayton Harbor on an ebb tide, which
meant more pollution was coming in through California Creek and Dakota Creek. In
the recent past, the pollution has been coming in on a flood tide, which means it is
coming in. They began looking at marina data, which is a constant source. There
is a bigger Phase II video project that will be the mainline.
Woodward continued to state that there is a water quality database and
monitoring plan for Drayton Harbor. There is a report card to provide a snapshot of
water quality collected by the state Department of Health. They have a website
that is developed. They would like to refine it this year. The advisory committee
has recommended making it more user - friendly. Work is progressing with the
Boundary Bay and Georgia Basin Initiative Work Group. A cross - boundary
workshop is developing out of the meetings in Canada. They've tentatively called it
"Shared Waters: A Cooperative Approach to Restoration of Shellfish Growing
Areas." It is a series of workshops, all related to shellfish, regarding Drayton
Harbor, Boundary Bay, and Semiahmoo Bay. The first work shop is going to be
only on water quality data, and is slated for the middle of September. Canada will
provide the facilitator. They are asking for help and for the County to participate
Natural Resources Committee, 4/18/2000, Page 2
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physically and monetarily. This is a good opportunity to deal with cross - boundary
issues with Canada. They've been very good to work with. The workshop will
provide education for the councilmembers to be aware of what is going on between
Canada and Drayton Harbor.
The agencies are showing changes in attitude, responsibility, and
commitment. That is how it should be.
Nelson asked about the end date. Woodward stated her contract ends
September 30, but has been asked to continue to the end of December. She
couldn't say when the beds would be opened.
Nelson asked if there has been any modeling done. Woodward stated they
couldn't do that until the problems are cleaned up.
McShane stated they have worked on identifying the sources.
Nelson asked about the grants they are going for. Woodward stated Blaine
and DOE provided for the camera money.
Nelson asked if they put in for any grants. Woodward stated the City of
Blaine has.
Grant Stewart, City of Blaine Public Works Director, stated the City of Blaine
embraces the fecal coliform challenge in Drayton Harbor. The City of Blaine has
non -point source contributions and point source contributions. Regarding the non -
point source contributions, the primary progress is in the new stormwater utility
fee. They bill $4 per month per residential unit and $200 for each new connection.
They are generating revenue. The focus of the program addresses the non -point
source pollution. They are going to step up the frequency of catch basin cleaning,
street sweeping, and will create a pet waste ordinance. They are going to take the
recommendations by the state to go after that waste in the collection system before
it gets flushed out into Drayton Harbor. There is a large body of evidence that says
stormwater has a high fecal coliform amount. Modest efforts can make a huge
impact. They have funds to do a lot more. They will begin with a modest level of
staffing. They will outsource the initial cleaning efforts. They will eventually
increase staff to do that over a few years. Capital improvements include $400,000
to create a higher level of stormwater collection to homes that are connected to
sanitary sewer instead of storm sewer. The utility will also help the point source
problems. There are many challenges to address. They've lost the treatment plant
site and are searching for short -term and long -term replacement of sites.
He stated he would discuss what they are doing in the near term to address
overflows, because that has been the obvious release of fecal coliform into Drayton
Harbor. They've had four overflows in 18 months. They made improvements in
the collection system to eliminate the source of high stormwater that comes into
the system and causes the overflow. They characterize which part of town collects
the highest flow. They are developing better identification tools, such as a flow
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model that will allow them to anticipate priority projects and demonstrate cost -
benefit. They will use a model to understand how much storage is needed to avoid
spills. The rainfall that has caused overflows is not from typical storms used to
design a stormwater system. The problem is more the small frequent storms.
Working with DOE is challenging to deal with that scenario. They found a person in
Blaine that has been collecting hourly rainfall data for 50 years. They will be able
to go back and use the entire information to model the worst year and to make
sure they have enough storage to handle the worst year. It isn't a typical
engineering approach, but it is more truthful.
McShane questioned the rainfall amounts. Stuart stated it is variable, up to
50 inches.
Stuart stated that for the near -term, they converted a big tank where the
primary lift station is located. They hooked up an old sewer treatment plant tank to
the pump station so they can divert flow. It gave them 60,000 gallons of storage.
They had another spill after linking it. It overwhelmed that storage volume. They
still had 250,000 gallons of overflow. They have on order four 50,000 - gallon pillow
tanks that will be rolled out into the parking lot when it begins to rain, and they will
connect them with hoses. They will have 200,000 gallons in the tanks and the
60,000- gallon tank. They will then be able to contain the largest overflow event
they've ever measured with any detail. It doesn't say they have enough storage to
prevent any overflow, but they are better off than they have been.
Hoag questioned whether the 250,000 - gallon overflow is big overflow in
terms of what they've been experiencing. Stuart stated they could have a bigger
storm. They had four small storms in the six -month return frequency range. These
aren't ten or five year storms. They can expect one every six months. If there are
three 25 -year storms in a row, they could be in trouble. They are trying to use the
data from the three storms they measured this year with a regression analysis to
project flow and storage needed for those big events. The typical approach is a
single -event analysis. DOE is interested in multiple event analysis. That is where
they are headed.
Hoag asked if this is a temporary stopgap measure. Stuart stated that is
correct. He has to complete a facility plan for pump station improvements and
develop a funding package. The project could cost $500,000 for a simple upgrade
to $2.5 million for a more advanced system. It is in the design stage. It could be
three to five years before they have a permanent solution. The bladder tanks will
be hooked up with an emergency response plan. They will have to roll them out
ten times for every one time they are actually needed.
Nelson asked who decided to choose the bladder tanks. Stuart stated they
evaluated barge storage, inflatable storage, and rental rigid tilt -up tanks. These
are all temporary features that could do without full State Environmental Protection
Act (SEPA) analysis.
Natural Resources Committee, 4/18/2000, Page 4
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Nelson questioned whether they are looking at preparation for a stormwater
storage area. Stuart stated this is raw wastewater.
McShane stated it is a mix of sewage and stormwater.
Nelson questioned whether this is a temporary or permanent fix. Stuart
stated it is temporary. The plan for the permanent fix is being developed.
Nelson asked who is making the decision in the planning process. Stuart
stated the City of Blaine is involved in a tort claim with the Lummi Nation for a $40
million tort claim against the City for creating this disaster at the end of the spit,
where they encountered all the cultural remains. The lift station fix is an integral
part of how they respond to that tort claim. There is a strong interest by the City
Council to move Blaine toward a regional consolidation of wastewater treatment
and collection with the Birch Bay Water and Sewer District. The lift station that
gets overwhelmed by high flow presently discharges through a force main under
Drayton Harbor, along the spit, to the treatment plant. If they re -plumb the entire
city, there is a different design consideration. They have to approach it carefully so
they don't throw money at the wrong solution. They have to live with the
temporary measures.
Nelson questioned the life expectancy of the temporary measures. Stuart
stated they would work for ten years if they were cared for carefully. He wants to
use them for only three to four years.
McShane asked if he anticipated the volume dropping off as the stormwater
utility kicks in and as they remove stormwater sources. Stuart stated he first
believed that there were many stormwater connections to the system. He found 49
structures with roof or area drains in to the system. They've gotten rid of 40, but
they don't see much difference.
McShane questioned whether some of that is infiltration of shallow
groundwater. Stuart stated that in the main older part of town, the ratio of peak
flow to wet weather base flow during the December 15 storm event was 17. There
was seventeen times more flow from that one neighborhood. They are not talking
about pipes that are falling apart. They are talking about direct influence of surface
water. The flow ramps up within an hour and drops off within three or four hours
afterwards
Nelson asked how much fecal coliform was picked up in December compared
to the first storms of the years. Stuart stated for the total fecal amount, activity
during dry weather collects material that flows during early storms. That is well
documented. The fecal count for a sewage overflow wouldn't follow that same
path.
Nelson questioned whether the concern was the peaks during December that
impact the sewage system. Stuart stated that is correct. It doesn't involve surface
runoff. It is directly influenced by it, but that isn't where the fecal comes from. It
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is tricky stuff. To find all the sources at every home is difficult. A special camera
can go down a roof vent and see where the yard drains might be connected. He
was most worried about a french drain that doesn't allow for any connection to the
surface. Many homes are built on swampy clay soils. There are many linkages to
the system, and the only way to find them is with a camera.
Hoag stated Mr. Goff keeps talking about one spot he thinks the stormwater
is tying into the sewage lines. She asked if that has been checked out thoroughly.
Stuart stated historically the sewer system was constructed with outfalls into Cain
Creek. It was initially constructed as a combined system. There are two or three
outfalls directly to Cain Creek. He also has engineering reports that show they
were plugged. There are overflow linkages from the sanitary sewer into the storm
sewer. He has engineering reports that identified the repairs that were made.
Hoag asked that Mr. Stuart double check with Mr. Goff to make sure it has
been fixed. Stuart stated the last of the overflow connections were removed in
1997. When it was plugged, they started to see the lift station become
overwhelmed. Prior to that, no one tried to record that overflow at the mouth of
Cain Creek. There is data that shows Cain Creek fecal as not being high, not
consistent with it having a direct connection.
Hoag asked Mr. Stuart to talk with Mr. Goff about his concerns. It wouldn't
be that difficult to resolve the problem.
Stuart stated his crew people were there and witnessed the construction.
They are confident it is plugged. He can send them back out to look at it. Rumors
rattle around in a small town about how it used to be. There is no link to the
current facts. Mr. Goff was also concerned about the old lift station number two.
They checked it out and made some improvements there.
Stuart continued to state that the City is in a dilemma. It is certain it will
find a way out of the site movement. Some of the work related to spill response
comes with that. it is awkwardly linked. It may seem like there are some awkward
improvements to provide interim near -term fixes, but they are all they can do right
now to leverage the limited dollars they have available for the project.
Woodward stated Michael Cochrane was present and could discuss the
information in Cain Creek.
Julie Hirsch, Data Management Consultant, discussed page 42 of the report.
This is the data management progress report. One of her tasks was to formulate
and convene a data management work group, which they've done. It consists of
the agencies that collect water quality data in addition to a member of the citizen's
advisory committee. This committee provides input for the coordinated water
quality- monitoring framework and its implementation. Also, one of the goals was
to coordinate better sampling among the different agencies. Some of those
accomplishments included getting the DOE ambient marine monitoring program to
maintain monitoring of Drayton Harbor. They did it one year, in 1997, and were
Natural Resources Committee, 4/18/2000, Page 6
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not going to continue. The committee was able to get them to continue at least
through 2000. It is important for them to keep Drayton Harbor on the radar for the
Puget Sound Cooperative Monitoring and for DOE's marine program. There were
coordination issues between the Port of Bellingham and the Department of Health
(DOH). They've gone a long way toward resolving that. They've coordinated
sampling sites and the DOH has taken people from the Port out to the sites. There
is more confidence there. In addition, the DOH has been reviewing their methods
in order to ensure that everyone has confidence in the data being produced.
The second task was to develop a coordinated monitoring plan that
incorporates existing work plans. That plan is included in the packet of information
provided (one file). The table of contents is on the next page. It provides a good
idea of what is in it. The project objectives were taken from the initial
implementation strategy. Input was provided from the data management group.
She tried to get down the minimum quality assurance and quality control baseline
procedures and the methods and recommendations for submitting data to a
centralized database. The next goal is to have a centralized database.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side A.)
Hirsch continued to state that the next task was to develop a database for
management of existing and future water quality monitoring data. Page 44 of the
report shows that the database was submitted to the County Health Department at
the beginning of the month. There is an outline of the database and the type of
information that is included. It includes water quality data for information on each
station, Geographic Information System (GIS) coordinates, and data on each
agency. The purpose was to provide a central database for sharing and to handle
future data. She hopes to share the database with related projects, such as the
Watershed Resource Inventory Area (WRIA). They would like to make this
available on the website. It will have to be maintained. In order for the data to be
maintained, it will require ongoing maintenance. The Water Team will look at how
the County will handle the shellfish districts in the future.
Nelson questioned the estimated cost. Hirsch stated part of the cost is in
making sure they get the data from the agencies, which seems minor, but they
have to continually put out reminders and have to reformat the data and enter it.
It would cost $10,000 to $15,000 per year, depending on who is doing the work. It
would take approximately ten hours per month for both shellfish districts.
Nelson questioned whether there is any effort to coordinate data for shellfish
districts and also for instream flows.
Chris Chesson, Environmental Health Supervisor, stated not to his
knowledge.
Hirsch stated Claire Fogelsong from the City of Bellingham is attempting to
coordinate efforts. She has sent him some of her material. She was not sure how
far it has gotten.
Natural Resources Committee, 4/18/2000, Page 7
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McShane questioned who is in charge of doing the website. Hirsch stated
they send updates to Cooperative Extension.
McShane asked if they could tie into the WRIA website. Hirsch stated they
provide a link to the WRIA site. At this point, there hasn't been an effort to
coordinate databases because WRIA hasn't established a database. She wanted to
provide them with her effort so they can use it.
Hirsch continued to state that they would like to establish a memorandum of
agreement (MOA) among participating agencies to follow recommendations in the
water quality framework. This would make a commitment to submit data and
follow minimum quality and assurance standards into the future.
Nelson questioned who pays for her contract. Hirsch stated it is paid for by
the Clean Water Centennial Grant from the DOE, through the Conservation District
and the County Health Department. In addition, the Health Department provided
some funds.
Chesson stated the original funding came through the Centennial Grant that
included the Northwest Indian College, the Conservation District, and the County
Health Department. There are some matching funds.
Nelson asked for a copy of the contract.
Hirsch discussed the report cards that represent the DOH data collection.
The DOE produces a sanitary survey once every three years. The committee has
requested interim updates so it could have a better idea of the water quality status
at the shellfish beds. If the DOH samples monthly, which is normal for an approved
area, they need 30 samples in a cycle. They use 30 samples to calculate their
statistics for standards, which are the geometric mean and the 90th percentile. If
they the rack up bad numbers, then they have to wait longer for the numbers to
drop off. Right now, the DOH reduced their sampling to once every other month.
Since they've seen no physical improvements, they had no reason to think there
would be any changes. As they accumulate bad numbers, it would take longer to
open the shellfish beds. If they go through the video inspection and there are
improvements, then once the DOH has reason to think there have been
improvements in water quality, then they can ask that the DOH sampling be
increased to a monthly basis. It would take up to two years to generate a new data
set.
Nelson stated that a few years ago the DOH could only site one place that
was taken off the listing. Hirsch stated there have also been some sites that have
been upgraded, and downgraded again. They have to be vigilant, even when they
achieve the upgrade. Right now, they look at the estimated 90th percentile. Two
sites exceed the geometric mean, which means they are in pretty bad condition.
Station eight has the highest numbers. It gets gradually lower at stations six, then
station four. It is possible that station eight is influenced by a marina source.
Natural Resources Committee, 4/18/2000, Page 8
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Hoag stated they'd asked that the Port set up an additional monitoring site
outside the Harbor. Hirsch stated they did. The Port's consultant is to do a data
analysis. It was to have been ready in March or April. She has the raw data from
the Port for site P. The numbers range from one to 77. It looks like the high was a
fairly isolated incident.
Hoag asked if they are associating it with ebb tides or flood tides. Hirsch
stated she didn't know at this point.
Hoag stated they asked for the monitoring site to determine if there is
contamination from outside sources. Hirsch stated the Port has that information.
She will conduct a data analysis of that data.
Hirsch continued to state that, they don't know the influences in stations
twelve, five, and three. They were most recently closed in September of 1999.
They were failing prior to the closure, and now they are threatened.
Hoag asked the difference between threatened and failing. Hirsch stated
threatened is above 30 and failing is above 43. Site five has been the best site in
the harbor. It is currently okay. It is not open because the sites around it are
closed.
Hoag questioned how the DOH could reopen each portion or whether they
wait until the entire harbor is cleaned up. Hirsch stated she didn't know. It is
probably site specific and case specific. They look to see what improvements have
been made and what the numbers are doing, based on a sanitary survey.
Hirsch continued to state that the ambient monitoring is a snapshot of where
they are at now. The restoration monitoring is specifically on samples within the
marina. The DOH coordinated its sampling with the Port of Bellingham, as noted by
"POB." These stations, with the water quality standard of 43, are severely
contaminated.
Hoag questioned why it is so much more different than ambient monitoring.
Hirsch stated the ambient monitoring is in open water. The restoration numbers
are specifically within the Blaine Marina. The numbers appear to decrease because
the December samples were taken during the December 15 overflow. The sites
have decreased to the pre - overflow levels.
Nelson asked if they need a standard of 43 for the 90th percentile for 30
monitoring dates. Hirsch stated it needs to be below 43. The marina sites don't
have to be below 43 because they are not shellfish growing sites.
Nelson stated those sites do contribute to the shellfish beds' pollution.
Hoag asked about the calculation for the 90th percentile. Hirsch stated that
there is an equation. The important part is that the Federal Drug Administration
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(FDA) is unique because it uses a standard deviation and factors it into the 90th
percentile, which is very tough to achieve.
Hoag asked about the standard deviation. Hirsch stated they look at the
variability as well as the actual number. If there is a potential for the numbers to
go high, they will get a conservative 90th percentile, which would be multiplied by
.1.
McShane stated they need to have control of fecal coliform numbers all year
in order to have a hope of meeting the standards. Hirsch stated they need to
continue monitoring after the goals have been achieved.
Nelson asked how they arrived at the number of 43. Hirsch stated the
number 43 is an FDA - derived number. She is unsure how that number came up.
Michael Cochrane, Northwest Indian College (NWIC), stated the rationale
behind the number 43 is that, at that level, there is a possibility of having enteric
viruses that are dangerous to human health. It is an indicator standard. Fecal
coliform at that level is not a human health standard, but if there is fecal coliform at
that level, then it is possible or probable to have harmful enteric viruses at that
level. It started in 1920 on the East Coast with oysters that were infected with
hepatitis and typhoid from sewer treatment plants. They were looking for an in
expensive indicator on whether water quality was good enough for human contact.
The man who developed the data upon which the theory is based didn't want it to
be used as a regulatory function at that time because he didn't have a clear
connection between enteric viruses and fecal coliform, but it has been carried on in
the regulation since then.
Nelson asked if other areas have successfully achieved 43 or below.
Cochrane stated there are.
Cochrane stated the sampling they do happens three times a month in the
Cain Creek overflow lift station number five and in California and Dakota creeks as
an ongoing monitoring to track how fecal coliform is doing. The primary results
from winter quarter sampling are that the Cain Creek, Cain Creek outfall, and
station five are doing better than the autumn. In Dakota and California creeks, the
numbers went up a bit, but not radically. They are staying about the same as they
have historically. There is a lot of variability in the sample stations. What causes
that variability is usually beyond the sampling program. They are doing ambient
monitoring, not particular source identification. The California Creek numbers are
lower, but they are averages of between 70 and 8,000. It is very variable
depending on environmental conditions. At Cain Creek and the Cain Creek outfall,
he is sampling at the tide line. Many times, there is tidal influence and there is
dilution from the Semiahmoo Bay water. They can't tell which is creek water and
which is Semiahmoo Bay water. If there is a high count in the creek, it comes out
at a rate of about one cubic foot per second in the Cain Creek outfall and in Cain
Creek. In Semiahmoo Bay, it is diluted rather quickly so the impact in Drayton
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Harbor is not significant because it has to get through 4,000 feet of Semiahmoo
Bay to get through.
Nelson asked how far up the creek the tide influences. Cochrane stated one
foot.
Nelson asked if he monitors up the creeks. Cochrane stated not up Cain
Creek. He monitors up Dakota Creek and California Creeks. Those results vary a
lot. For the most part, they are not as wide - ranging as Cain Creek. On particular
days of high rainfall, he can track high counts down California Creek.
Nelson asked if all three stations in Cain Creek are influenced by the tide.
Cochrane stated station C3 is not. That is the same with Dakota Creek. Site D1 is
the only one influenced by tide.
Nelson questioned whether the tides in the Drayton Harbor area are able to
take the fecal coliform out and then back in again. Cochrane stated residence time
of fecal coliform is not known. The DOH, when it first started sampling the bay,
was picking up high counts on ebb tides, which indicates an influence from
California and Dakota Creek moving out across the shellfish beds. That turned
around about ten years ago. They started picking up high counts on flood tides
almost exclusively. The creeks have a minor contributing level. The historical
levels of California and Dakota creeks are about the same.
Hoag stated they are quite small. Cochrane stated they are quite small,
especially considering how far it is to the shellfish beds. The dilution factor of a
large body of water is immense. That dilution factor becomes important when
considering the effect of the high counts inside the marina in largely diluted bodies
of water. Inside the marina, there is more than one cubic foot per second. For
those kinds of high counts, there is a lot of loading. When it moves into the harbor,
the station nearest to the marina goes high.
McShane questioned Mr. Cochrane's level of confidence that they would
attain, based on what is in the creeks now, if they make the harbor pure.
Cochrane stated they could maintain harvestable numbers quite easily. The big
problem has been finding the major source. It looks like it is the marina. He would
keep an eye on lift station five because the DOH was concerned about it.
Historically, there were high counts coming out of it when they started separating
out of the sewer system and the work done by Blaine. When they started in the
winter of 1999, they had low counts. The counts went up some in the spring. They
stopped testing in the summer and fall because it seemed to be a waste of time.
The are testing again now. It looks like there has been some affect in separating
out factors, such as lift station five. Variability is natural. It makes sampling
problematic. It is difficult to put much weight on those numbers. They need lots of
samples to put weight on them.
Woodward stated objective six is to control agriculture sources. Work is
being done by the Conservation District, County Planning Department, DOE, and
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Conservation District is doing much to
assist the dairies and hobby farms in the area to keep animals out of the streams.
Eleven dairies are compliant with 6161 and are getting their conservation plans in
place. That is good news. A lot of money is being put toward resource
management plans for hobby farms and dairy farms in the area. Previous survey
work of OSS revealed a 21 percent failure rate. Of the failures they found, 51 of
the 53 have been fixed. Operation and maintenance is going on in Drayton Harbor.
The advisory committee meets monthly. They formalized by -laws. Things are
going well.
Geoff Menzies, Advisory Committee Chair, stated the project report is an
update of the Centennial Grant work that Julie Hirsch, Mike Cochrane, and Chris
Woodward have been doing over a short period of time, since September. The
committee, in September 1998, wrote a status report and recovery plan. It was
adopted as the plan for restoring the shellfish beds and water quality in Drayton
Harbor. He is writing an update of that report. The closure response strategy and
the 1995 watershed plan have specific recommendations that were identified.
There have been lots of accomplishments. The second report will focus on the
actions that the committee recommends, including the committee's rationale. They
also brought forward recommendations to focus on the mouth of the harbor, fish
processors, and the Blaine collection system. It is tempting to find the one smoking
gun. He is hopeful that they do. They have seen improvements in the Blaine
marina. The last few samples have been down dramatically. They need to work to
see if that is a result of seasonality. If they see those numbers continue to drop for
several months, it will be a positive message. They still have to look at the other
long -term approach to problems in Drayton Harbor. Regarding the issue of fixing
the collection system, they will still have to fix non -point issues. It is his burden as
chair of the advisory committee to keep those alive and to continue doing the work.
One recommendation five years ago was to designate Drayton Harbor an area of
special concern. This has not been done. It was a high priority recommendation.
They still need to have the best management of septic systems in that area.
Hoag stated the Board of Health would look at that this year.
Menzies stated they would have to find out how to fund the programs. The
Water Resources Division and the flood fund are two options.
Hoag asked what happened to the TREE study. Menzies stated they are
meeting with DOE. He is optimistic.
Woodward stated the TREE study people looked through Sea -K Processors,
but it was closed. Because of that, they are in the lower list of considerations for
the TREE agreement. The fish processors have not been working as much as they
have in the past. They have a plugged outfall line. With that plug, the processor
waste is coming up through the tide in the mudflats. Sea -K Processors will take
care of it. They will pay to have the line purged. Her concern was about doing it
on the flood tide. She will make sure the Council gets a report on the advisory
meeting with DOE scheduled for the 28th
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Whether or not her contract is extended, she may see the Council again.
(Clerk's Note: End of tape one, side 8.)
Woodward stated there would be one more progress report at the end of
December.
Hoag stated she hoped the contract is extended until they get this back in
control.
Woodward expressed her appreciation for the Council's support.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
ATTEST:
Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dan McShane, Committee Chair
Natural Resources Committee, 4/18/2000, Page 13