HomeMy WebLinkAboutNatural Resources April 7 1998WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Natural Resources Committee
April 7, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 11:30 a.m. by Chair Connie Hoag in the Council
Committee Room, 311 Grand Avenue.
Also Present: Absent:
Tom Brown
Kathy Sutter
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAYTON HARBOR SHELLFISH PROTECTION
DISTRICT
Brown requested clarification about the percentage of water emptying into the harbor and
questioned if Dakota and California Creeks are being tested for quality. Beth Marcy, Planning
Department, responded that studies on those creeks are just now being finished.
There was discussion regarding the need for monitoring on the creeks, surveys which
identify septic system failures, staffing for the Drayton Harbor and Portage Bay protection
districts, and the County Water Team.
Sutter stated that a water quality program is needed in addition to setting up a protection
district. There was discussion about the response strategies and action programs for the Drayton
Harbor Shellfish Protection Districts.
George Boggs, Whatcom Conservation District, stated that the advisory committee has
been working to accomplish a number of the activities specified in the action plan and determine
what remains to be accomplished. He suggested the Committee wait until their
recommendations are come forward for approval.
Brown stated he would like to wait for the Port's testing results before making any
determinations. There was discussion about the sewage treatment problems from White Rock,
British Columbia and the Port's testing activities.
Hoag stated that she would like to see this item held from the agenda until a final report
is available for the committee to discuss.
Chuck Benjamin, Health Department, stated that the Health Department has been
involved in the Drayton Harbor advisory committee. He further discussed the on -site septic
grant that the Council approved. Some of those funds have been allocated to home owners
whose septic systems have failed.
There was further discussion regarding water quality testing in Dakota and California
Creeks. Boggs responded that those test results will soon be available.
Discussion followed regarding the frequency and types of monitoring that is necessary in
the watersheds, data on the number of failing sewer systems, the inter - department coordination
of staff that is working on these projects.
Hoag stated she would like to bring in a representative from the County Water Team
once a month to discuss the Endangered Species Act.
2. DISCUSSION REGARDING MONITORING OF WELLS FOR AGRICULTURAL
CONTAMINANTS (AB)
Hoag stated there have been different proposals that have come forward for ways of
addressing groundwater contaminants. Citizens have a difficult time determining what
contaminants may have contaminated their wells because there is not one source of available
information on what agricultural products are being used in a particular area. Current methods
for determining possible contaminants are not working. She suggested a number of proposals
that would be more proactive. One proposal would require a suppliers of restricted chemicals
record information on each purchase, such as date of purchase, type of chemical, and application
location.
There was discussion on the feasibility of this proposal. Topics included monitoring of
chemical purchases that are out of the County's jurisdiction, coordination with the State
Department of Agriculture's records on similar activities, farmer's requirements to keep records
on chemical application, which records are considered public records and are available to the
public on request, and farmer's incentive for increased permitting requirements.
Karen Frakes, Civil Prosecutor, cautioned the committee that this area is heavily
regulated by the State and Federal governments and, therefore, Whatcom County may not have
the jurisdiction to enforce more regulation.
Hoag stated that she would simply like to make the records that exist more accessible to
the public.
Boggs stated he would research the State's requirements for record - keeping.
There was further discussion which included farmers' willingness to make their chemical
application records available, monitoring wells, and geological flow of aquifers, chemical
tendency for groundwater contamination, and Health Department ability to mandate chemical
application reporting.
Benjamin gave a report on the recent Public Health Advisory Board meeting.
Boggs discussed conservation plans which will soon be required from the agricultural
industry.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.
Elizabeth Bennett, Recording Secretary
Jill Nixon, Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Dana Brown - Davis, Clerk of the Council Connie Hoag, Council Member