Small Town News

Shellfish restrictions in place until sewers complete

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Shellfish harvesting at portions of Belfair State Park will likely remain prohibited until the Belfair wastewater project is completed next year, said health officials at last week's Lower Hood Canal Watershed Coalition (LHCWC) meeting.

Scott Berbells, a health services consultant with the state department of health, gave a presentation last Monday on the water quality of more than 100 monitoring stations in Hood Canal from Hoodsport to Lynch Cove.

End-of-the-year 2009 data from the 105 stations was compared to end-of-the-year data from 2007.

"Basically, we're seeing some small improvements in water quality, and some small declines that are not statistically significant, which is a good thing," Berbells said. "We did see recently some improvements in Anna's Bay, where we upgraded 300 acres now available for commercial shellfish growing thanks to efforts by the county and stakeholders to improve water quality."

Despite the improvements, portions of Belfair State Park and Lynch Cove are still prohibited because the department of health not only samples water quality but also identifies pollution sources that might affect the watershed, Berbells said.

"Where we are right now with Belfair State Park is that marine water quality is good in the area, [but] we need to continue the evaluation of potential shoreline pollution," he said. "We are basically waiting for the installation of the wastewater collection system, [because] I think this is going to be a big help with the classification ... to make sure the fecal coliform levels stay low."

The department of health is conducting on-going shoreline surveys in the area to "check and cross check" pollution sources like onsite sewage systems and agricultural runoff, Berbells said.

Right now, harvesting at Belfair State Park is only open on the western end of the park, as marked on the beach.

The sewer project, a nearly $40-million endeavor to bring sewers and a treatment plant to North Mason, is tentatively scheduled to come online in spring 2011.

Bob Hager, co-chair of the LHCWC, thought the department of health's presentation was detailed and thorough.

"There wasn't anything that was really surprising," he said. "It was good to get the status and know that water quality is getting better."

While Berbells hopes to see water quality in lower Hood Canal continue to improve, "It's important that all stakeholders keep an eye on shoreline issues," he said.



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© 2010 Shelton-Mason County Journal Shelton, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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