In an effort to help improve water quality in Drayton Harbor, the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) is asking the public to review its draft study on how dangerous bacteria enters Drayton Harbor, and its plan to improve the watershed.
The public comment period opened August 21 and will close Friday, September 26.
The Drayton Harbor Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) technical study hopes to address bacteria pollution in the watershed by evaluating properties used for livestock, identify and eliminate faulty points in stormwater drainage systems, identify and repair sewer and septic leaks, educate the public on best practices to reduce bacteria seeping into the watershed, and increase water quality monitoring efforts, among a host of other strategies.
The study identifies the need for a 61 to 99 percent reduction in bacteria pollution to protect Blaine’s shellfish business. The DOE states that most bacteria come from “nonpoint sources,” meaning the source of pollution is spread across the watershed, not from specific faulty pipes or agriculture sites.
In an August 25 press release, DOE stated that fecal coliform and E. coli strains can enter waterways through faulty sewer and septic systems, and that rainy seasons can introduce more bacteria into Drayton Harbor. The Washington State Department of Health regularly issues bans on recreational shellfish harvesting in Drayton Harbor due to unsafe levels of biotoxin and other potentially dangerous contamination.
“This TMDL builds on the local water pollution control efforts that are already making progress,” Rachel McCrea, water quality section manager for the Northwest region wrote in a statement. “Finalizing this plan will help keep that forward momentum by identifying focus areas and additional actions so bacteria levels can continue to go down.”
The draft study can be found by visiting bit.ly/4oWZy5k, and public comment is available at bit.ly/4mMU1N2.
