Publication Summary

This is the study design plan for Drayton Harbor Watershed Fecal Coliform Total Maximum Daily Load: Phase 1.

Sections of Drayton Harbor, Dakota Creek, and California Creek have been listed under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act for non-attainment of Washington State fecal coliform bacteria criteria. The listings in Drayton Harbor are based on sampling by the Port of Bellingham in and around the Blaine Marina from 1997-2000. The listings on Dakota and California Creeks are based on sampling done by the Northwest Indian College from 1998-2003.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires states to set priorities for cleaning up 303(d) listed waters and to establish a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for each. A TMDL entails an analysis of how much of a pollutant load a waterbody can assimilate without violating water quality standards. The Drayton Harbor Fecal Coliform TMDL Study will address the 303(d) listings within the harbor, as well as for California and Dakota Creeks.

This Quality Assurance (QA) Project Plan describes Phase 1 of the technical study that will monitor levels of fecal coliform bacteria in Drayton Harbor, as well as California and Dakota Creeks. It forms the basis for a bacteria TMDL.

--Phase 1 will focus on (1) collecting bacteria data from freshwater drainages within the study area and (2) investigating background bacteria levels in Semiahmoo Bay.

--Phase 2 will involve additional data collection to address marine water quality impairments.

The study will be conducted by the Washington State Department of Ecology′s (Ecology) Environmental Assessment Program.

Each study conducted by Ecology must have an approved QA Project Plan. The plan describes the objectives of the study and the procedures to be followed to achieve those objectives. The Phase 2 plan will be presented in an addendum. After completion of the study, a final report describing the study results from both phases will be published.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID NMAT0001