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Department of Ecology News Release - Jan. 31, 2005
05-027
OLYMPIA - Matriotti Creek, which feeds into the lower part of the Dungeness River in Clallam County, is cleaner and healthier than it was in 2002, according to a new report by the Department of Ecology (Ecology).
Bacteria levels in the creek have decreased significantly. In fact, several sites meet the bacteria cleanup levels set for the creek, and all sites monitored showed improvements.
The results are described in a report entitled "Dungeness River and Matriotti Creek Post-Total Maximum Daily Load Data Review."
"This is great news for Dungeness Bay shellfish, which are sensitive to pollution," said Debby Sargeant of Ecology, author of the report. "Local groups and landowners are really stepping up to keep the creek clean."
The main pollution culprit is fecal-coliform bacteria, which come from a variety of sources, including failing septic systems, farm animals and wildlife.
Clallam County's clean-water strategy pinpointed specific strategies to keep bacteria out of the creek. Ecology's water cleanup plan (also known as a "total maximum daily load study") supports the local strategy.
"Landowners are pulling most of the weight to carry off the strategies with local guidance," said Joe Holtrop, manager of the Clallam County Conservation District.
Livestock and horse owners are attending workshops to learn how to keep manure away from water. Dairy owners are well informed and follow guidance to protect water quality, and local irrigation districts and companies have piped ditches to keep irrigation water clean while also conserving it, he said.
Clallam County's "septics of concern" program is expected to further contribute to Matriotti Creek's health. This spring, the county expects to follow up with owners of septic systems adjacent to the stream, according to Val Streeter, a water- quality planner for the county.
Despite the improving conditions in Matriotti Creek, researchers say the Dungeness River still does not meet water quality goals. Monitoring shows slight improvements during the irrigation season, which may in part be due to a cleaner Matriotti Creek, Ecology's Sargeant surmised.
"There is still work to do in the lower Dungeness, but we're making progress," Sargeant said.
Clallam County and the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe conducted the monitoring for the Ecology report.
Soon the tribe will begin spending nearly $1 million in federal funds on activities or projects to improve bacteria levels in the lower Dungeness River, with a small portion of the money going toward an experimental technique called DNA ribotyping to track sources of the bacteria.
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Contact: Sandy Howard, Department of Ecology, 360-407-6239
Joe Holtrop, Clallam Conservation District, 360-452-1912, ext. 103
Val Streeter, Clallam County environmental health, 360-417-2543
Hansi Hals, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, 360-681-4601
Ecology's report on-line: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0403053.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
