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EPA approved the Samish Bay Watershed TMDL and Implementation Plan on October 30, 2009.
Working with more than 20 state, federal and local agencies and nonprofit organizations and Tribes, Ecology is spearheading the Clean Samish Initiative. This is a speeded-up effort coordinated with all partners to implement cleanup actions and make a difference in water quality by the end of this winter wet season.
Under the Clean Samish Initiative, Ecology is inspecting properties along highly-polluted reaches of the Samish where livestock access may be an issue:
TMDL and Implementation Plan (Ecology publications):
View Samish Watershed focus sheet
Samish Bay and the river, creeks and sloughs that drain to it are heavily impacted by bacteria-laden runoff after storm events.
Public health is at risk: The fecal coliform bacteria and nutrients that end up in Samish Bay can prevent us from safely using the Bay for recreation and shellfish harvest.
Washington State Department of Ecology completed a study of the Samish watershed to determine the sources of bacteria and develop a plan for cleanup. Partners in this effort are Skagit County agencies, state departments of Health and Agriculture, Skagit Conservation District, and Skagit Stream Team, an organization of citizens who help monitor water quality.
The study shows that 70% of bacteria loading to Samish Bay comes from the Samish River, above the locations around the Bay where waterfowl congregate. Any bacteria loading from the waterfowl is in addition to the heavy load discharged from the river.
Fecal coliform bacteria enter streams and ditches when rainfall washes bacteria off our backyards and farms. The bacteria may come from onsite sewage systems or from improperly managed animal waste. It can come from either commercial or small non-commercial farms.
The annual inspection requirement for alternative septic systems (and once every 3 years for conventional systems) is in state law (WAC 246-272A, Section 0270). All 12 counties bordering Puget Sound were required to adopt the code by July 2007, and establish onsite sewage management plans. The Samish TMDL does not set the Operation & Maintenance requirement for inspections. The requirement is already firmly established by the Washington State Board of Health and each county’s Board of Health. If anything, the establishment of the Marine Recovery Areas (based on data showing water quality problems) and the TMDL study itself indicate there is a good basis for requiring annual O&M inspections.
Call the Spill Hotline if you see a spill or illegal dumping: 800-OILS-911
Contact us for more information.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
