HomeMy WebLinkAbout99-07 - Res. Adopting the Oakland Bay Action PlanResolution No.
A Resolution Adopting the Oakland Bay Action Plan
WHEREAS, Washington State Department of Health, Office of Shellfish Programs, by Final Order issues
on November 15, 2006, downgraded the commercial shellfish area classification of a portion of Oakland Bay,
specifically North Oakland Bay, from "Conditionally Approved" to "Prohibited"; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 90.72 RCW requires, by law, any County with tidelands within such boundaries of
those effected areas identified in such a `Final Order' to establish a shellfish protection district and to establish a
Clean Water (Shellfish District) Program with elements intended to improve water quality in such shellfish tidelands
by decreasing and, if possible, eliminating non -point pollution from stormwater runoff; malfunctioning onsite septic
sewage systems; animal pollution from not adhering to best management practices and other activities that
jeopardize and threaten water quality; and
WHEREAS, this County's legislative authority has complied with the `Final Order' issued by the
Washington State Department of Health on November 16, 2006 by establishing a Clean Water (Shellfish District) on
May 15, 2007; and
WHEREAS, this County's legislative authority realizes water quality degradation of the marine tidelands
and fresh waters of Mason County threaten the public's health and safety and other beneficial uses of these waters
for agriculture, fish and wildlife protection and recreation; and
WHEREAS, this County's legislative authority further recognizes maintaining the highest levels of water
quality is paramount to sustaining the livelihood of Mason County, this Puget Sound region, and to the greater
environment; and
WHEREAS, this County's legislative authority has been an active participant in helping to work towards
curing the problems facing water quality in the area; and
WHEREAS, this County's legislative authority has utilized a broad -based stakeholder process through the
Oakland Bay Closure Response Committee to develop the Oakland Bay Action Plan identifying ten specific
strategies along with specific actions and performance measures designed to improve the water quality in Oakland
Bay; and
WHEREAS, this County's legislative authority recognizes that the Oakland Bay Action Plan is an evolving
document intended to quickly respond to water quality issues on an on -going basis; and
WHEREAS, the Oakland Bay Closure Response Committee held a Community Open House to introduce
the Oakland Bay Action Plan; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland Bay Action Plan (attached) is hereby adopted
to address the water quality of the Oakland Bay Clean Water (Shellfish) District.
PASSED this 4th day of September, 2007.
ATTEST:
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Rebecc S. Rogers, Clerk of the Boaid
APPROVED AS , . •
2 Martin, ►, eputy Prosecuting Attorney
J:\RESOLUTIONS\2007\Oakland Bay Action Plan Adoption Resolution.doc
BOARD OF COUNTY COMNIISSIONERS
MAS N COUNTY, ASHINGTON
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Ring Erickson,
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Tim Sheldon, Commissioner
ss Gallagher, Commi: loner
akland Bay Action Plan
A committee of citizens, business representatives and staff from city,
county, state and tribal government is launching a broad -based,
community plan in order to:
Reduce water pollution.
Ensure the county's waters remain safe for swimming, fishing and all
activities important to the culture, heritage and economy of the area
August 16, 2007
Prepared by Stephanie Kenny
Environmental Health Specialist
Mason County Public Health
360-427-9670
smk.@co.mason wa.us
This document is also available online: www.co.mason.wa.us
Ta• ontents
A. Purpose of the Oakland Bay Action Plan
B. Background information and history
C. Our ten -point strategy for keeping Oakland Bay clean.
1. Identify accountable government agencies, create an action plan, and
establish performance measures.
2. Identify the Oakland Bay Focus Area boundaries, and set up a structure for
governing and financing the plan.
3 Develop community and private partnerships, involve the public, and create
a plan for evaluating our success.
4. Monitor water quality, survey shorelines and upland areas, and conduct
research.
Identify and establish strategies to correct:
5. Agricultural sources of water contamination.
6. On -site sewage system water contamination sources.
7. Other water quality contamination sources.
8. Identify land use and growth management policies that will protect,
preserve and restore Oakland Bay's water quality.
9. Establish enforcement elements for the plan.
10 Create a system for evaluating the success of the plan.
urpose of the Action an
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Background
In November 2006, the Washington State Department of Health restricted the north end
of Oakland Bay for shellfish harvesting. The Restricted classification means that direct
harvest of shellfish is not allowed. Shellfish must be moved to an Approved or
Conditionally Approved area to cleanse and become safe for human consumption before
it is harvested. One shellfish grower is currently affected by this restriction.
All other areas of Oakland Bay remain in an unchanged status — either Conditionally
Approved or Prohibited for shellfish harvest at this time, though the Chapman Cove area
is very close to receiving a downgrade.
Because the ends of inlets tend to be more sensitive to water quality pollution than other
areas, this reclassification of the end of Oakland Bay could be an indicator of overall
water quality problems that will eventually affect many other growers and citizens who
use the bay
Oakland Bay is a unique area with many uses and needs that must be carefully balanced in
order to preserve natural resources, aesthetics and tradition while providing for growth
recreation and employment opportunities. Degraded water quahty in the area indicates not
just a loss of shellfish revenue and jobs but an impaired environment, lost recreational
opportunities and, overall, a loss to the culture and heritage of the community.
Who is involved?
In compliance with RCW 90.72 045 Mason County developed this action plan as a response
to the November 2006 closure so that the County and its citizens could provide leadership
in improving the water quality of Oakland Bay. Mason County took the lead in creating this
plan. However, it is a coordinated multi -strategy plan that is a collaboration of all who are
affected by the Oakland Bay downgrade.
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These parties include:
•
The citizens of Mason County
Mason County Shellfish Growers
Squaxin Island Tribe
• United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Washington State Department of Health
• Washington State Department of Ecology
• Washington State Department of Agriculture
• Puget Sound Partnership
• Mason Conservation District
• City of Shelton
• Washington State University Mason County Extension
• Washington Sea Grant Program., University of Washington
The Oakland Bay Action Plan represents our understanding of the work that must be done
and who will be responsible. While the document establishes the initial framework of the
plan, we expect to expand and adapt it to the needs of the county throughout the course of
the project.
Legal Notice: If any portion of this plan is, for any reason, found to be invalid or unconstitutional by any
court of law, those portions will be considered a separate provision of the plan and will not affect the validity of
the rest of the plan.
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ackground infor ation an • histo
Description of the Oakland Bay Watershed
Physical Description: Oakland Bay is a small, relatively broad and shallow estuary
approximately four miles long and 3/4 of a mile wide with water depths averaging 10-35 feet.
A large area of the foreshore is exposed to air at low tides. This inter -tidal zone is
predominately mud flats with narrow deeper channels Due to the restrictive nature of
Hammersley Inlet the long narrow waterway linking the bay to the Puget Sound Basin, the
water in Oakland Bay has high refluxing, low flushing and high retention rates. There are
nine major creeks Deer, Cranberry, Campbell, Johns, Uncle John, Malaney, Shelton, Mill
and Goldsborough The drainages of these creeks together with the shoreline drainage have
been used to define the Oakland Bay Action Plan Focus Area. See Figure 1. For detailed
information about the watershed the Kennedy-Goldsborough Watershed (WRIA 14) Phase
II Level 1 Assessment (Golder, 2003) is a recommended source
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Squaxin Island Tribal Involvement: The area is home to modern Squaxin Island Tribe
members, who are descended from maritime people who lived and prospered along the
shores of Oakland Bay for thousands of years. Squaxin leaders signed the Medicine Creek
Treaty with the U S. Government in 1854, reserving the right to hunt, gather and fish at all
usual and accustomed places including Oakland Bay. As a result, Tribal scientists now co -
manage natural resources in Oakland Bay with the State of Washington. The federal
government also maintains a trust responsibility for Tribal interests in Oakland Bay.
Growth and development expectations: Development on the shoreline and upland areas
of Oakland Bay is gradually expanding. Most development in the area is residential with
some industry and commercial activity, especially along the west and south sides of the bay.
In most of the area on -site sewage systems treat residential waste. The Shelton Wastewater
Treatment Plant serves all residences and commercial establishments within its service area
along the south end of the bay. About 102 agricultural activities with potential to impact the
growing area are located in the watershed (Berbells, 2003). One marina is located in the
watershed.
History of shellfish harvesting and water quality issues in the Oakland Bay
Shellfish Growing Area
The Oakland Bay GrowingArea, as delineated by Washington State Department of Health, is located to
the northeast of a straight line, drawn from approximately 0.2 miles northeast of Munson Point.
See Figure 2.
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Currently, Oakland Bay is one of the most productive commercial shellfish growing areas in
the country. Much of the nation s manila clam harvest is grown here, as well as high -value
oysters. Approximately three million pounds of clams and 1.8 million pounds of oysters are
harvested yearly. There are 21 shellfish growers in Oakland Bay in addition to the Squaxin
Island Tribe. Some of the public and private beaches in the area support recreational
shellfish harvesting. Approximately 2000 recreational harvesting licenses are obtained for the
area each year.
Timeline:
1880s: Oyster production becomes a valuable local commodity (Deegan,
1960)
1927: A pulp and paper mill starts operation on the Shelton waterfront. The
pulping process produces sulfite liquor, a waste product that is released into
the nearby water body.
1930: Oyster growers sue the mill owners for damages to their harvest.
Improved industrial practices eventually lead to recovery of the harvest.
1955: Oakland Bay is approved for commercial shellfish harvest through
Washington State Department of Health At this time, Oakland Bay is
probably classified as conditionally approved due to sewer impacts, but sewer
improvements are later made.
1957 The pulp and paper mill closes. This is the beginning of significant
environmental recovery for the area.
1978: Chapman Cove and northward is classified as approved; the rest is
prohibited from shellfish harvesting.
1986: Washington Department of Health changes its classifications
methods. The upper portion of the bay receives a classification change to
conditional approval. The prohibited line for sewer may have been moved
southward at this time
1987: The Washington Department of Health downgrades 820 acres of
shellfish beds in southern Oakland Bay from Conditionally Approved
to Restricted after finding fecal coliform bacteria. This leads to a surge
of activities to identify, prevent and eliminate sources of shellfish bed
contamination The Oakland Bay Watershed Management Plan is developed
with local, state and tribal participation A number of grants are funded to
both make capital improvements and educate the area residents. Over the
next several years, the recommendations of that plan are partly carried out,
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but there are still major barriers to full implementation, including lack of staff
time, money and citizen response.
1989: The Washington Department of Health reverses its downgrade after
improvements are made. (See Measuring Results Project July 1993).
In the end, some of the funding did result in lasting capacity, but because
long-term and consistent funding is not provided, many of the water quality
improvement efforts ended.
2006 Fifty-five acres at the north end of the bay are downgraded to
Restricted by Washington State Department of Health. In addition,
Chapman Cove was listed as threatened
2007: Current Status of Oakland Bay. Oakland Bay has approximately 1434
acres classified as Conditionally Approved. Fifty- five acres at the north end
of the bay are classified as Restricted. In addition, 774 acres to the south are
classified as Prohibited due to Shelton Wastewater Treatment Plant
discharge. Rainfall of one inch or more in 24 hours triggers a five-day
shellfish harvesting closure throughout the Conditionally Approved area. A
discharge of inadequately treated or raw sewage into the bay by Shelton
Wastewater Treatment Plant would trigger a five-day closure of the central
portion of the bay. The Shelton Wastewater Treatment Plant will be
upgraded by 2010 in order to protect and improve the health of the bay.
Previous Efforts to Prevent Water Quality Degradation in Oakland Bay
Many water quality improvements have been undertaken in the Oakland Bay watershed over
the years, including:
• Improved industrial waste management.
• A number of upgrades to the Shelton Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• More stringent storm water requirements.
• Sanitary surveys
• Repairs of on -site sewage systems.
All of these steps helped to preserve the health of Oakland Bay in the past. These same
measures need to be reassessed for their value to our new action plan.
Current Oakland Bay water quality research and improvement efforts
Typical non -point sources of pollution in the Oakland Bay area include on -site sewage
systems, storm water, livestock, pets, and wildlife Here are some of the current efforts
underway to pinpoint pollution sources and develop clean-up plans:
Squaxin Island Tribe and Mason County Public Health: Routine and intensive water
quality sampling in the area
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Mason County Public Health: Sanitary surveys and dye testing of on -site systems in the
north Oakland Bay and Chapman Cove areas.
Washington State Department of Health and Squaxin Island Tribe: Circulation
studies in north Oakland Bay and added interim sampling stations
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington State Department of
Health and Squaxin Island Tribe: A microbial source tracking study in the area.
Washington State Department of Ecology: Extensive water quality sampling study to
develop a pollution clean-up plan for Oakland Bay and Hammersley Inlet.
Mason Conservation District: Has written conservation plans, provided technical and
financial assistance to landowners for installation of Best Management Practices to reduce
pollutants from entering Oakland Bay. Best Management Practices have been monitored by
Mason Conservation District to determine effectiveness.
Washington State University Mason County Extension: Public education and
involvement programs. Mason Conservation District and Mason County Public Health also
conduct educational programs both independently and in partnership with each other and
WSU.
Washington Sea Grant Program, University of Washington: Several educational
programs offered to area residents.
City of Shelton and Mason County Utilities and Public Works: The city and county are
working together to decrease sources of pollution and will jointly implement a plan to reduce
pollution (NPDES 2). City of Shelton also has a Goldsborough Creek source reduction
project.
Grass -roots citizen and business efforts in Mason County: Many community members
have, on their own initiative, taken measures to improve water quality on their private
property:
• Some community members have performed operation and maintenance on their
septic systems to check that the systems are functioning appropriately.
• Others have adopted new landscaping practices to prevent polluted storm water
runoff.
• Several agricultural producers have made changes on their properties to protect both
their private land and the water quality in greater Oakland Bay
These grass -roots efforts demonstrate the stewardship ethic among Oakland Bay Watershed
residents that we must continue to recognize and nurture. Citizens who take the initiative are
at the leading edge of protecting the Oakland Bay community, its economy, and its water
quality.
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ur ten -point strategy for i • r•vin • the
water quality in • akland = ay:
Goal: To take immediate steps, through the Oakland Bay Action Plan Strategy to:
• Reduce water pollution.
• Meet state and federal water quality standards.
• Ensure that water quality improvements are maintained.
1. Identify accountable government agencies, create an action plan and establish
performance measures.
Since the fall of 2005, a number of key stakeholders have come together to coordinate a
response to the threatened shellfish downgrade in the north end of Oakland Bay. Those
efforts have included intensive sampling, outreach, and investigation of problem areas.
In the wake of the November 2006 downgrade, Washington State Department of Health
convened an initial core response group meeting on February 13, 2007, which included these
representatives:
• Washington State Department of Health
• Washington State Department of Ecology
• Squaxin Island Tribe
• Puget Sound Action Team
• Mason County
• Mason Conservation District
• Washington State University Mason County Extension
• Washington Sea Grant Program, University of Washington
• Local shellfish growers
With Mason County Board of County Commissioners acting as the lead, this group, along
with additional stakeholders, will continue to work together to develop and carry out a
response to the downgrade. Recognizing the need for rapid and defined action, the core
response group will develop a strategy that wino
•
•
•
•
Identify immediate and long-term actions.
Provide performance measures.
Identify objectives.
Provide target dates and an overall timeline.
Once the strategy is developed, the Oakland Bay Action Plan Committee will.
• Designate, through the Mason County On -Site Septic System Plan, an Oakland Bay
marine protection area.
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• Provide the community and all other stakeholders with regular updates of work
related to the plan.
2. Identify the Oakland Bay Focus Area boundaries, set up a governing structure and
a way to fund its work
Mason County Board of County Commissioners is required by state law (RCW 90.72) to
establish a shellfish protection district and program to correct the pollution that led to the
Department of Health's water quality downgrade An additional goal of the plan is to
prevent future downgrades.
On May 15`h, 2007 the Mason County Board of County Commissioners adopted the
Oakland Bay Focus Area and defined its boundaries. The Action Plan Committee now will
develop a system of governance that agrees on the governing principles, determines the
voting structure, and establishes methods of addressing performance deficiencies. A variety
of funding options such as sales tax, public health money, and private funding are being
identified
To achieve these goals:
• The Oakland Bay Focus Area was created
• A system of governance will be adopted
• A financial strategy will be developed.
• Feasibility of septic or sewer districts will be assessed
3 Develop community and private partnerships, involve all citizens, and create a
plan for evaluating our success.
We believe that we can bring about lasting change if we involve more local citizens and
businesses, as well as other stakeholders. We will schedule public outreach meetings and
invite comment on this plan. We will create educational activities in the communities that
will raise awareness of water quality problems and increase the community's engagement in
solving them.
To achieve these goals:
•
•
•
Area landowners have been invited to be part of the Action Plan Committee.
An Oakland Bay Action Plan open house will be held to provide the public with a
chance to learn about the draft action plan Educational displays, opportunities for
interactions with educators, presentations and reading materials will be provided
After the Action Plan is finalized periodic additional open houses will held to
educate and update the community on progress.
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4. Monitor Oakland Bay water quality, survey its shorelines and upland areas, and
conduct research.
The Oakland Bay Action Plan is both a short-term project that responds to the immediate
problems affecting the shellfish growing area and a long-term plan to maintain water quality
in Oakland Bay.
To achieve these goals:
• Washington State Department of Health will increase to 30-35 a year the number of
fresh and marine samples taken in order to rapidly assess any changes in water quality.
•
Mason County Public Health will conduct regular shoreline and on -site system sanitary
surveys and segment streams within the Oakland Bay watershed. These surveys will help
target further investigations and corrective actions.
• Mason County Public Health will increase its efforts in septic operations and
maintenance, both in regulatory and educational capacities.
• Squaxin Island Tribe will continue to sample major streams, investigate the role of
sediment as an incubator of bacteria in marine water, and use a Geographical
Information System (GIS) to analyze all the data collected.
• The Squaxin Island Tribe will conduct an additional Upper Oakland Bay Circulation
study.
•
The need for special studies will be researched when warranted.
• Washington State Department of Ecology using this Action Plan as a. foundation, will
create a longer -term plan for restoring impaired tributaries and the Bay itself to water
quality standards. Implementation of the two plans will be integrated Ecology will
conduct future monitoring of fresh and salt water. to track progress toward water quality
goals.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will conduct a Phase II Microbial Source
Tracking study.
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5. Identify and establish strategies to correct agricultural sources of water
contamination.
To control new pollution sources, the Mason County Department of Community
Development will require any application for a new agricultural building permit to go
through the conservation planning process with Mason Conservation District or Mason
County Environmental Permit process. They will also respond to water quality complaints
that involve land use in critical areas.
Washington State Departments of N cology (ECY) and Agriculture (AG) will coordinate their
investigations of agricultural water quality complaints. If landowner's agricultural
management practices threaten water quality, ECY and AG will refer the landowner to
Mason Conservation District. The Mason Conservation District staff will consult with
landowners to identify existing and potential threats to water quality and available solutions
through their conservation planning process. If there is an immediate threat to water quality,
or the landowner is unwilling to work with Mason Conservation District or does not adopt
practices to remove the threat to water quality, Departments of Ecology and
Agriculture will take appropriate enforcement actions.
Contact the Ecology/ Agriculture Complaint line by calling: (360) 407-6300.
To achieve these goals:
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•
•
•
•
Mason Conservation District will continue to provide technical help to agricultural
landowners.
Citizens applying for agricultural building permits will be required to go through a
Mason Conservation District Conservation Plan or Mason Environmental Permit
process.
Mason Conservation District will seek funding for an Anaerobic Digester in the
watershed.
Washington Departments of Ecology and Agriculture will respond to animal feeding
operation or pasture -based water quality complaints.
Mason County Department of Community Development will respond to water
quality complaints that involve land use in critical areas.
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6. Identify and establish strategies to correct on -site sewage system water
contamination sources
Mailing campaign: Mason County Public Health staff will research and target
existing septic systems that are not being serviced, then create a mailing campaign to
educate residents about how to properly operate and maintain them Mason County
Public Health is using its Operation and Maintenance database mapping technology
to generate both a visual and tabular inventory of the properties within the Oakland
Bay Focus Area. This database will generate GIS maps of the project area that will
show developed lots with documented septic systems -- as well as developed lots
with undocumented sewage disposal Mason County Public Health will follow up
with surface water sampling of properties without a maintenance report if needed.
Shoreline and stream sampling will complement the Operation and Maintenance
program by helping to detect on -site sewage system sources of pollution that are not
observed during service inspections. If sampling indicates a need, an on -site sanitary
survey will be conducted During sanitary surveys, Mason County Public Health staff
members interview residents about wastewater generation, construction or land -
disturbing activities on the property, and other activities that may affect the septic
system.
On -site evaluations and testing: During on -site surveys, staff member also walk
the property with residents to identify system components, evaluate the general state
of the system area, and educate the residents on the proper use and maintenance of
the septic system. If the situation warrants and the residents are willing, Mason
County Public Health staff can also introduce a dye into the system to test for system
failure. The dye can be detected in marine or fresh water by means of charcoal filter
bags. The county will direct property owners with failing systems to a low -interest
loan program so they may repair and upgrade their systems Enforcement will be
used if needed.
Code changes: Mason County Public Health will be adopting code changes as part
of their new On -site Sewage System Plan. It also will periodically assess the need
upgrade treatment standards and promote upgrades of existing on -site sewage
systems.
To achieve these goals:
Mason County Public Health will:
o Conduct parcel research
o Conduct regular, on -site system sanitary surveys along the shoreline.
o Develop a risk -based timeline for responding to maintenance report
problems other than failures (which are responded to under the
complaint timeline)
o Dye trace as needed, with follow-up sampling and referral to
enforcement, if necessary.
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•
•
o Conduct regular Operation and Maintenance program notification,
monitoring, recording and follow-up for all on -site systems.
o Update On -Site System F+nforcement Codes.
Puget Sound Partnership and others will help to periodically assess the feasibility
of, and need for, nitrogen/phosphorus removal
Washington Sea Grant and partners will promote the upgrading of components
in existing on -site systems to improve operation & maintenance.
7. Identify and establish strategies to correct other potential, non -point water quality
contamination sources such as pet waste and wildlife.
To achieve these goals:
• Mason County and the City of Shelton and partners will establish a pet waste
control program and install pet waste stations in area parks
8. Identify land use and growth management policies that will protect, preserve and
restore Oakland Bay's water quality.
Well -planned growth is essential to improving water quality and protecting the health of
Oakland Bay
To achieve these goals:
• Mason County Departments of Public Health, Community Development,
Utilities and Public Works will, as needed, review and implement ongoing
pohcies supported by oversight and enforcement.
• Property acquisition into conservancy will be sought.
• Mason County Department of Community Development will*
o Develop incentives for natural shoreline protection
o Require small parcel storm water site plans.
o Evaluate the need for special overlay protection within the closure area.
• Mason County Departments of Utilities and Public Works, and the City of
Shelton will develop a cooperative city and county storm water plan
• Mason County Public Works will improve storm water code enforcement.
• Washington State Department of Transportation will reduce bacterial
conveyance from Highway 3 storm water discharges.
• City of Shelton will improve the function of Goldsborough Creek through
Critical Area Ordinance changes and special projects.
• City of Shelton will implement NPDES 2 requirements.
• Mason County storm water ordinance will include low -impact development
standards.
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9 Establish enforcement elements for the plan
Enforcement tasks are part of many objectives in this plan. Mason County Public Health
will take the following steps to contribute to the success of this plan:
• Develop a non -point ordinance.
• Update its Environmental Health Enforcement Policy and Procedures.
• Review the Oakland Bay Action Plan to make sure it is consistent with the
Administrative Plan required under RCW.70.118.030.
10. Create a system for evaluating the success of the plan.
The Oakland Bay Action Plan must establish goals that can be measured in order to track
progress toward the objectives. If we are not accomphshing our goals or achieving our
objectives, we will re-evaluate and make changes.
To achieve these goals:
•
•
•
The Oakland Bay Action Plan Committee will establish goals we can measure to see
if our efforts are working.
Measure progress regularly and evaluate if goals and objectives are being met
Review and revise the Action Plan if the goals and objectives are not reached.
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Attachment 1
National Water Quality Standards for Shellfish harvesting
To be approved for commercial shellfish growing under the National Shellfish Sanitation
Program (NSSP) standards, a station must have a fecal coliform geometric mean not greater
than 14 organisms/100mL, and an estimate of the 90th percentile not greater than 43
organisms/100 mL. Alternative NSSP standards are applied to stations in the central area of
the bay because they are potentially influenced by Shelton Wastewater Treatment Plant.
These stations must have a fecal coliform geometric mean not greater than 14
organisms/100mL, and no more than 10% of the samples greater than 43 organisms/100
mL.
Fecal coliform bacteria, a subset of coliform bacteria, are found in the feces of all warm-
blooded animals including humans, livestock, other mammals, and birds Although most
fecal coliform bacteria do not cause disease, they are commonly used as an indicator of
microbial contamination of water. Filter -feeding shellfish retain fecal coliform bacteria and
other microorganisms, which do not harm the shellfish themselves but can cause disease in
humans who eat the shellfish Water -borne pathogens can also infect people by pathways
other than shellfish consumption, such as recreational contact with the water.
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