|
|
|
| You are here: DOH Home » News Releases Home » 03-173 |
For Immediate Release: October 27, 2003 (03-173)
Contacts:
Don Lennartson, DOH-Food
Safety & Shellfish Programs 360-236-3318
Mary Getchell, Puget Sound Action Team 360-407-7312
Kate Lynch, DOH Communications Office
360-236-4072
Water quality in Nooksack River improves,
Department of Health approves reopening Portage Bay shellfish beds
OLYMPIA ¾ The Washington State Department of Health, in consultation with the Lummi Nation, announced today that it is upgrading approximately 625 acres of shellfish-growing area in Portage Bay, and changing its classification from "restricted" to "approved." That brings the total area of Portage Bay open for shellfish harvesting to 1,210 acres, and leaves just 110 acres in the "restricted" classification. Portage Bay is located in the far western sector of Bellingham Bay, five miles west of the city of Bellingham.
The Puget Sound Action Team, attributing the upgrade to many organizations and individuals, applauded the persistent efforts of several community partners in Whatcom County, including local landowners and governments, Lummi Nation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Washington Department of Ecology.
"This is great news for the Lummi Nation, whose shellfish harvesting in Portage Bay has been impacted because of poor water quality," said Jennifer Tebaldi, director of Food & Shellfish Safety Programs with the Department of Health.
"The reopening of significant portions of Portage Bay is a marvelous success story. It shows how the incredible spirit and tenacity of people pays off in the effort to find solutions to clean up and restore Puget Sound," said Brad Ack, chair of the Puget Sound Action Team.
In December 1996, the Lummi Nation voluntarily closed a portion of Portage Bay to shellfish harvest to protect public health. After further water quality testing, the Department of Health formally downgraded the area to "restricted" in August of 1997, which means that the shellfish had to be moved to an "approved" area for a couple of months prior to harvest. A closure response strategy and a shellfish protection district were created to begin restoration efforts, which included cleaning up the Nooksack River watershed.
Citizen advisors played key roles overseeing the strategy to improve managing manure and sewage in the lower watershed and to help fit the actions into a complementary water cleanup plan administered by the Department of Ecology. Efforts will continue into the future to help sustain these improvements.
Shellfish growing areas in Portage Bay are owned by the Lummi Nation. Shellfish harvesting in Portage Bay is not open to the general public.
###
DOH Home | Access Washington | Privacy Notice | Disclaimer/Copyright Information
 |
Contact Information for the Department of Health Last
Update :
12/18/2006 11:08 AM
|