For immediate release: July 14, 2008 (08-117)

Contacts:
Bill Cleland, Shellfish Program 360-236-3306
Allison Cook, Communications Office 360-236-4022

OLYMPIA ¾ A large portion of Vaughn Bay in Pierce County has recently been opened to commercial shellfish harvesting for the first time since the mid-1970s.

The state Department of Health’s upgrade covers about 104 acres on the west and north sides of Vaughn Bay. The upgrade is based on marine water sampling done by the state health department, as well as pollution investigations and surface water sampling by Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and Pierce County Public Works and Utilities.

The eastern portion of the bay will remain closed to shellfish harvesting until contamination sources can be identified and corrected.

Vaughn Bay is on the east shore of Case Inlet about 20 miles west of Tacoma. The mile-long bay is shallow and enclosed by a spit, which limits water circulation there, and has extensive shoreline development. These things make the bay more prone to pollution from surface water runoff than many other rural inlets in the South Sound.

"This has been a long time coming," said Maryanne Guichard, director of the Department of Health’s Office of Shellfish and Water Protection. "It’s the result of hard work by Pierce County and local residents. I’m optimistic we can build on this success if we continue the good field work and have the community’s support on these issues."

The only way to be safe when digging shellfish is to "Know Before You Dig." The agency’s recreational shellfish map (www.doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety.htm), the state shellfish program (360-236-3330), and local health agencies (http://www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm) are excellent sources of information.

"This impressive effort is an example of the kind of collaboration that will be necessary to clean up all of Puget Sound," said David Dicks, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership. "Everyone working together is how we will be successful."

More information about recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting is available on the Department of Health’s Office of Shellfish and Water Protection Web site.

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