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Summer 2021
Fall rains might seem like a distant memory when we get weeks and weeks of dry weather in June, July, and August. But that fall and winter rain will be back... and it's time to start preparing by implementing best practices for reducing fecal bacteria sources in our watersheds. This time of year is a great time to complete construction projects that will make your property rain-ready and prevent built up bacteria from flushing into waterways when the rain hits. This fall will be a critical time to regain our progress by identifying and addressing bacteria sources before they enter our waterways and shellfish areas. This E-News issue includes upcoming events and programs, resources to help you prepare for the wet season, and an update on water quality results.  
Drayton Harbor Marine Sites.  Dots indicate the 90th percentile at each site for the last 30 samples (September 2018 – June 2021).  Red sites exceed the standard (> 43 MPN/100mL), orange are ‘Threatened’ (30-43 MPN/100mL), yellow are ‘Of Concern’ (20-30 MPN/100mL), and green are ‘Well Within’ standards (<20 MPN/100mL). The gray dot is a new marine site established in June 2021.

Marine bacteria results in June were very low. All stations had samples with <1.8 MPN/100mL with the exception of station 15 (7.8 MPN/100mL) and 8 (2.0 MPN/100mL).  Even with these low results, the high bacteria measured last winter will have long term impacts on status of these marine sites.

The latest freshwater water quality summary for the Drayton watershed is available here. While the mainstem stations of Dakota and California creek are meeting the Geometric Mean water quality benchmark (100 cfu/100mL), most are not meeting the 90th percentile portion of the water quality benchmark (less than 10% of samples containing >200 cfu/100mL). Many of the tributaries have low flow or are seasonally dry now. Several of these low flow areas also had elevated bacteria counts.  The highest bacteria concentrations were seen in the Lower Dakota (TribDak2, TribDak3), Loomis Trail (CA1), and Fox Rd (CA9) drainages, as well as, the upper portions of California Creek. You can explore all preliminary results using the interactive water quality map, linked here.
Portage Bay Marine Sites: Dots indicate the 90th percentile at each site for the last 30 samples (October 2018- June 2021).  Red sites exceed the standard (>43 MPN/100mL), orange sites are ‘Threatened’ (30-43 MPN/100mL), yellow sites are ‘Of Concern’ (20-30 MPN/100mL), and green sites are ‘Well Within’ standards (<20 MPN/100mL). 

The status category has improved at the Portage Bay stations circled in green in the map above. The 90th percentiles in Portage dropped at the majority of sites following low results on the June 2021 marine sampling run.
The freshwater results from routine sampling in the Nooksack watershed over the past two months showed moderate results at many tributary stations, and low to moderate results at the mainstem stations. The water quality summary includes tables showing the results at each sampling site and is available here. The highest results were seen on Fishtrap Creek, during the mid-July sampling run (>6,000 FC/200mL). Scott drainage, Bertrand, Fishtrap, and Anderson drainages all showed moderately elevated results on the 6/15 and 7/1 sampling run (200 FC/100mL - 900FC/100mL). 

Water quality summaries for freshwater are updated monthly and available at the links below.
Join the Whatcom CD on monthly virtual pasture tours and hear tips from local farms for improved grazing!

The fifth and final episode premiered on Thursday July 29th: 
Compost Systems for Manure Management Optimize Grazing for Continuous Growth with Mike and Julia Bozzo from the Northwest Therapeutic Riding 

Click here to watch!
The dry summer months are a great time for construction projects in your farm plan before the fall brings back wet pastures and muddy areas.
  • Check out the small farm rebate program to help with your fencing, barn gutter, or heavy use area projects.
The Whatcom CD provides free and confidential site visits and follows up with resources and recommendations to help you meet your farm goals! 
Call 360.526.2381 to learn more.
If you’re going to be recreating outdoors...Make a pooping plan.

Bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens can be washed into the water and spread diseases. It’s your responsibility to do the right thing for keeping trails clean, and the rivers and marine waters safe for wading, swimming, fishing, and harvesting shellfish. Just like planning your gear and route for your adventure, you’ve got to plan for this too.
  • On the Road: 
    • RV dump stations are available at various locations across the county and state. Plan your route so you know you don’t forget to dispose of your holding tank waste properly. Use this Sanidumps map to find RV dump stations on your trip.
  • On Land:
    • Many rural and remote recreation areas don’t have bathrooms but there’s a right way and a wrong way to poop in the woods. Visit our webpage to learn how.
  • On the Water: 
    • The Puget Sound and the Salish Sea in Washington are part of the No Discharge Zone (NDZ). The NDZ is a body of water where it is illegal for boats to release any sewage. Visit Washington State Department of Ecology’s web page to learn more about the NDZ, verify your boat is in compliance, and find resources for recreational and commercial boaters. They even have an app to help you find pump out stations nearby.
Keeping human and pet waste out of our waterways is part of the solution to improving water quality in our community. Click the icons below to find tips for your next adventure.
 
         


The We Scoop Photo Contest is Back! 

The contest starts on August 29th and goes through the end of September. Be sure to follow our Facebook page and We Scoop Bellingham for contest announcements, prizes, and entry details.
Are you passionate about poop pick-up? 
Join our team of neighborhood ambassadors and help us spread the message that picking up after your pet is the right thing to do! Learn more about the program on our webpage, or email ScoopPoop@whatcomcounty.us  for more information.
Help Us Share the Word! These tools and programs are only beneficial to those who know about them!  Has one of these programs helped you? Word-of-mouth is a great way for our programs to become more known and utilized. Here are a few way to share the word!
  1. Get Social! Share our Facebook or Twitter posts, or create your own using our messaging.
  2. Make a post in Nextdoor sharing our program and why you found it beneficial.
  3. Talk with your neighbors.
  4. Join our Neighborhood Ambassador Program to spread the pet poop message: Scoop it, Bag it, Trash it! 
Thanks for your help and please reach out to us at PICProgram@co.whatcom.wa.us if you have and questions or would like copies of specific outreach materials.
The Waterfront: Diving into Water Quality is a great online publication that will post up-to-date event information, water quality updates, news articles and more! Visit the story map here, and bookmark the link to easily revisit for updates as they are posted. 
Share these posts and resources with your friends and neighbors by following the Whatcom County Public Works and Whatcom Conservation District Facebook pages
www.facebook.com/WhatcomCountyPublicWorks/ 
www.facebook.com/WhatcomCD/
Whatcom County Public Work’s PIC (Pollution, Identification, and Correction) Program uses water quality monitoring (collecting samples in creeks, rivers, and bays) to identify priority areas for improvement programs and provides community outreach and education, technical and financial assistance for landowners, and coordination with County departments and other agencies to identify and address potential bacteria sources polluting our waterways.
PIC Program Website
Our contact information:
322 N. Commercial Street Suite 110
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360)778-6230
PICProgram@co.whatcom.wa.us


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This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J18001 through the Washington State Department of Health. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Washington State Department of Health, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.






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Whatcom County Public Works · 322 N Commercial St Ste 110 · Bellingham, WA 98225-4042 · USA

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