After my visit to Monroe Landing this morning, I went on to Coupeville to see if a similar sign was still posted there.
I found the sign above posted near the boat launch at Captain Thomas Coupe Park on 4/2/2020.
Maybe good days and bad days, but the sewage odor by the boat launch today at this location was intense.
On the way, I stopped at the west end of Penn Cove.
Image above:
I found this sign posted on 4/2/2020 at the west end of Penn Cove. The sign has been there long enough to become faded from the weather.
WDFW has posted this permanent sign showing a dark shaded area in the eastern part of Penn Cove. The dark shaded area indicates a location that is unsafe for clam & oyster harvest.
Interesting that the part of the cove farthest from open waters is the part where the water is cleaner.
This sign remains in place even during the driest months of the year.
Arriving at Coupeville 4/2/2020:
Back in 2017, Island County Public Health posted a sign at the Coupeville Wharf about restrictions on recreational shellfish harvesting.
Why no warning sign on 4/2/2020?
Three reasons why it looks like a warning sign should still be posted:
1 On 4/2/2020 the Washington State Department of Health tells us that this is not a safe location for recreational shellfish harvest: Shellfish Safety Map
Image above: April 2nd, 2020
Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map
2 WDFW tells us that this is not a safe location for recreational shellfish harvest:
3 The sign posted at the west end of Penn Cove by WDFW tells us that this is not a safe location for recreational shellfish harvest.
Arriving at Captain Thomas Coupe Park, I found the sign posted at the top of the page.
One or more sewage treatment plants are sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
Is the sewage treatment plant sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.
Coupeville
Love to see newspeople provide updated reporting on this:
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
March 13, 2020 Whidbey News-Times
4th grade students publish book on Salish Sea
“Invisible Pollution in the Salish Sea”
School teachers,
Are you teaching your students to look for green colors on the Recreational Shellfish Safety Map?
More here:
Green colors show safe places for recreational shellfish
Several Island County beaches are now closed for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.
Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.
This appears to be a routine/ongoing situation.
View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.
Related:
Site Visit – Another Month With An R at Monroe Landing
More Than A Week Since The Big Rains
Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area – Any News Coverage?
Ocean Water in Snohomish County?
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