In the news:
August 18, 2020 South Whidbey Record
West Whidbey, Deception Pass closed to shellfish harvesting because of biotoxins
This article does not link to the Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map.
This article makes no mention of checking for green colors on the Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map, before heading out for a legal limit of clams and oysters. We talk about that here.
Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.
Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater.
Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.
Image above: 8/19/2020
Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map
View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.
Distance learning idea:
Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls
Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern
Coupeville site visit 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.
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?
Related:
Green colors show safe places for recreational shellfish
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”
Whidbey Signs of Water Quality
When Things Get Back To Normal
Ready To Purchase A Subscription – Whidbey Water Quality
I will purchase a subscription to any Puget Sound area newspaper working to inform us on Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls.
Ready to Support Local News on Whidbey Island
It looks like both Whidbey papers have stripped away all comments from past articles, and removed the opportunity to post comments to new articles.
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
Elimination of reader comments works against the idea of paying for an online subscription.
Manage it, don’t ban it. Online comment sections
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
Image at top of page:
8/19/2020
Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map
View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.
The press is clearly owned; people just collecting a paycheck. No one has any back bone anymore. 😳
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Have not seen anything of this topic from the Puget Sound area press.
Ditto for any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization.
https://oakbaystarfish.com/2020/04/06/podcast-4-another-month-with-an-r-whidbey-sewage-treatment-plant-outfalls/