Image above: 12/21/2020
Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map
Click image to enlarge.
In the news:
December 18, 2020 Peninsula Daily News
BC begins treating sewage before releasing it into Strait
“I was wondering why the water looked so clean in front of my house on Bainbridge [Island],” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was quoted by Canadian news sources as saying during a video call with B.C. Premier John Horgan.
“I grew up in Port Angeles, right across the water from Victoria,” said Congressman Derek Kilmer. “So it’s been concerning to me to know that Canada has been sending raw sewage right into our shared waters for years.
“That’s why I’ve worked with our Canadian partners to encourage them to find a solution to this problem. The opening of this new wastewater treatment plant at McLoughlin Point is good news — and will help protect our waters and our marine environment for years to come.”
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.
View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.
Oak Harbor
November 6, 2020 Whidbey News-Times
Sound Off | Negotiations with Navy over connecting to sewer have ceased
“This facility is built to last the next 50 years while putting high-quality water back into the Puget Sound.”
“The high cost of this facility comes from the Washington State Department of Ecology and its requirement regarding the removal of nutrients to stringent levels in order to protect endangered marine life in our Puget Sound.”
Oak Harbor City Park
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“Washington Department of Health (DOH) cautions that clams, oysters, and mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
Over at Penn Cove – Please see image at top of page
Coupeville – just west of Captain Thomas Coupe Park
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Source: WDFW
Living on an Island near Puget Sound, there seems to be great concern for salmon, orca, eagles, recreational shellfish and clean water.
Underreported news stories are curious.
Maybe the press should be better about asking questions if they are going to line up for federal bailout cash.
Has anyone ever seen the Puget Sound area press ask questions about Whidbey water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls?
Has anyone ever seen any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization seeking answers related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into the waters near Whidbey Island?
We are told that stewardship is a priority:
Sign below educates the public on local waters.
Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area
Has there ever been a news story to inform the public on the Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area?
Looks like a significant area.
Distance learning idea:
Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls
Whidbey Waters – Mixed Signals of Concern
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:
High Quality Water For Puget Sound? – Recreational Shellfish Harvesting CLOSED Year-Round
Podcast 8 Senator Cantwell and the local press
The Press Is Weak – Newspaper Revenue Down Compared To 20 Years Ago
Anacortes – Stormwater is Rainwater
Whidbey Island Toilet Flush or Rain Water?
“…talking to officials at the Town of Coupeville…”
Green colors show safe places for recreational shellfish
4 Stories The Puget Sound Press Will Not Question Or Report On
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
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
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