Source/Daily Status Reports: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map
Click image once or twice to show detail.
Several Whidbey beaches remain closed all year long for recreational shellfish harvest because of sewage treatment outfall.
Sewage treatment outfall. Not stormwater. Not climate change.
Reporting on this topic appears to be completely off limits to the press.
View the Washington State Department of Health beach list here.
Washington Department of Ecology Outstanding Performance Award
Department of Ecology News Release – August 1, 2024
118 wastewater treatment plants across Washington receive Ecology award
See the full list of recipients here.
Coupeville Wastewater Treatment Plant is on the list.
Penn Cove
Real newspeople may ask:
When is the last time all of Penn Cove was safe for recreational shellfish harvest?
Beach adjacent to Award Winning Sewage Treatment Plant/Image at top of page:
Coupeville
“Clams, mussels and oysters CLOSED year-round.”
“…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
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
Below: An April 6, 2020 audio file describing recreational shellfish harvest and sewage treatment outfall at Penn Cove.
Has anything changed? Newspeople remain silent.
12:44 audio file and local photos of Penn Cove:
Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls
A photo tour of Penn Cove:
Wastewater Treatment Plant – Department of Ecology Award For Outstanding Performance
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?
Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.
Alternative media is a good place to look for voices of dissent.
Possibly of interest:
Sound Publishing And Black Press Media