Mount Baker from the Coupeville waterfront.
Archives for category: Coupeville
A view from the Coupeville waterfront.
Image above: Sign posted at Coupeville Wharf on 4/2/2020.
Image above: 4/2/2020
Source: Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Safety Map
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.
Penn Cove site visits 4/2/2020:
Coupeville
Another Month With An R at Captain Thomas Coupe Park – Site Visit
North side of Penn Cove at Monroe Landing
Site Visit – Another Month With An R at Monroe Landing
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.
Asking questions about local water quality impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls:
Has anyone ever seen any news report asking questions related to one or more sewage treatment plants sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
Has any government agency, elected official or volunteer organization asked questions related to one or more sewage treatment plants 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
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.
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
Distance learning idea:
Podcast 4 Another Month With An R – Whidbey Sewage Treatment Plant Outfalls
Related:
Less Pollution at Bellingham and Anacortes?
More Than A Week Since The Big Rains
Saratoga Passage Marine Stewardship Area – Any News Coverage?
Ocean Water in Snohomish County?
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
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?
Don’t miss our companion blog-found here: Old Man Blog
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
After my visit to Monroe Landing this morning, I wanted to take a look at Coupeville and see if a similar sign was posted there.
I found the sign below posted near the boat launch at Captain Thomas Coupe Park on 2/18/20.
Questions for today:
Is this a temporary sign? Will it be removed in the days and weeks ahead?
Related:
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
Aug. 15, 2018 Kitsap Sun:
Navy sewer line blockage spills an estimated 80,000 gallons of wastewater into Sinclair Inlet
Temporary Kitsap status gets a report.
Routine status over at Penn Cove – newspeople remain silent.
Photo at top of page
Washington State Dept. of Health image updated June 16th, 2018.
Source: Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
View Penn Cove water quality for clam digging using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.
June 15, 2018 South Whidbey Record:
“Mucking about in clamming class”
“Last year, signs went up closing the waters around Penn Cove to any shellfish harvesting because testing revealed high levels of paralytic shellfish poison. The biotoxin can potentially lead to fatal paralytic shellfish poisoning in humans if consumed.”
“The Penn Cove ban has since been lifted.”
South Whidbey Record, which Penn Cove beach would you recommend for clam digging?
Whidbey Island
Monroe Landing
Love to see newspeople get out and ask questions about why:
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Sounds like the sewage treatment plant is sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
“State Dept. of Health cautions that Clams,Oysters and Mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”
Coupeville
Looks like the sewage treatment plant issue may be seen as routine or ongoing. Any sense of urgency in reporting details or background on this?
Routine or ongoing? So much so, that WDFW has posted a permanent sign indicating a dark shaded area in the eastern part of Penn Cove:
Image source: Photo posted by WDFW here.
More here:
Whidbey recreational (sport) harvest of shellfish
Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
Chasing breakfast
Taking a break
Coupeville
“Keystone terminal gives way to ‘Coupeville’ ferry”
“The name change will help eliminate confusion visitors may find when they research ways to travel to Whidbey Island.”
Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island- no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.
Don’t book a bed and breakfast stay in Coupeville and plan to walk from the ferry terminal to your accommodations.
Photo below- Keystone ferry inbound.
More here:
Looking for the Coupeville ferry
Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
Photo at top of page:
Traffic leaving ferry advised to take a fuel-efficient double the distance route to get to downtown Coupeville.
June 15, 2018 South Whidbey Record:
“Mucking about in clamming class”
“Last year, signs went up closing the waters around Penn Cove to any shellfish harvesting because testing revealed high levels of paralytic shellfish poison. The biotoxin can potentially lead to fatal paralytic shellfish poisoning in humans if consumed.”
“The Penn Cove ban has since been lifted.”
South Whidbey Record, which Penn Cove beach would you recommend for clam digging?
Photo at top of page:
Washington State Dept. of Health image updated June 16th, 2018.
Source: Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
View Penn Cove water quality for clam digging using the Dept. of Health map at the bottom of this page.
Love to see newspeople get out and ask questions about why:
“This beach is within the closure area for a sewage treatment plant outfall and is unsafe for recreational shellfish harvesting.”
Sounds like the sewage treatment plant is sending unsafe product into Penn Cove?
“State Dept. of Health cautions that Clams,Oysters and Mussels from this beach are not fit for human consumption at any time.”
The beach above (MONROE LANDING) is on the north shore of Penn Cove. Here is another beach on the south shore with the same status:
Public Clam and Oyster Beaches: COUPEVILLE
More here: Penn Cove – Treated Water Not Safe?
Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog
Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yeomalt
Vendor info
Coupeville
Same spot in 2016: Flooded field – Coupeville
Yearly rain: 4.38 in. (YTD)
YTD Rain Last Year: 1.39 in.
Coupeville
Same spot in 2016: Flooded field – Coupeville
Yearly rain: 4.38 in. (YTD)
YTD Rain Last Year: 1.39 in.
In the shade 
Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island- no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.
More here: Proper Geographic Names
Coupeville/Penn Cove is on the eastern shore of Whidbey Island- no ferry link to Port Townsend exists there.
More here: Proper Geographic Names
Photo- Fog clears at Coupeville Wharf
Coupeville Farmers Market
Vendor info here.
Oyster Mushrooms
Vendor info here.
Vendor info
Whidbey Island