High bacterial pollution has closed four shellfish harvesting areas in Washington, while 19 others, including two in Whatcom County, are at risk of closure.
The Department of Health’s annual water quality evaluation surveyed 106 commercial shellfish areas in the state and found these 23 areas had issues.
Drayton Harbor and Lummi Bay are currently considered at risk in Whatcom.
The Department says everyone must do their part to keep water clean and that includes maintaining septic systems, picking up after pets, using pump out stations for boats and RVs and managing animal waste at farms.
Updated information is available at Washington State Department of Health’s Shellfish Safety Information.