KGMI News
EDISON, Wash. – Thanks to hard work in the community, Samish Bay shellfish harvesting closures due to fecal coliform pollution should be fewer.
On Wednesday, the State Department of Health changed standards for when they close the bay, so that it now takes more rain and a larger increase in the river flow to trigger a precautionary closure.
Bill Dewey with Taylor Shellfish Farms said the company is excited since fewer closures means more days they can harvest shellfish.
The Skagit Valley Herald reported much of the fecal coliform pollution had come from aging and failing septic systems, which Skagit County and various partners have been working to fix for the last 8-years.
Water quality will still be monitored and tested regularly and shellfish harvesting will shutdown any time pollution exceeds the limits.