Shellfish logo used by permission, courtesy of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (PCSGA).

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Who is the Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection Advisory Committee?

The Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection Advisory Committee (AC) is a diverse group of individuals and local governments/agencies with one common goal: restoring the shellfish beds for harvesting by recommending strategies to affect positive changes in the water quality that impacts the tidal flats.

The AC functions in an advisory capacity, helping to identify possible pollution sources and making recommendations as to courses of action to be taken to correct these problems. The implementing agencies associated with the shellfish district deal with initiating corrective action and with regulatory/enforcement issues associated with water quality concerns.

Alan Birdsall- Port of Bellingham
Kathryn Cullen
William Goff
Janet Hansen
Charles Hawkins- vice chair
Bjorn Hrutfiord
Geoff Menzies- chair

"Reopening the shellfish beds is important to me because it will reopen opportunities for the entire community to harvest healthy shellfish. This includes commercial, tribal, and recreational users. The ability to harvest local shellfish is the best indicator that the overall environment is healthy. I think that healthy environment is a requirement for a healthy economy and a healthy community." - Geoff Menzies

Bonnie Onyon- Blaine City Council
Robert Williams

Hilary Culverwell- Puget Sound Action Team
Ed Halasz- Whatcom County Department of Health
Mark Henderson- Department of Ecology-Bellingham Office
Don Lennartson- State Department of Health
Sharon Roy- Whatcom County Council
Steve Banham- City of Blaine Public Works
Amilyn Stillings- Whatcom County Water Resources

The members of the advisory committee and the implementing agencies are committed to helping make strides in improving water quality in the Drayton Harbor Shellfish District, so that hopefully, one day, the harbor will be clean enough to allow shellfish harvesting to resume. You, too, can do your part to help protect and improve the quality of the waters of the state by becoming better informed on how your activities impact water quality and what you can do to limit pollution in your neighborhood and watershed. What goes on the ground anywhere in the watershed can end up in a waterway, either surface or groundwater, and eventually impact the shellfish beds in the harbor.

Get Informed! Get Involved! Together We Can Make A Difference!