PORTAGE BAY SHELLFISH PROTECTION DISTRICT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUMMARY

ZIp File of 2002 Summaries

AGENDA

MEETING ATTENDANCE

DOCUMENTS DISTRIBUTED

• Agenda
• 6/26/02 IFA Portage Bay Meeting Summary
• Draft Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District Brochure
• TMDL Target and Result Graphs for Nooksack River Sites
• Whatcom Conservation District Dairy Newsletter
• Whatcom Conservation District Stream Team Newsletter

MEETING CONTENTS

1. Public Comment Period

No comments from the public.

2.Review Previous Meeting Summary and Meeting Agenda

6/26/02 Meeting Summary
The Advisory Committee (AC) moved to remove the action item listed under the Sub-Basin Discussion. The AC also provided the names of high schools participating in water quality work, which were listed under the same agenda item.

• Action: Incorporate above revisions to the 6/26/02 Meeting Summary and distribute as final.

  Meeting Agenda
  Chris Woodward reviewed the agenda and moved item 3 to a subsequent meeting when Andy Ross is available.

3. Lummi Data/Activities Update

Andy Ross was unavailable for the meeting. The committee will discuss Lummi Data and Activities at the next meeting.

4. Sub-Basin Discussion – Stream Team

During the June 26th AC meeting, members expressed interest in establishing a Stream Team (ST) to work toward improving the water quality in the Fishtrap drainage. The Whatcom Conservation District (WCD) is involved with community conservation education and actively works toward improving the county’s natural resources. Beth mentioned some of the programs that WCD has already set up including:

• Conservation Reserve Enhancements
• Small Farm Planning
• Dairy Nutrient Management Planning
• International Information Exchanges (focuses largely on the Canadian border)
• GIS Mapping
• Public Outreach
• Stream Teams and Dairy Teams

Funding from Washington State Department of Ecology Centennial Clean Water Fund allows interested volunteers to gain applicable training, participate in workshops, and encourage community outreach and education concerning water quality. Until recently, the Stream Team focused on Bertrand Creek, collecting water samples for Northwest Indian College to analyze. The Stream Team has recently extended their efforts to Fishtrap Creek, which may be the most applicable to this committee.

Most of the Fishtrap Stream Team work is designed to find a balance between community members and agricultural farmers. In April, the WCD educated local second graders about stream restoration and then teamed up to plant trees along Fishtrap Creek. From the time the Stream Team was established, the fecal coliform (FC) levels have decreased by 64% in Fishtrap and 73% in Bertrand.

AC members mentioned working with residents across the Canadian border to coordinate efforts on Double Ditch, which runs along the border. Beth noted that the Canadian side of Double Ditch is in good shape with a decent flow and intact salmon habitat. The U.S. side needs instream work, trees planted, and work to stabilize the creek bank.

• Action: Beth Marcy will communicate with the Langley Environmental Partners to coordinate a presentation for this committee.

Beth informed committee members of the next Stream Team class which will begin in the fall with a kickoff bike tour of the Fishtrap watershed. A sign-up sheet for interested volunteers will be posted in the Water Resources Fair Booth (August 12 – 17) as well as the Mt. Baker Rotary Building. Additional Stream Team questions should be directed to Beth at the Conservation District.

5. NWIC Water Quality Monitoring Quarterly Updates

Michael Cochrane presented the Northwest Indian College’s portion of water quality sampling in Portage Bay for the second quarter. Like the first quarter, the second quarter indicates low levels of TMDL for all sampling stations except Fishtrap. Michael mentioned that TMDL levels at Tenmile were higher than first quarter counts; this may have been caused by a high result on June 11.

Twice each month the NWIC collects 66 samples from various streams and creeks in the Drayton and Portage Bay watersheds, including Dakota and California Creeks and that there is funding available to allow this sampling to continue for the next couple of years.

One committee member mentioned that Andy Ross has installed additional temperature probes and gauging stations for other projects in the Watershed Management Plan.

• Action: Kasey Ignac will contact Andy regarding his detailed sampling and update Advisory Committee members.

One AC member was concerned with Utah State University’s (USU) involvement in the data collection for WRIA 1 rather than qualified Whatcom County residents. It was noted that two local residents have been hired to collect data and work in conjunction with USU.

• Action: Sharon Roy will raise the issue of USU’s involvement with WRIA 1 participants and the County Council, and update the AC committee.

6. New Business

Portage Bay Brochure – Final Comments
The AC reviewed the latest revision of the Portage Bay Brochure, including previous AC comments. Chris Woodward noted a few issues with the brochure that she will discuss with Erika Stroebel at Water Resources.

Water Quality Work
There was discussion during the June 26, 2002 AC meeting regarding water quality work in the Fishtrap drainage and potential contacts in order to integrate these efforts and identify additional needs. Beth Chisholm mentioned that the WCD Web site has a list of water quality improvement projects by various groups that may be helpful. One AC member also suggested presenting the committee’s progress to the County Council, including the Natural Resource Committee, for their information and Sharon Roy will be the contact person for this.

7. Next Meeting’s Agenda

• NWIC Water Quality Monitoring Quarterly Report
• Lummi Data Collection/Activities
• Northwest Washington Fair Update