Invest in a Sanican Timeshare! All Deposits Welcome!
By Jeanne King

The Skagit Conservation Education Alliance (SCEA) is leading the Samish Watershed Recreational Users Water Quality Education Project, which involves the placement of sanicans in recreational sites at high use times of the year. SCEA has partnered with the Wildcat Steelhead Club, Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Fidalgo Fly Fishers, and the hang glider recreational group to make this project fly.

Many of our priority fresh and marine water resources fail to meet state water quality standards (WA State 303(d) list; PSAT "Threatened Shellfish Areas in Puget Sound"). As a consequence, four significant commercial and recreational shellfish harvesting areas in Skagit County have been downgraded, (Skagit Bay, Samish Bay, Similk Bay, and Bayview) due to high levels of fecal coliform bacteria. While an "upgrade" of 835 acres in Samish Bay occurred in 1998 due to the replacement of failing on-site septic systems, continued monitoring has documented that the bay is still threatened. A commercial shellfish-related public health problem in Nov. 2003 resulted in the closure of all commercial shellfish operations for several weeks, with substantial economic impacts to local shellfish farmers and farm workers. Samish Bay's future status as a viable commercial shellfish site is precarious.

Samish Bay's recent emergency closure was caused by an illness outbreak consistent with a Norovirus infection, which is linked with human contamination. As a result of the illnesses Samish Bay was closed to shellfish harvest on November 21, 2003. The bay reopened on December 10, 2003 following a review of the immediate shoreline for potential pollution sources and subsequent testing of the bay's water quality. Two additional illnesses on December 21st linked to raw oysters from the bay prompted Washington Department of Health to request that companies voluntarily sell oysters only intended for cooked consumption. Of the seven certified shellfish operations in Samish Bay, three were actively harvesting and impacted by the closure. During the 3-week closure 11 employees were laid off between the operations.

These entertaining and education signs will explain the importance of properly
disposing of waste near waterways.

Surveys done by Skagit County indicate that the majority of the fecal loading to Samish Bay comes from the Samish River itself. The river is extremely popular for recreational angling, particularly during the fall salmon runs. Waste management during the fishing season is a problem acknowledged by landowners (some of whom now deny access to anglers because of past waste problems), the shellfish industry (which has a long history of providing sanicans at some of the major access points), and also by local angling clubs (some of which have provided sanicans at access areas in the past). In addition, anecdotal information from duck hunters, hikers, bird watchers and hang-gliding enthusiasts that recreate in the Samish watershed indicate that sanitary facilities are inadequate and/or non-existent at areas used by those groups. The 2003 Novovirus outbreak in Samish Bay may have originated from angler waste that was improperly managed.

The Skagit Conservation Education Alliance is a non-profit, community-based organization working for the benefit of the greater Skagit ecosystem to protect water quality and watershed functions. We do this by: supporting and inspiring grassroots projects that meet the needs of the community for the conservation and protection of water quality; by encouraging and supporting cooperation and collaboration between all stake-holders; and working to implement local watershed action plans.

You are encouraged to help support our efforts to protect water quality by investing in a sanican timeshare. The $40 gets your name or your best buddy's name on a sanican. It makes a great surprise gift! Your contribution helps pay for the sanican rental fees and for the entertaining educational signs! For more information call SCEA at (360)424-2055.