Poo on the river
Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:56 pm
Got this out of the local paper. SKOKOMISH RIVER
Anglers apparently more interested in salmon than sanitation — plus a shortage of toilet facilities — are being blamed for an emergency closure of shellfish beds at the mouth of the Skokomish River in Hood Canal.
Shellfish inspectors with the Washington State Department of Health observed numerous piles of human waste behind bushes along the river last week. Acting quickly, they closed about 400 acres of commercial shellfish beaches downstream in Annas Bay on Aug. 18.
“We can’t wait for an illness outbreak,” explained Bob Woolrich of the state Office of Shellfish and Water Protection. “Let me put it this way, it (waste) was not difficult to find. We’ve had people tell us they stepped in it.”
Scott Grout of Gold Coast Oyster Farms had been harvesting shellfish from Annas Bay. He said his crew was forced to dump 1,000 pounds of clams back on the beach following harvest. Since then, because of limited beaches leased elsewhere, he has had to cut his crew of eight down to two full-time and one part-time employee.
The Skokomish Tribe has been unable to take shellfish for tribal uses since the closure, and it probably will be blocked from important commercial harvests at least through September.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife opened the river to chinook fishing on Aug. 1. By the middle of the month, anglers were catching large numbers of hatchery fish, and the word spread quickly. According to some estimates, nearly 2,000 sport fishers were on the river at one time.
“I think it is fair to say that we got caught by surprise by the number of people,” said Phil Anderson, acting director for Fish and Wildlife. “We had more anglers than I have ever witnessed in the past, and we had a lack of facilities. We tried to act quickly to that.”
In response to increased problems with sanitation and trash, the department brought in additional portable toilets and dumpsters and began posting signs asking people to keep the river clean.
Some of the problems occurred on property owned by Hunter Farms, where people were charged for camping and access to the river through private property, Anderson said. In one area near Highway 106, the only portable toilet was a considerable distance, so some people apparently chose the option of going behind a bush, he said.
“We recognize there is a problem, and we’re trying to respond in a responsible way,” Anderson said. “We need help from the sport-fishing public, and we are asking them to abide by the regulations that govern this fishery.”
Both Grout and tribal officials are angry and outspoken.
“The fact that the Skokomish Tribe must close an important shellfish harvest area as a direct result of non-Indian activities that are authorized by WDFW is an outrage and violates the tribe’s treaty rights,” Skokomish Tribal Chairman Charles “Guy” Miller said in a written statement.
The tribe, which is preparing to harvest 170,000 oysters in that area, has called for an immediate closure of the recreational fishery along the Skokomish River, a cleanup of the human waste and a public-awareness campaign to make people aware of the problem.
“We think it is particularly important that the recreational fishery in this area be closed immediately to prevent the problem from getting any worse,” Miller said. “The area also needs to be cleaned up. Simply waiting for floodwaters to flush the area is an unacceptable return to the philosophy of ‘dilution is the solution.’”
Grout said he is glad the Department of Health took action to maintain the reputation of Washington’s shellfish industry. But the issue — including the problems on Hunter Farms’ property — did not occur overnight.
“It is a disgrace what has gone on with this river for five years,” he said. “Could you imagine someone coming onto your property ... and using it as their toilet?”
Woolrich said other sources of pollution in the area include cows that have access to the river and birds that eat discarded fish parts. But the biggest concern, he said, is for highly contagious human pathogens that spread through feces or vomit. Such bacteria and viruses could be passed through shellfish to unsuspecting buyers.
Woolrich said he isn’t sure when the beaches will be reopened.
Debbie Riley, director of environmental health for the Mason County Health District, said cleaning up human waste along the river would be difficult because it was spread over a wide area and people did not leave it in easy-to-find places.
“We have a situation in which we’re waiting for the first flush,” she said. “Will it be when we get our first big rain or when we get a big flood on the Skok? We just don’t know.”
Anderson of Fish and Wildlife said recent actions should avoid further major problems this year, and he is committed to preventing such problems next year.
“We have a responsibility to manage the fishery,” Anderson said. “It’s also in our mandate to provide an orderly fishery. I do not want a repeat of this next year. I don’t think the sport fishery wants a repeat of this.”
Planning for next year could involve working with Hunter Farms to have adequate toilets and dumpsters in the right places, he said. A public meeting before fishing opens on the Skokomish could help ensure that all issues are considered.
For a discussion about water-related issues, check out the blog Watching Our Water Ways at kitsapsun.com.
Anglers apparently more interested in salmon than sanitation — plus a shortage of toilet facilities — are being blamed for an emergency closure of shellfish beds at the mouth of the Skokomish River in Hood Canal.
Shellfish inspectors with the Washington State Department of Health observed numerous piles of human waste behind bushes along the river last week. Acting quickly, they closed about 400 acres of commercial shellfish beaches downstream in Annas Bay on Aug. 18.
“We can’t wait for an illness outbreak,” explained Bob Woolrich of the state Office of Shellfish and Water Protection. “Let me put it this way, it (waste) was not difficult to find. We’ve had people tell us they stepped in it.”
Scott Grout of Gold Coast Oyster Farms had been harvesting shellfish from Annas Bay. He said his crew was forced to dump 1,000 pounds of clams back on the beach following harvest. Since then, because of limited beaches leased elsewhere, he has had to cut his crew of eight down to two full-time and one part-time employee.
The Skokomish Tribe has been unable to take shellfish for tribal uses since the closure, and it probably will be blocked from important commercial harvests at least through September.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife opened the river to chinook fishing on Aug. 1. By the middle of the month, anglers were catching large numbers of hatchery fish, and the word spread quickly. According to some estimates, nearly 2,000 sport fishers were on the river at one time.
“I think it is fair to say that we got caught by surprise by the number of people,” said Phil Anderson, acting director for Fish and Wildlife. “We had more anglers than I have ever witnessed in the past, and we had a lack of facilities. We tried to act quickly to that.”
In response to increased problems with sanitation and trash, the department brought in additional portable toilets and dumpsters and began posting signs asking people to keep the river clean.
Some of the problems occurred on property owned by Hunter Farms, where people were charged for camping and access to the river through private property, Anderson said. In one area near Highway 106, the only portable toilet was a considerable distance, so some people apparently chose the option of going behind a bush, he said.
“We recognize there is a problem, and we’re trying to respond in a responsible way,” Anderson said. “We need help from the sport-fishing public, and we are asking them to abide by the regulations that govern this fishery.”
Both Grout and tribal officials are angry and outspoken.
“The fact that the Skokomish Tribe must close an important shellfish harvest area as a direct result of non-Indian activities that are authorized by WDFW is an outrage and violates the tribe’s treaty rights,” Skokomish Tribal Chairman Charles “Guy” Miller said in a written statement.
The tribe, which is preparing to harvest 170,000 oysters in that area, has called for an immediate closure of the recreational fishery along the Skokomish River, a cleanup of the human waste and a public-awareness campaign to make people aware of the problem.
“We think it is particularly important that the recreational fishery in this area be closed immediately to prevent the problem from getting any worse,” Miller said. “The area also needs to be cleaned up. Simply waiting for floodwaters to flush the area is an unacceptable return to the philosophy of ‘dilution is the solution.’”
Grout said he is glad the Department of Health took action to maintain the reputation of Washington’s shellfish industry. But the issue — including the problems on Hunter Farms’ property — did not occur overnight.
“It is a disgrace what has gone on with this river for five years,” he said. “Could you imagine someone coming onto your property ... and using it as their toilet?”
Woolrich said other sources of pollution in the area include cows that have access to the river and birds that eat discarded fish parts. But the biggest concern, he said, is for highly contagious human pathogens that spread through feces or vomit. Such bacteria and viruses could be passed through shellfish to unsuspecting buyers.
Woolrich said he isn’t sure when the beaches will be reopened.
Debbie Riley, director of environmental health for the Mason County Health District, said cleaning up human waste along the river would be difficult because it was spread over a wide area and people did not leave it in easy-to-find places.
“We have a situation in which we’re waiting for the first flush,” she said. “Will it be when we get our first big rain or when we get a big flood on the Skok? We just don’t know.”
Anderson of Fish and Wildlife said recent actions should avoid further major problems this year, and he is committed to preventing such problems next year.
“We have a responsibility to manage the fishery,” Anderson said. “It’s also in our mandate to provide an orderly fishery. I do not want a repeat of this next year. I don’t think the sport fishery wants a repeat of this.”
Planning for next year could involve working with Hunter Farms to have adequate toilets and dumpsters in the right places, he said. A public meeting before fishing opens on the Skokomish could help ensure that all issues are considered.
For a discussion about water-related issues, check out the blog Watching Our Water Ways at kitsapsun.com.
