State park's system possible septic solution for Brinnon
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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The $2 million system would include a new on-site septic system at the park just south of the U.S. Highway 101 bridge across the river, and run up to a drainfield on 20 acres north of the Dosewallips River, said Myron Johnson, park development manager with Washington State Parks.
A 6-inch main line would carry effluent parallel to Highway 101 and then up to the drainfield.
The park's system is failing, and parks officials say it is contributing to the degradation of Hood Canal.
Acreage for the drainfield would be purchased.
Johnson wouldn't say where the drainfield would be located.
"We are looking at a piece of property in Brinnon, and are in negotiations," he said.
"We would collect sewage to the park and pump it to the site about a mile away."
Johnson said the system would be designed to handle up to 20,000 gallons of effluent a day, which is figured as the park's peak capacity during the Fourth of July.
"At some point, we wanted Brinnon to know that if they needed capacity, that this probably could help them," Johnson said.
"In the future, if they wanted, they could tap into it."
State Parks and Jefferson County Public Utility District officials met with more than 30 Brinnon residents last week to discuss the proposal that went before the Jefferson County commissioners in February.
"I think it's a good idea," said Jefferson PUD Commissioner Wayne King, who attended the community meeting.
"They need to get the system in," he said.
"Then that would be the time to find out who's hooking up."
Boost economy
Brinnon community advocate Joe Baisch believes such an opportunity would boost the local economy.
"Since the park only operates during part of the year, they've got to have a partner in it," said Baisch, adding that the Brinnon Motel and Brinnon School would be likely candidates, along with other businesses.
"I think this is an extraordinary opportunity for the Brinnon flats area."
The PUD, which might manage the system if business owners hook up to the state's line, recently completed a system at the Beckett Point community.
That system involved a hilltop off-site drainfield where sewage from homes about a quarter-mile away was pumped uphill.
Similarly, effluent would be pumped uphill from the Dosewallips State Park's on-site septic system.
Dosewallips State Park is a 425-acre, year-round camping park with 100 tent spaces, 40 utility spaces, one dump station, three restrooms and two showers.
The park has 5,500 feet of saltwater shoreline on Hood Canal and 5,400 feet of freshwater shoreline on either side of the Dosewallips River.
In Gov. Chris Gregoire's push to cleanup Hood Canal, the park system is charged with being "a leader in state to make our systems as clean as possible," Johnson said.
Baisch said Brinnon would benefit from the protection of one of its main industries.
"It makes total sense for the community to be partners with the state park on this because of the asset of shellfish at Dosewallips State Park and the Taylor [Shellfish] tidelands," he said.
County Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, who was out of town on Tuesday, has said he was excited about the prospect of linking the low-lying Brinnon commercial district along Highway 101 to the park's system.
Austin, who has worked on the proposal, said the rural village center was threatened by the Dosewallips River's flood plain.
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Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: July 08. 2008 9:00PM