DUNGENESS — A study of Dungeness Bay pollution recommends stepping up efforts to lead toward reopening the onetime clean and shellfish-rich bay north of Sequim for harvests.
The recommendations by the state Department of Ecology call for controlling irrigation and stormwater ditch runoff, and monitoring when irrigation is not running to determine the extent and location of fecal coliform pollution.
Such pollution down streams and tributaries has closed down hundreds of acres of Dungeness Bay to recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting, including that by the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe.
Fecal coliform bacteria wash into the water from failing septic systems and from pet, livestock and wildlife manure. Storm water washes it into the river and bay, the report said.
The report, released Thursday, was conducted by Ecology and a consultant, Debby Sargent, with Rensel Associates Aquatic Sciences Consultants of Seattle.
The study will be paired with Ecology’s previously completed freshwater study of Matriotti Creek and Dungeness River.
Together, the studies will be considered by local strategists to create workable, local solutions to clean the water and reopen the shellfish beds for harvesting, said Chris Hempleman, Ecology’s water cleanup program coordinator.
“This community really came together to clean up Dungeness Bay after the shellfish closures began,” said Hempleman.
“They are now in good shape to move forward, integrating these study results into their clean-water strategy.”