DISCOVERY BAY — A portion of Discovery Bay will be restricted from commercial shellfish harvesting because high levels of fecal coliform have been found, said a representative of the state Department of Health.
It’s the first time pollution has closed any portion of Discovery Bay to shellfish harvesting, said Bob Woolrich, state Department of Health growing area classification manager, and Mike McNickle, Jefferson County Environmental Health director.
The precise location of the restricted area has yet to be determined.
A sensor discovered the high level of pollutant at the northwest part of Port Discovery.
“We notified shellfish growers that we’re going to have to close that part of Discovery Bay for commercial shellfish harvesting,” said Woolrich Tuesday.
“What we’re going to need to do is see a change in water quality in there before we can reopen it.”
Sampling
Tests showed a count of 46 fecal coliform organisms per 100 milliliters of water for the 90th percentile of samples.
A count above 43 per 100 milliliters requires that the area be restricted to shellfish harvesting.
The 90th percentile count is taken from 30 samples which were tested every other month for the past five years.
Woolrich said about a half mile stretch is expected to be reclassified from approved shellfish harvesting to restricted.
Broder Seafoods, the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe and the state Department of Natural Resources are licensed to harvest shellfish in that stretch of Discovery Bay.
One option for these groups is to relocate the shellfish to an area that is approved for shellfish harvesting, said Woolrich.