Pollution Control Plan
Date Plan Created/Updated
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Process for Creating SPD/Plan
The CWWG created the Dungeness Bay Downgrade Response plan. Most elements of the plan have been implemented. Progress and activities are reported in the CWWG annual work plan and report. The process of updating it is led by the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and the CWWG.
Links to Pollution Control Plan
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Pollution Source: On-Site Sewage System (OSS)
Identifying Potential Pollution Source
The County uses surfacing sewage and dye testing to identify failing OSS. For the past couple of years, however, they have not found OSS that are close enough to a water body to suggest those systems would be cause of elevated levels of fecal coliform (FC) in the water.
Validating Source of Pollution
All information, complaints and inquires regarding failing OSSs are investigated by EH. Bacterial testing and, when warranted, dye testing is used to validate problem OSS.
Verifying Pollution Source Has Been Corrected
Follow through to ensure failing systems are repaired is conducted a majority of the time. The County tracks the case and follows up with property owners to make sure they have collected repair permits. In some cases, problem systems languish due to the inability of the Prosecutor's Office to follow through with enforcement orders or court action when dealing with recalcitrant property owners.
Establishing a Threshold (concentration, number of counts or flow rate)
The County uses state and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for FC concentrations. Any elevated levels are documented in a database. When Pollution Identification and Correct (PIC) program funding becomes available, staff will look at trends in certain locations and then will select locations to receive more intensive monitoring and segmenting.
Pollution Source: Agriculture
Identifying Potential Pollution Source
Clallam County is solely reliant on CCD for agricultural cleanup and Ecology for enforcement in the County. Two unique issues in the area are 1) irrigation and 2) the Olympic Game Farm. Work by CCD led to the piping of irrigation ditches that eliminated fecal coliform contamination from irrigation tailwater and conserved water in the area.
Validating Source of Pollution
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Verifying Pollution Source Has Been Corrected
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Other Pollution Source
Pet Waste
Pet (dog) waste has been determined to be a contributor to bacterial pollution in Dungeness Bay by the Microbial Source Tracking Study (PDF). A few years ago, the County worked with the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe on an EPA grant, which included funding for pet waste stations along the Sequim Bay. In many locations, the public misused pet waste stations (i.e. they left trash at the base of the station) and the Parks Department was not pleased with this. Therefore, the pet waste stations were removed. Clallam County is now looking at funding through the Ecology Centennial grant program to look at better strategies for educating and incentivizing the public to avoid misusing pet waste stations.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
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Other (including wildlife, stormwater, marinas)
Dungeness Bay and the Dungeness Spit are designated as a National Wildlife Refuge. The SPD has a large stormwater component due in large part to the network of irrigation ditches that also function as roadside runoff ditches during the winter. A stormwater ordinance was recommended by the CWWG, although it has not been adopted. The Clallam County Department of Community Development is making progress on adopting a stormwater ordinance. There was also a study on stormwater quality in road-side ditches in the Dungeness area and an assessment of water issues (water quality, flooding, habitat) in the Three Crab's area was prepared by the CCD.