South Holmes Harbor Shellfish Protection District - Anecdotes and Links

Anecdotes

Greatest Success

With a focus on targeted outreach and a broad reach, behavior change can be reached. Surface waters in the SPD are in compliance, and DOH is looking at moving the SPD from a permanent closure to a seasonal closure (resulting from exceedances in marine waters).

Greatest Challenge

It is a challenge to maintain programs that are showing good progress without adequate resources. Consistent messaging and communication is important to maintain behavior change.

Needs to Further Goals or Pollution Control Plan / Lessons Learned

When the SPD was formed, inspection reporting was at 14%. After five years of outreach, information campaigns, and other work, compliance with inspection reporting was at 94 percent. However, as staff turned their focus to other areas, compliance rates dropped and are now at 50 percent. The impact on behavior has been temporary.

It is important to think about program elements that are put in place and the legacy of those elements in the future. Features such as poop stations are very effective, but maintenance is important to keep them functional. Without maintenance funding, they can easily fall into disrepair.

Links to Other Documents

Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP's)

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