General Information
Shellfish Protection District Name
Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District, Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District, and Birch Bay Shellfish Protection District
County
Whatcom
Websites and Links
- Whatcom County Shellfish Protection Districts
- Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District
- Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District
- Birch Bay Shellfish Protection District
- Whatcom County Conservation Program on Agricultural Lands (PDF)
- Whatcom County Conservation District
- Whatcom County Health Department OSS Program (PDF)
- Puget Sound Restoration Fund
- Birch Bay Watershed Aquatic Resource Management District
Geographic Boundaries
All three Whatcom County SPDs are the entirety of the watershed.
Primary Point of Contact
Name: Erika Douglas
Agency: Whatcom County
Phone: 360-676-6876
Email: edouglas@co.whatcom.wa.us
Year and Reason Created
Drayton Harbor: 1995 - 1,010 acres of shellfish beds downgraded from Approved to Prohibited.
Portage Bay: 1998 - 150 acres of shellfish beds downgraded from Approved to Prohibited.
Birch Bay: 2009 - 145 acre downgrade from Approved to Prohibited around the mouth of Terrell Creek.
Members and Stakeholders
Appointed
Advisory committees for each of the districts were created through the Whatcom County Shellfish Protection District Ordinance, Code 16.20 (PDF) last updated during 2012. The committees allow for nine members with a direct interest in the district and two tribal representatives (Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe). All advisory committee members are appointed by the county council for four year terms.
Non-Appointed
Non-appointed participants include: agency representatives from Whatcom County Public Works, Whatcom County Health, Whatcom County Planning and Development Services, Whatcom Conservation District, City of Blaine, Port of Bellingham, Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Washington State Department of Ecology.
Funding Sources
Grants
Grants such as Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) also supplement shellfish protection budget.
Agency Funds
No RCW 90.72 funds are dedicated in Whatcom County.
Taxes and Fees
County flood tax funds one position for shellfish related projects in Whatcom County and $85,000 goes towards shellfish projects each year.
Loans (including Craft3)
n/a