Shellfish Protection Districts (SPD) Topics Library

Pollution Source: Other

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Pet Waste

Burley Lagoon, Filucy Bay, Rocky Bay Shellfish Protection Districts (SPDs) / Pierce County Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC)

Pierce County Surface Water Management (SWM) and, to some extent, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) addresses pet waste through education. If there is a significant problem, the TPCHD Code Enforcement Program may become involved to correct the problem.

Kitsap Public Health District

The West Sound Stormwater Outreach Group (WSSOG) is made up of Kitsap County and the cities of Poulsbo, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, Bainbridge Island, and Port Angeles. They are an active participant in Puget Sound Partnership's Stormwater Outreach for Regional Municipalities (STORM). They conducted a baseline public opinion survey in 2008 to identify a baseline of behaviors, attitudes and stormwater awareness. They selected pet waste pickup and disposal as a key behavior for evaluating awareness and behavior changes.

Two programs were implemented and coordinated by Kitsap County Public Works (KCPW) in 2009: the Backyard Pet Waste Pilot Campaign and the Community Mutt Mitt Program.

Backyard Pet Waste Pilot Campaign

This campaign was launched on a small scale until a follow up evaluation demonstrated that residents recalled and understood the messages and talked to others about pet waste disposal. From 2010 through 2012 the campaign was expanded and delivered to more than 25,000 residents with lots of .5 acres or less. The WSSOG pet waste brochure notes that more than eleven tons of dog waste area dropped on the Kitsap Peninsula alone every day.

Community Mutt Mitt Program

This program was established to address pet waste in public places. This program has resulted in the establishment of 294 Mutt Mitt stations installed and maintained by volunteer community groups. In 2012 alone, over 540,000 pet waste disposal bags were used, representing over 89 tons of dog waste diverted from Kitsap County surface waters.

Oakland Bay CWD

Mason ECOnet has installed several pet waste stations in the Oakland Bay CWD and produced an education brochure in collaboration with Mason County Public Health (MCPH). Oakland Bay CWD assisted with the installation of pet waste stations and members have volunteered to restock the stations with bags for pet waste disposal.

Sequim Bay Dungeness Watershed CWD

Pet (dog) waste has been determined to be a contributor to bacterial pollution in Dungeness Bay by the Microbial Source Tracking (PDF) (MST) study. A few years ago, the County worked with the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe on a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (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 Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) Centennial grant program to look at better strategies for educating and incentivizing the public to avoid misusing pet waste stations.

Skagit County Clean Water Program (CWP) / The Clean Samish Initiative (CSI) / PIC Program

Outreach materials for pet owners were developed as part of the PIC program.

South Holmes Harbor SPD

Pet waste stations were installed in public areas with walking trails and high dog walking activity.

Wastewater Treatment Plants

Burley Lagoon, Filucy Bay, Rocky Bay SPDs / Pierce County PIC

The only time this has been an issue is when there was a spill from a sewage lift station.

Jefferson County Clean Water District (CWD)

Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area has plans for sewer. Other existing wastewater treatment plants include Port Townsend (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)), Port Ludlow (NPDES), Fort Flagler (NPDES), Naval Magazine Indian Island.

Oakland Bay CWD

The City of Shelton complies with the requirement of their NPDES permit from Ecology. The $37 million upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Plant was supported by the Clean Water District Advisory Committee (CWDAC).

Skagit County CWP / The CSI / PIC Program

Wastewater Treatment Plants are covered under Ecology permits.

Other (Including Wildlife, Stormwater, Marinas, etc.)

Burley Lagoon, Filucy Bay, Rocky Bay SPDs / Pierce County PIC

SWM has an illicit discharge detection and elimination program as required under its NPDES Phase I Municipal Stormwater permit. The county can enforce any pollution discharged into its MS4 system or directly into any surface water in unincorporated Pierce County.

Jefferson County CWD

The Mystery Bay boater management plan (PDF) will be replicated in South Port Townsend Bay. Further pollution goals include working with Department of Natural Resources to identify moorage buoys and derelict vessels.
Port Townsend is not a phase I or II NPDES permit holder, nor does it have combined sewage overflows. A first round of pathogen sampling in Port Townsend stormwater outfalls was done in Northeast Jefferson Clean Water Project. The Department of Community Development provides training on low impact development issues at its Watershed Stewardship Resource Center.

Kitsap Public Health District

Sewage in Kitsap County marinas is regulated via ordinance 1999-13, “Marina Sewage Regulations (PDF).” In regards to wildlife, Kitsap County operated a pilot project in the Clear Creek watershed where they partnered with KCPW to address food source control (properly disposing of grease and garbage), and to inventory and assess stormwater systems. Poor housekeeping practices were found to attract urban wildlife, resulting in a pollution source. Properties with poor housekeeping practices and/or deficient storm water systems were required to correct the problems. After the corrections were made, fecal coliform numbers were dramatically reduced.

Sequim Bay Dungeness Watershed CWD

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 Clean Water Workgroup (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 Clallam Conservation District.

Skagit County CWP / The CSI / PIC Program

The county has a NPDES phase II permit for some of Skagit County. Attempts are made to enumerate wildlife sources of fecal coliform.

South Holmes Harbor SPD

Investigations are ongoing as to the potential for rack material (dander of kelp, crab carcasses, etc.) to contribute to bacterial exceedances in marine waters on a seasonal basis.

Stillaguamish River CWD

Microbial Water Quality Assessment (MWQA)

Redesign of long term water quality focusing on streams and rivers, leading to on-the-ground source identification. Since 2010 there have been three surveys.

Stormwater

SPD is working with Ecology to test bacterial stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) to remove bacteria and to fund a pet waste program. The SPD is also testing the effectiveness of stormwater BMPs that are used for sediment removal. The SPD has a maintenance inspection program for stormwater facilities to make sure they are maintained, but it may not help identify fecal bacteria.