In October 2015, the District began working jointly with Jefferson County Environmental Health to monitor 31 stations in the Chimacum Watershed as part of the Hood Canal Priority Basins Project. So far we have monitored in the months of October, November, and December.
The attached map shows the location of the monitoring stations. The number part of the station designation is the distance in river miles from the mouth of the stream. For instance, station CHI/1.1 is 1.1 miles upstream from the mouth of Chimacum Creek.
Although we are monitoring several parameters including dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, and turbidity, our monthly report will show only the results for fecal coliform bacteria. Other results will be made available on our web site, jeffersoncd.org when the final report is completed.
The Washington State fecal coliform standard has two parts to it. Part 1 states that the geometric mean value (average) should not exceed 50 FC/100 mL. Part 2 states that not more than 10 percent of the samples should exceed 100 FC/100 mL.
Results for October, November, and December are shown in the attached charts. The first bar shows the fecal coliform concentration for the particular month monitored. The second bar is a geometric average for all the months sampled from October 2015 to the current month.
We encourage landowners to do all that you can to keep livestock manure and sediment from entering the creek. The District is here to help you both with the design of Best Management Practices (e.g., fencing, rain gutters, manure storage, livestock watering systems, etc.) and cost sharing programs.
One program available to landowners on salmon streams is the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP provides an economic incentive to landowners to install buffers on their streams. CREP offers an annual rental payment, and pays for all the installation costs of the buffer including fencing, livestock watering, livestock crossings, and planting and maintenance of the trees. Landowners who are interested in this or other voluntary programs should contact the Conservation District for more information or for a no cost/obligation assessment.
If you have any questions about the monitoring data, CREP or cost sharing programs, give us a call. We are here to serve you.
You can view the charts and maps here. Please note, you will need Excel to view the monthly charts
Map of Chim FC stations_8X11 (1)
Glenn Gately
Jefferson County Conservation District
205 W. Patison St.
Port Hadlock, WA 98339