Water Quality Monitoring

Shellfish

North Chuckanut Bay

North Chuckanut Bay is a recreational shellfish harvesting area that supports many species of clams. There have been concerns about bacteria levels in North Chuckanut Bay for the past 25+ years. In 1994, the WA State Department of Health (DOH) conducted a shoreline survey of North Chuckanut Bay, and the resulting report recommended the closure of the recreational shellfish harvesting area due to water quality and sewage disposal conditions. However, the area has always been popular for recreational harvest despite the health advisory and shellfish closure.

The Whatcom MRC is currently working with the Whatcom County Health Department, Whatcom County Public Works Natural Resources, Washington Department of Health, citizen volunteers, and the local community to conduct intensive water quality sampling and community outreach to help potentially restore the recreational shellfish area.

Grab samples for fecal coliform are collected at 14 sites (7 marine sites and 7 freshwater sites) on a monthly basis. Water samples are collected by trained staff and volunteers using consistent methods. For more details on sample collection, you can refer to the Fecal Coliform Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).

The Washington State Department of Health uses fecal coliform (bacteria) data to classify shellfish harvest areas as open, conditionally open, threatened, or closed. Currently, Chuckanut Bay is closed to recreational harvest. Monitoring the freshwater inputs to these systems helps identify priority locations for follow-up actions and public outreach. All water quality data collected through the MRC are included in Whatcom County Public Work's Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Program, which includes over 90 sites throughout Whatcom County. Click here to view monthly sampling results.

Check out the 2024 Chuckanut PIC Final Report

Water Quality Monitoring