Hood Canal Pollution Identification and Correction: A Regional Approach
Presentation Abstract
The regional Hood Canal Pollution Identification and Correction (HCPIC) program is a unique opportunity to combine the strengths of current Pollution Identification and Control (PIC) and water quality programs of the jurisdictions in the Hood Canal watershed to build a comprehensive, regional, robust HCPIC program that can address water quality in Hood Canal. Water quality is critical to protecting and enhancing human and ecological health, as well as, critical shellfish industry resources. In a watershed with approximately 25,000 onsite septic systems (OSS), many in close proximity to waterbodies, PIC programs and other water quality programs have been essential to maintaining and improving water quality and will continue to be vital for the health of Hood Canal. Likewise, limiting nitrogen inputs from OSS, stormwater, and agricultural runoff can help improve dissolved oxygen concentrations in Hood Canal. The regional HCPIC involves Hood Canal watershed regional partners, including the local health jurisdictions and stormwater programs for Mason, Kitsap and Jefferson Counties, the Skokomish Tribe, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and the Hood Canal Coordinating Council. This regional team recently completed the planning phase developing regional strategies for monitoring, PIC implementation (stormwater strategy, animal waste strategy, regional protocols, and a five year work plan), as well as, a regional regulatory review, GIS mapping of OSS, and a funding strategy. The goal of this regional approach, in the Hood Canal Action Area, is to enable efficient, prioritized, and coordinated responses by the jurisdictions sharing a common watershed.
Session Title
Session S-07C: Water Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Programs: Methods, Resources, and Success Stories
Conference Track
Water Quality
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 3:30 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
Location
Room 606
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Water quality management--Washington (State)--Hood Canal Watershed--Planning; Water--Pollution--Washington (State)--Hood Canal Watershed
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Hood Canal Watershed (Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Hood Canal Pollution Identification and Correction: A Regional Approach
Room 606
The regional Hood Canal Pollution Identification and Correction (HCPIC) program is a unique opportunity to combine the strengths of current Pollution Identification and Control (PIC) and water quality programs of the jurisdictions in the Hood Canal watershed to build a comprehensive, regional, robust HCPIC program that can address water quality in Hood Canal. Water quality is critical to protecting and enhancing human and ecological health, as well as, critical shellfish industry resources. In a watershed with approximately 25,000 onsite septic systems (OSS), many in close proximity to waterbodies, PIC programs and other water quality programs have been essential to maintaining and improving water quality and will continue to be vital for the health of Hood Canal. Likewise, limiting nitrogen inputs from OSS, stormwater, and agricultural runoff can help improve dissolved oxygen concentrations in Hood Canal. The regional HCPIC involves Hood Canal watershed regional partners, including the local health jurisdictions and stormwater programs for Mason, Kitsap and Jefferson Counties, the Skokomish Tribe, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and the Hood Canal Coordinating Council. This regional team recently completed the planning phase developing regional strategies for monitoring, PIC implementation (stormwater strategy, animal waste strategy, regional protocols, and a five year work plan), as well as, a regional regulatory review, GIS mapping of OSS, and a funding strategy. The goal of this regional approach, in the Hood Canal Action Area, is to enable efficient, prioritized, and coordinated responses by the jurisdictions sharing a common watershed.
