The
Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District was formed by the Whatcom
County Council in 1998 after the Washington
State Department of Health (DOH) prohibited harvesting of shellfish
in portions of Portage Bay due to deteriorating water quality.
Shellfish growing areas in the United States are classified based
on national water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria.
Learn more about classification
types and shellfish
growing area classification.
In October 2003, the Washington Department of Health approved the
reopening of 625 acres in Portage Bay to shellfish harvesting. In May 2006, the remaining "Restricted" area was upgraded to "Approved" for tribal harvesting. However, bacteria levels in many of the tributaries feeding into the Nooksack River continue to exceed water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria.
Status of Fecal Coliform Levels in Portage Bay (May 2010)

Green dot indicates bacteria levels well within the standards (<20 FC/100mL), yellow dot indicates sites of concern (20-30 FC/100mL).
Last updated 6/16/10
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