Shellfish logo used by permission, courtesy of the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (PCSGA)

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it.  Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."

- Chief Seattle

Latest Water Quality Progress Report

The Birch Bay Shellfish Protection District was formed by the Whatcom County Council in 2009 after the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) prohibited harvesting of shellfish in a portion of Birch Bay due to risks to human health from pollution. DOH based their decision for the closures on the water quality of Terrell Creek, one of the major tributaries to the bay, and other aspects of the sanitary survey for Birch Bay.

The closure area is a 670-yard radius around the mouth of Terrell Creek. All shellfish harvest is prohibited here. In addition, there are smaller closure areas near Club House Drive, Birch Bay Marina, and Point Whitehorn.

Shellfish growing areas in the United States are classified based on national water quality standards for fecal coliform bacteria. Among other factors, water quality must meet certain standards in order for people to be able to harvest shellfish from an area. The estimated 90th percentile, which is a statistical calculation, is one of the standards that need to be met. Learn more about classification types and shellfish growing area classification.

There are ten sites in Birch Bay that DOH uses to monitor marine water quality and to classify the harvesting area. In addition, Whatcom County Public Works monitors 14 sites in the Terrell Creek watershed to assess fresh water quality, and the Marine Resources Committee collects data at 18 stations along the coastline.