Skokomish Tribe upgrades water quality lab
The Skokomish Tribe is upgrading its water quality lab to a state-of-the-art facility. The tribe recently purchased high-end water quality lab equipment from the Shoalwater Bay Tribe to conduct more…
Stillaguamish Tribe testing how mushrooms improve water quality
The Stillaguamish Tribe is testing ways to use mushroom spawn to improve water quality in agricultural areas.
The process, called mycoremediation, allows contaminated water to filter through the fungus’ fibrous roots, which helps reduce fecal contaminants.
“Mycoremediation could help improve surface water management on farms by getting rid of fecal coliform without having to excavate or give up farming,” said Kate Konoski, the natural resources technician for the tribe who is conducting the study. “It’s low-impact, low-cost remediation.”
The lower Stillaguamish River watershed is dominated by agriculturally zoned land. Pollutants from farms include excess nutrients, fecal matter and pesticide contaminated runoff. Excess nutrient and fecal loads can reduce available oxygen, while metals and emerging contaminants can negatively affect salmon spawning. (more…)
More education is a key to protecting Oakland Bay
SHELTON – People living along Oakland Bay don’t think they have anything to do with a significant increase in pollution in the bay, according to a survey by the Sa-Heh-Wa-mish…
Tulalip Tribes’ biomethane plant to benefit salmon restoration
A new biogas plant on Tulalip tribal property is creating more than energy; it's also generating revenue for future salmon restoration projects.
King 5: Major clam bay near shelton in trouble
King 5: One of the nation's richest shell fish bays is in trouble. Oakland Bay near Shelton produces 60 percent of the entire nation's Manila clams. But the water quality…
Pollution Limits Shellfish Harvest In Dungeness Bay
SEQUIM (September 11, 2003) – All of Dungeness Bay will be closed to shellfish harvesting this upcoming winter, eliminating oyster and clam gathering opportunities for Indian and non-Indian harvesters. The Washington Department of Health officially closed the bay to tribal and non-tribal shellfish harvests from November through January, when water quality fails state and federal standards.
That’s a big blow to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, which has always depended on the bay for shellfish. Not only does the Jamestown Tribe harvest clams and oysters along the beach for ceremonial and subsistence purposes, the tribe also operates a commercial shellfish farm in the bay. During the three-month closure, which coincides with the holiday season when clams and oysters are in high demand, the
tribe misses out on much-needed revenue.