Fecal Coliform Pollution in Hood Canal - Environmental Health

Thirteen rivers are listed on the 303(d) list for fecal coliform that flow into Hood Canal within Mason County (Table 1). In addition, there are nine marine water areas listed on the 303(d) list for fecal coliform, six of these areas are adjacent to the mouth of one of the 303(d) listed streams (Table 2). Click on Map Link number to go to the Department of Ecology’s 303(d) map.

Table 1 TMDL 303(d) Listed Fresh Water in Mason County

Water Body Name	Parameter	Map Link
SKOKOMISH RIVER	Fecal Coliform	7663
BIG BEND CREEK	Fecal Coliform	45568
DEVERAUX CREEK	Fecal Coliform	45567
HAPPY HOLLOW CREEK	Fecal Coliform	40619
HOLYOKE CREEK	Fecal Coliform	6965
LILLIWAUP CREEK	Fecal Coliform	9889
LITTLE MISSION CREEK	Fecal Coliform	6962
MULBERG CREEK	Fecal Coliform	45581
SHOOFLY CREEK	Fecal Coliform	6960
STIMSON CREEK	Fecal Coliform	6959
TRAILS END CREEK	Fecal Coliform	6966
TWANOH CREEK	Fecal Coliform	6961
TWANOH FALLS CREEK	Fecal Coliform	6964

Table 2 TMDL 303(d) Listed Marine Waters

Water Body Name	Parameter	Map Link
GREAT BEND/LYNCH COVE	Fecal Coliform	6937
GREAT BEND/LYNCH COVE	Fecal Coliform	6939
GREAT BEND/LYNCH COVE	Fecal Coliform	6940
GREAT BEND/LYNCH COVE	Fecal Coliform	6941
GREAT BEND/LYNCH COVE	Fecal Coliform	6942
GREAT BEND/LYNCH COVE	Fecal Coliform	40075
GREAT BEND/LYNCH COVE	Fecal Coliform	40081
GREAT BEND/LYNCH COVE	Fecal Coliform	13930
HOOD CANAL (SOUTH)	Fecal Coliform	40227

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) classifies commercial shellfish harvesting areas. DOH has classified 566 acres as prohibited, 53 acres as conditional and 9347 acres as approved for commercial shellfish harvest in Hood Canal within the boundaries of Mason County. In addition, DOH performs shoreline surveys to identify potential fecal pollution sources in order to classify commercial shellfish beds. In shoreline surveys of the Mason County Hood Canal shoreline (Hood Canal Growing Areas 4 through 9) from 1996 to 2005, DOH identified approximately 826 “potential sources” of fecal pollution based upon field observations. These properties are located adjacent to Hood Canal within Mason County.