Improvement in Henderson Inlet Water

Quality/Shellfish Harvest Status

South Sound Science Symposium

Oct 27, 2010

Henderson Watershed …

What makes it work?

Where is Henderson Inlet?

... all was good ... until ...

Closures, downgrades, and more downgrades …

… and so a program evolved.

2001: Shellfish Protection Dist formed

2002: Committee members appointed Risk-Based O&M program – top priority

2003: Grant dollars available to develop septic O&M program

The Process was key…

• An Advisory Committee began late 2003

• Proposal by April 2004

• Proposal out for public discussion …

More than 300 showed up for the first meeting

… many had serious concerns

… and asked lots of questions

Only about 50 came for open house #2 … and 30 attended final hearing

Program adopted and built …

• November 2005 - Public hearing • December 21, 2005 Board of

Health adopted ‘Area of Special Concern’

• 2006 - Program built• January 1, 2007 - Inspection

notices mailed

Low risk systems – inspect every 3 years

High risk systems – inspect every 3 yearsAND

Dye test every 6 years

Key: Risk-based approach …

HWPA Program Statistics

*Focus: inspect, pump as needed

Certificates Issued: Inspection +

maintenance complete and system is

working

Number of Septic Tanks Pumped

5503 3696

78% of total sent

67% *of total issued

Dye Tests

Number of Dye Tests

Number of Systems

that Passed

Systems needing repair

147 94 (89%) 9 (11%)

Septic System Repair Activity

Installed % ofTotal Installed

Systems 62 51%Tanks 55 45%SandFilter/Mound Rebuilds

4 3%

121

There are still steel septic tanks in Thurston County

Septic Tank Levels

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

1 201 401 601 801 1001 1201 1401 1601 1801 2001 2201 2401 2601 2801 3001 3201 3401 3601 3801 4001 4201 4401 4601 4801

Co

mb

ine

d S

cu

m +

Slu

dg

e (

Inc

he

s)

Pump when scum + sludge more than 16"

Working depth of typical septic tank - 48"

Pumping Septic Tanks – the #1 Neglected Maintenance Issue

Detail of Minor Repairs

Minor Repair Description Number of ...Replace / repair baffles 215

Pipes, floats, electrical 180Tank holes & cracks 131Pump problems 52Other 29

15-Month Total 547

Grants

Riser Rebates

Key: Incentives& Assistance

$51,000

$45,892

$74,230 Low Interest

Loans

HomeownerWorkshops

Riser Rebates $51,000

3696 tanks have been pumped

Minimally developed shoreline… 14.2

residencesper mile

2006 data

But DenseDevelopment

2 hours“travel time”

away

Stormwater treatment has also been ahigh priority. Infrastructure has beenbuilt to treat stormwater flowing to Woodland Creek.

… as a result

shellfish growing areas

have beenreopened!

upgrades

What made it happen?

Who made it happen?

Upgrade:• The will to do it• Hard work• Cooperation

• Watershed residents• Homeowners• Farmers• Cities

• County staff• State agencies

Let’s celebrate!