JOHN DODGE, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published September 30, 2001

THURSTON COUNTY -- County officials are ready to go public with a $1.2 million plan to tackle pollution problems that restrict commercial shellfish harvesting in Henderson Inlet and Nisqually Reach.

A draft plan to form a shellfish protection district for each watershed will be unveiled at 6 p.m. Monday at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road S.E.

The plan relies on existing funds and regulations to correct known pollution problems that have placed 202 acres of shellfish beds off-limits to harvesting.

Another 2,396 acres can't be harvested for five days after heavy rains over a 24-hour period.

More than $700,000 of the budget for the shellfish districts would go to reducing pollution from farms and stormwater runoff from roads.

Programs to improve performance of septic systems -- the other main source of bacterial contamination -- would receive more than $56,000 to pay for inspections and repair loans for homeowners.

The draft plan was shaped based on comments received at public meetings earlier this spring.

State law required the county to form the shellfish protection districts after the shellfish beds were closed to harvest last year.

About 82,000 people live in the two watersheds. The population is expected to grow to 135,000 by 2025.

John Dodge covers the environment and energy for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5444.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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