Great News! Shellfish Beds Now Reopen for Harvesting in Birch Bay

After 10 years of closure due to fecal coliform pollution, the Washington State Department of Health upgraded 129 acres of shellfish beds in Birch Bay from Prohibited to Approved for shellfish harvesting on January 16. Years of hard work and collaboration by community members, non-profit organizations, and local government working together to improve water quality in Terrell Creek, the largest tributary to Birch Bay, have resulted in improved water quality and the reopening. This is a community success worth celebrating! Thank you to everyone working to improve water quality in the Birch Bay watershed. A community celebration is being planned for later this year. For more information read the press release here.

Additional news stories include: Harvest restrictions lifted on 129 acres of Birch Bay, Terrell Creek Cleanup Leads to Open Shellfish Beds and These Birch Bay shellfish beds have been closed for 10 years. Here’s why they’re reopening.