Surface Water Management Division
Marine Water Quality
Marine water quality is a new priority for the Marine Resources Program. Current projects are intended to assess and respond to marine water quality issues in Snohomish County. Marine water quality is essential to human health and to supporting marine ecosystems.
Projects
- Marine Water Quality Assessment
Partners: Northwest Straits Commission
Description: Conduct an analysis of existing water quality programs and identify water quality data gaps along the Snohomish County shoreline.
Project Status: Ongoing
- Mussel Watch Program
Partners: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Stillaguamish Tribe, WSU Beach Watchers, ORCA
Description: Monitor marine water quality by sampling mussels at identified locations on the Snohomish County shoreline, and analyzing their tissues for over 100 different chemical contaminants (45 PAHs, 37 PCBs, 24 pesticides, 10 persistent organic compounds, and 17 trace metals).
Project Status: Ongoing
- Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program (PH:ARM)
Partners: Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division, Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center, WA Department of Ecology, King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program, Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation, and more.
Description: Coordinate a one-day workshop to determine ways to expand the pilot pharmaceutical take-back program statewide. Research and identify key stakeholders from organizations such as hospitals, pharmacies, environmental groups, and law enforcement agencies.
Project Status: Ongoing
- Monitoring Endocrine Disrupters in Salmon
Partners: Stillaguamish Tribe, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Description: Research the impacts of endocrine disrupting chemicals on salmonids by sampling wild and hatchery Chinook salmon to measure levels of the protein Vitellogenin (Vtg) in their blood.
Project Status: Completed 2007
Contact
Kathleen Herrmann, Marine Steward, 425-388-6414
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