Penn Cove - Near Term Action (NTA)
Penn Cove is located two hours North of Seattle, Washington, and is an important economic and ecological place on Whidbey Island. Shellfish growing areas are currently threatened with a classification downgrade by Washington Department of Health due to exceedances of water quality standards, assumed to be from upland sources.
UPDATES AS OF NOVEMBER 2020
As a result of covid-19 we adaptively managed our outreach strategy to accommodate CDC & Washington State Guidance to stay safe and healthy. Check out our YouTube Channel! Thank you to all WICD Staff, Clients, & Partners that made it possible!!! Call us with your questions, and let us know if you are interested in any of our services Or Request Assistance |
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UPDATES AS OF OCTOBER 2019
Huge success with our I [heart] Penn Cove events! Thank you to all workshop attendees!!! Call us with your questions, and let us know if you are interested in any of our services Or Request Assistance |
Grant SummaryPenn Cove Watershed: Water Quality Outreach & Best Management Practice Assistance
In July 2018, Whidbey Island Conservation District (WICD) received grant funding through the Washington State Department of Ecology (ECY), from the National Estuary Program Stormwater Strategic Initiative, to improve water quality through outreach, technical assistance, and Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island. WICD will use a remote watershed assessment to address potential contaminants discharging into Puget Sound from the 6,100 Penn Cove Watershed. Penn Cove is popular marine water body for recreational boating and shellfishing, and serves as headquarters for Penn Cove Shellfish, a large commercial shellfish farm operation. These uses illustrate the importance of protecting public health and the local economy through direct outreach and assistance to willing landowners. This project starts with a watershed assessment to determine surface water drainage patterns, types, and distribution of land uses. This information helps identify potential sources of contamination near water streams and ditches. By contducting public outreach and providing technical assistance to landowners in this basin, this project is focused on encouraging and supporting landowners with relevant BMPs to address water quality concerns. |
Project Tasks & TimelineGrant funding for this project is divided over a 2-year period starting February 1, 2018 and expiring on September 1, 2020. The following six project tasks have been distributed accordingly over the grant period:
What We're DoingWICD is a non-regulatory organization that provides free services to Whidbey Island through voluntary cooperation with land owners, to improve land use & management practices. Our aim in this project is to connect with Penn Cove Watershed Land Owners to promote and support the implementation of water quality BMPs on their property.
What You Can DoLandowners can help protect and improve water quality by implementing BMPs on their property. BMPs such as vegetated buffers, rotational grazing, nutrient management, use of properly surfaced confinement areas, installing gutters & downspouts to manage stormwater, manure management, lawn care, car maintenance, septic systems, and more.
More InformationWater Management Resources
Click on the link above. Resources located on the right column of web page, or in the middle of your mobile view, as an accordion drop-down menu To learn more, contact us at (888) 678-4922 and ask for Gwendolyn. Are you a resident of the Penn Cove Watershed with a water resource concern? Get started with conservation assistance by filling out the form below. |
Our Partners:
“This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement 01J18101 to Department of Ecology. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.”