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. ​

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UPDATES AS OF OCTOBER 2019 
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Huge success with our I [heart] Penn Cove events! 

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Grant Summary

Penn 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 & Timeline

Grant 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:

1. Project Development
2. Project Administration and Management
3. Watershed Assessment and Outreach Prioritization 
4. Water Quality BMP Outreach
5. Water Quality BMP Technical Assisstance
6. Water Quality BMP Implementation

What We're Doing

WICD 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.

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Alternative stormwater management techniques address water resource challenges by emphasizing on-site treatment and infiltration of storm water as an alternative to conventional storm water controls. ASM practices encompass a variety of storm water management techniques, including bioswales, rain gardens, green streets, and permeable paving. These practices mimic the hydrology of the original, natural landscape, which allows rainfall to soak into the ground.

What You Can Do

Landowners 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 Information

Water 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.

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Penn Cove Watershed Study Area

Click on Image for WAECY Stormwater & Runoff Website

Click on Image for WAECY Washington's Water Quality Management Plan to Control Nonpoint Sources of Pollution

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.”