BRINNON — Residents of East Jefferson County are invited to the county public health department’s open house for the Central Hood Canal Water Quality Project at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24.
The event will feature information about the project and grant programs at the Brinnon Community Center, 306144 U.S. Highway 101.
Topics such as upcoming shellfish harvesting restrictions by the state Department of Health (DOH), the Central Hood Canal Pollution Identification &Correction Project, and affordable loan and grant programs to aid in septic system repairs/replacements will be covered.
“High levels of bacteria have led the DOH to downgrade a shellfish harvest area off the mouth of the Duckabush River and … the Dosewallips River is also seeing declining water quality,” a news release said.
Public health officials are trying to address these problems and improve water quality by identifying and correcting pollution sources, they said in the release.
To do this, public health officials plan to monitor streams, shorelines and marine water for bacteria and other pollutants.
Other major components of the project include a survey of septic systems and provide information to local residents about ways to protect their property values, as well as water quality.
The project is funded in part by the state and the Jefferson County Clean Water District.
For more information, contact Anna Bachmann at 360-379-4482 or abachmann@co.jefferson.wa.us.
