We will review lessons learned from the previous Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) phases to adaptively manage the next phase. Objectives are to: Sample up to five new short-term storm event-based surface water quality monitoring locations for parameters such as fecal coliform, E.coli, ammonia, and potassium; Conduct stormwater sampling to identify sources of fecal pollution; Conduct follow-up targeted fecal source tracing; Enhance multi-agency field investigations to correct fecal pollution from livestock, human and pet waste through education and outreach, technical assistance and progressive enforcement; Increase climate change impact awareness and education by incorporating UW Climate Impact Group (CIG) river modeling to develop outreach materials on flood resiliency and land use management; Contract a social marketing firm to use the results from a Washington State University Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (WSU SESRC) social behavior marketing study (funded outside this grant) to develop a marketing campaign strategy and messaging to increase use of technical services, and adoption of behaviors to reduce fecal coliform pollution; PIC program partners will utilize the campaign strategy and messaging to update technical service and/or educational outreach materials, as feasible, in an effort to increase usership of services and adoption of BMPs, as well as raise awareness of fecal coliform pollution; Host a workshop to discuss the seasonal influence of geese, swans, ducks, or other waterfowl on elevated fecal coliform in Port Susan, and present the results of this workshop at PIC forums; and Support cross-program and jurisdiction coordination and information sharing.
The key outcomes expected are: Decrease fecal bacteria pollution into local waterways; Have landowners implement best management practices to prevent fecal coliform from entering the waterways; Have landowners conduct proper maintenance and repair on their on-site septic systems (OSS); Reduce fecal coliform pollution numbers in the commercial shellfish beds in Port Susan Bay; and Prevent any further downgrades of commercial shellfish beds within Port Susan and South Skagit Bay. Currently, about 1,041 acres of commercial shellfish beds are closed to commercial harvesting due to high fecal coliform. Conducting the various tasks in PIC IV is intended to improve water quality, decrease fecal coliform pollution, and improve the status of commercial shellfish beds in Port Susan Bay.