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Quartermaster Harbor Nitrogen Management Study: Final Study Report

January 2014

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Quartermaster Harbor Nitrogen Management Study: Final Study Report Prepared for: U.S. EPA West Coast Estuaries Initiative Grant Quartermaster Harbor Nitrogen Management StudySubmitted by: Curtis DeGasperi King County Water and Land Resources Division Department of Natural Resources and Parks Funded in part by U.S EPA West Coast Estuaries Initiative Grant

QuartermasterHarborNitrogenManagementStudy:FinalStudyReport

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Acknowledgements TheauthoracknowledgesthecontributionsoftheQuartermasterHarborstudyteamthatprovidedthefoundationforworksummarizedinthisreport,including:KingCounty–SevinBilir,EricFerguson,JimSimmonds,KimStark,andLarryStockton;UniversityofWashington‐Tacoma–Dr.CherylGreengroveandJulieMasura;andtheWashingtonDepartmentofEcology–SkipAlbertsonandCarolMaloy.ThanksarealsoduetootherEcologystaffthatcontributedtheirtechnicalexpertisetothisstudy,includingAniseAhmed,GregPelletier,MindyRoberts,BrandonSackmann,andAnthonyWhiley.ThanksalsogotoEPARegion10fortheirsupportandguidance,includingProjectOfficerspast(TonyFournier,MelisaWhitakerandJillGable)andpresent(JayshikaRamrakha),QualityAssuranceOfficerGinnaGrepo‐Grove,andProjectMonitorBenCope.ThanksespeciallytothefieldsupportprovidedbytheKingCountyFieldScienceUnit(BobKruger,JimDevereaux,JeffDroker,ChristopherBarnes,StephanieHess,andDavidRobinson)andstudentsfromtheUniversityofWashington‐Tacoma(NickSchlaferandNannetteHuber).LaboratorysupportforsamplingconductedbyKingCountywasprovidedbytheKingCountyEnvironmentalLaboratory(KatherineBourbonais,LaboratoryProjectManager)andlaboratorysupportfortheUniversityofWashington‐TacomawasprovidedbyKathyKrogslund,DepartmentofOceanography,UniversityofWashington‐Seattle.ThesupportandparticipationoftheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteeisalsogratefullyacknowledged,includingpresentandformermembers:Presentmembers:JayBecker,StephenBuffington,JamesDam,GibDammann,Laurie

Geissinger,FrankJackson,PhilipMcCready,BillRiley,GreggRocheford,andArminWahanik

Formermembers:JohnGerstle,DonnaKlemka,YvonneKuperberg

Citation

KingCounty.2014.QuartermasterHarborNitrogenManagementStudy:FinalStudy

Report.PreparedbyCurtisDeGasperi,WaterandLandResourcesDivision.Seattle,Washington.


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Table of Contents ExecutiveSummary...............................................................................................................................................vii

1.0 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................1

1.1 StudyArea................................................................................................................................................1

1.2 ProjectOverview...................................................................................................................................3

1.3 GoalsandObjectives............................................................................................................................4

1.4 OrganizationofReport.......................................................................................................................8

2.0 MarineEutrophication............................................................................................................................9

3.0 Historicalcontext....................................................................................................................................14

3.1 InitialEuropeanDiscoveryandSettlement............................................................................14

3.2 IndustrialandAgriculturalDevelopment...............................................................................15

3.3 TransportationDevelopment.......................................................................................................15

3.4 ResidentialDevelopment...............................................................................................................16

3.5 RecreationalDevelopment............................................................................................................17

3.6 Implications..........................................................................................................................................19

4.0 Freshwater.................................................................................................................................................21

4.1 SurfaceWater......................................................................................................................................21

4.2 Groundwater........................................................................................................................................30

4.3 Synthesis................................................................................................................................................38

5.0 MarineWater............................................................................................................................................41

5.1 WaterQualityStandards.................................................................................................................41

5.2 PhysicalCharacteristics..................................................................................................................43

5.3 WaterQuality.......................................................................................................................................43

5.4 HarmfulAlgalBlooms......................................................................................................................52

5.5 SedimentNutrientandDissolvedOxygenFlux....................................................................52

5.6 Synthesis................................................................................................................................................53

6.0 NitrogenLoading....................................................................................................................................57

6.1 Groundwater........................................................................................................................................57

6.2 MarineBoundary...............................................................................................................................58

6.3 MarineVessels.....................................................................................................................................62

6.4 NearshoreSepticSystems..............................................................................................................62


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6.5 SurfaceWater......................................................................................................................................63

6.6 AtmosphericDeposition.................................................................................................................63

6.7 BenthicFlux..........................................................................................................................................63

6.8 Synthesis................................................................................................................................................63

7.0 ConclusionsandRecommendations...............................................................................................66

8.0 References..................................................................................................................................................68

Figures Figure1. MapofVashon‐MauryIslandhighlightingthedrainageareato

QuartermasterHarbor.................................................................................................................2

Figure2. MonthlydissolvedoxygenconcentrationsmeasuredinbottomwatersofQuartermasterHarborbyKingCounty.................................................................................4

Figure3. Conceptualdiagramofmarinenutrient‐oxygendynamics..........................................5

Figure4. Monthlyconcentrationsofsurfacewateralgalbiomass(basedonmeasurementsofchlorophylla),surfaceconcentrationsofnitratenitrogen,andbottomwaterdissolvedoxygenconcentrationsattheYachtClub(StationMSWH01)inInnerQuartermasterHarbor........................................................6

Figure5. Schematicrepresentationofthecontemporary(PhaseIIconceptualmodelofcoastaleutrophicationproposedbyCloern(2001).................................................13

Figure6. GraphshowingchangeinforestcoverinselectedbasinsonVashon‐MauryIsland,1911‐2007........................................................................................................................16

Figure7. GraphshowingthepopulationchangeonVashon‐MauryIsland,1920‐2010..17

Figure8. MapshowingcurrentserviceareafortheVashonIslandWastewaterTreatmentSystem........................................................................................................................18

Figure9. MapshowingearlydistributionpatternofdevelopmentactivitiesaroundQuartermasterHarbor...............................................................................................................20

Figure10. Mapshowinglocationsofstreamdischargegaugingandwaterqualitymonitoringstations.....................................................................................................................22

Figure11. Graphsshowingstreamdischarge(gauge28a)andwaterqualitydata(stationVA42A)forJuddCreek..............................................................................................23

Figure12. Graphsshowingstreamdischarge(gauge65B)andwaterqualitydata(stationVA41A)forFisherCreek..........................................................................................24

Figure13. Graphsshowinginstantaneousstreamdischargeandwaterqualitydata(stationVA45A)forMiletaCreek..........................................................................................25

Figure14. Graphsshowingstreamdischarge(gauge43a)andwaterqualitydata(stationVA12A)forShingleMillCreek...............................................................................26


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Figure15. Graphsshowingstreamdischarge(gauge65A)andwaterqualitydata(stationVA37A)forTahlequahCreek.................................................................................27

Figure16. Boxplotofmonthly(November2006throughDecember2010)nitrate+nitritenitrogenconcentrationsmeasuredinroutinemonthlywaterqualitysamplesfromthethreecreeksthatdischargedirectlytoQuartermasterHarbor(Judd,Fisher,andMiletacreeks)...........................................29

Figure17. Nitrate+NitritenitrogenconcentrationsmeasuredinroutinemonthlywaterqualitysamplesfromfourVashon‐MauryIslandCreekscollectedfromNovember2006toSeptember2012....................................................................................29

Figure18. BoxplotcomparingnitrateconcentrationsobservedatfreshwaterinputsalongtheshoreofQuartermasterHarborinOctober2010andtheconcentrationsmeasuredinOctoberfrom2007to2010inthethreeroutinelymonitoredtributaries–Fisher,JuddandMiletacreeks..........................30

Figure19. EstimatedbottomelevationsoftheVashonadvanceoutwashgeologiclayer(elevationdatumisNAVD88–2.9ftisequaltoMeanLowerLowWater).........32

Figure20. Geologiccrosssectionfromwesttoeast(lefttoright)throughinnerQuartemasterHaborandBurtonPeninsula.....................................................................33

Figure21. Mapshowinglocationsofprecipitationgaugingstationsandshallowanddeepgroundwaterwaterqualitymonitoringwells......................................................34

Figure22. BoxplotsshowingShallowandDeepgroundwaterconcentrationsofdissolvednutrients:A)nitrate,B)ammonia,C)solublereactivephosphorusandD)dissolvedsilica................................................................................................................35

Figure23. BoxplotshowingShallowandDeepgroundwaterconcentrationsofnitratenitrogeninKingCountyroutinemonitoringwellsandavailabledatacompiledforGroupAandGroupBwatersupplysystems.........................................36

Figure24. MapandassociatedboxplotshowingnitrateconcentrationsmeasuredinShallowAquiferwellsandCritcalAquiferRechargeArea(CARA)categories..37

Figure25. Responseofnitrateinshallowgroundwaterwellstouplandlandclearingandagriculturalactivities.........................................................................................................39

Figure26. GraphcomparingmonthlystreamnitrateconcentrationsinVashon‐MauryIslandCreekswithrelativelyundevelopedGriffinCreek...........................................40

Figure27. Colorcontourmapsshowingthelongitudinaldistributionofdensity(sigma‐t)inQuartermasterHarborbasedonmonthlycruisesconductedbyUWTacomain2011(KingCounty2014)...................................................................................44

Figure28. GraphshowingQuartermasterHarborflushingtimes(days)determinedfor2009conditionsfromthefineresolutionhydrodynamicmodeldevelopedforthisstudy...................................................................................................................................45

Figure29. MapofthefineresolutionhydrodynamicmodelgridofQuartermasterHarborillustratingthepredictedOctober2009flushingtime(Albertson2013)..................................................................................................................................................45


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Figure30. TimeseriesplotscomparingsurfacewaterconcentrationsofchlorophyllaandnitratenitrogenandbottomwaterconcentrationsofdissolvedoxygenatA)theYachtClubandatB)EastPassagefrom2006through2012.................46

Figure31. MapshowingmarinemonitoringstationssampledbyKingCountyandUWTaspartofthisstudy.....................................................................................................................47

Figure32. TimeseriesplotsofKingCountycontinuousmooring(DocktonandYachtClub)andweather(Dockton)datacollectedbyKingCountyinQuartermasterHarborsincelate2008...............................................................................49

Figure33. TimeseriesplotsofKingCountycontinuousmooring(DocktonandYachtClub)andweather(Dockton)datacollectedbyKingCountyinQuartermasterHarborduringperiodsoflowdissolvedoxygenattheYachtClubinSeptember2012............................................................................................................50

Figure34. TimeseriesplotsofKingCountycontinuousmooring(DocktonandYachtClub)andweather(Dockton)datacollectedbyKingCountyinQuartermasterHarborduringperiodsoflowdissolvedoxygenattheYachtClubinOctober2013..................................................................................................................51

Figure35. Mapshowinglocationsofbenthicnutrientfluxchambers........................................54

Figure36. Mapshowinglocationsofbottom‐mountedacousticdopplercurrentprofilers.............................................................................................................................................61

Figure37. BarchartillustratingtherelativecontributionofDINtoQuartermasterHarborinOctober,thecriticalperiodwhendissolvedoxygenconcentrationsaretypicallylowest......................................................................................................................64

Tables Table1. VariousdefinitionsofVashon‐MauryIslandaquiferunits,includingthe

definitionsusedinthisstudy..................................................................................................31

Table2. Washingtonmarinedissolvedoxygenstandards(WAC173‐201A‐201)............42

Table3. Comparisonofdissolvedoxygenandnutrientfluxestimatestosurfacesediment(0‐2cm)chemistrymeasuredinthevicinityofeachbenthicfluxchamber............................................................................................................................................55

Table4. Waterbalance‐basedestimateofrechargeintheQuartermasterHarbordrainagebasin................................................................................................................................57

Table5. SalinityboxmodelresultsformonthlymarineboundaryinorganicnitrogeninputstoQuartermasterHarbor............................................................................................60

Table6. SalinityboxmodelresultsformonthlymarineboundaryinorganicnitrogeninputstoinnerQuartermasterHarbor................................................................................60


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Table7. MarineboundaryinorganicnitrogeninputtoQuartermasterHarborinOctober2009basedonresidualflowestimatesprovidedbyAlbertson(2013)................................................................................................................................................60

Table8. SummaryofestimatedDINinputstoQuartermasterHarborinOctober............64

Appendices AppendixA:OutreachActivitySummaryandChangeIncorporatedintothe2012KingCountyComprehensivePlan……………………………………………………………………………………….A‐1


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In2008,Region10oftheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)awardedKingCountyaWestCoastEstuariesInitiative(WEI)granttoconducttheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenManagementStudy,whichwasfundedthroughtheendof2013.Theoverallpurposeofthisstudywastodeterminehownitrogenfromavarietyofsources,includinghumans,affectsdissolvedoxygenlevelsinQuartermasterHarbor.TheexpectedlongtermoutcomeswereimprovedwaterqualitymanagementpoliciesintheKingCountyComprehensivePlanandtheprotectionandenhancementofwaterqualityinQuartermasterHarbor.Inaddition,theeffectofhumaninputsofnitrogenondissolvedoxygenlevelsinPugetSound,includingHoodCanalandothershallowembaymentslikeQuartermasterHarbor,havebeenthesubjectofresearchandpolicydevelopmentforalmostfourdecades.Thisstudycontributestothatbodyofknowledge.PartnersworkingwithKingCountyonthisgrant‐fundedstudyincludedtheUniversityofWashington‐Tacoma(UWT)andtheWashingtonDepartmentofEcology(Ecology).Thisprojectsupportedtheenhancementofaquaticresourceprotectioninanareathreatenedbypopulationgrowthpressures.ThisfinalreportsummarizestheworkconductedaspartoftheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenManagementStudyandprovidesanoverviewofstudyfindings.Detailedfindingsonspecifictopicsarecontainedinotherprojectreports.SummaryofWorkCompletedintheWEIgrantTheworkproductscompletedaspartofthisstudyincludedthefollowing:

QualityAssuranceProjectPlan(QAPP)toidentifyprojecttasks,fieldandlaboratorymethodsandqualitycontrolprocedures,anddeliverableschedule

IndividualQAPPsforspecificprojecttasks,includingharborcurrentmeterdeployment,marinesedimentbenthicfluxstudy,nearshorefreshwaternitrogeninputsstudy,MiletaCreeknitrogensourcetrackingstudy,anddevelopmentofhydrodynamicandwaterqualitymodeloftheharbor

Anumberofreportsdocumentingthetasksthatwereaccomplished,including:

o InitialAssessmentofNutrientLoadingtoQuartermasterHarbor(2010)

o QuartermasterHarborNearshoreFreshwaterInflowsAssessment(2012)

o MiletaCreekNitrogenSourceTrackingStudy(2012)

o QuartermasterHarborBenthicFluxStudy(2012)1

o HydrodynamicModelReport.QuartermasterHarborNitrogenManagementStudy(2013)

1Benthicfluxreferstothebiologicalandchemicalprocessesthatoccurinsedimentsthatresultinuptakeofoxygen(oftenreferredtoassedimentoxygendemand)andthereleaseoruptake(flux)ofnutrientsbetweenthewaterandsediment.


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o QuartermasterHarborMarineWaterQualityDataReport2007‐2011(2014)

o Vashon‐MauryIslandWaterResources–ARetrospectiveofContributions&Highlights(2013)

Monthlystreamwaterqualitydataandcontinuousflowandtemperature

observationsofimportantcreeks,includingJudd,FisherandMiletacreeks

Routinemarinemonitoringdataandcontinuousmooringdataatanumberofstationslocatedthroughouttheharbor,includingstationsattheYachtClubintheinnerharborandattheDocktonmarinaintheouterharbor

Publiccommunicationandoutreach,primarilythroughpublicpresentationsandpressreleases(documentedinAppendixAofthisreport)

Recommendedchangesforincorporationintothe2012updateoftheKingCountyComprehensivePlan(seeAppendixA)

SomeoftheinitialprojectobjectivesintheprojectworkplanprovedoverlyambitiousandwereadjustedinconsultationwithEPAduringthecourseoftheprojecttobetteralignthegoals,objectivesandresourcesofthestudy.Theinitialobjectivestoconductafieldstudyofonsitesepticsystem(OSS)nitrogenremovaleffectivenessandanitrogensourcetrackingstudy(usingstableisotopes)werereplacedwithotherfocusedstudiesthatweremorelikelytobeinformativeandsuccessful.Thisworkwasreflectedinthelistoftaskscompletedabove:harborcurrentmeterstudy(usedincalibrationandtestingofthehydrodynamicmodel),marinebenthicfluxstudy(toprovidesedimentnutrientreleasedataspecifictotheharbor),freshwaterinflowsassessment(toevaluatethereliabilityofscalingnitrogenloadingestimates)andtheMiletaCreeknitrogensourcetrackingstudy(toattempttoidentifythecauseofseasonallyelevatednitrateconcentrationsinthiscreek).Althoughahydrodynamicmodel(thefirststepindevelopmentofareceivingwaterqualitymodel)oftheharborwasdevelopedaspartofthisstudy,thedevelopmentofanadequatelycalibratedwaterqualitymodelwasnotaccomplished.Aworkingwaterqualitymodelwasdevelopedbasedonthehydrodynamicmodel,butprojectresourceswerenotsufficienttofullycalibrateandtestthemodel.Therefore,thestudydidnotdeterminethedegreeofhumaninfluenceondissolvedoxygenconcentrationsnorevaluatetheeffectivenessofvariousnitrogenmanagementscenarios.Nonetheless,thisstudydoesprovideasolidfoundationofinformationandafunctioning,albeitun‐calibrated,waterqualitymodeloftheharborthatcouldbeusedbyEcologytodevelopadissolvedoxygenTotalMaximumDailyLoadstudyforQuartermasterHarbor–listedasCategory5inWashington’s2012listofimpairedmarinewaters.2

2Category5‐PollutedwatersthatrequireaTMDLorotherWaterQualityImprovement(WQI)project:thetraditionallistofimpairedwaterbodiesalsoknownasthe303(d)list.PlacementinthiscategorymeansthatEcologyhasdatashowingthatthewaterqualitystandardshavebeenviolatedforoneormorepollutants,andthereisnoTMDLorpollutioncontrolplan.TMDLsorotherapprovedWQIprojectsarerequiredforthewaterbodiesinthiscategory.


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Summary of Study Results Thisfinalstudyreportsummarizesfreshwater(groundwaterandsurfacewater)inputstoQuartermasterHarbor,marinewaterqualityandsourcesofnitrogen.Italsoprovidesrecommendationsforfuturestudiestoaddressmanagementchallenges.DissolvedoxygenlevelsbelowtheWashingtonStatemarinewaterqualitystandard(WashingtonAdministrativeCode173‐201A)havebeenobservedinQuartermasterHarboroverthelastsevenyearsbyKingCounty.OxygenconcentrationsaretypicallylowestinSeptemberorOctober.Dissolvedoxygenisessentialforfishandothermarinelife‐whenlevelsfallbelowcriticalthresholdsmarinelifecanbecomestressedorkilledorforcedtoescapetomoreoxygenatedwatersifpossible.AlgalbiomassgenerallypeaksduringspringandsummerinQuartermasterHarbor,whichcoincideswithareductionofnitrateconcentrationstobelowthelimitoflaboratorydetectionasaresultofalgaluptakeandgrowth.Theminimumoxygenconcentrationsobservedinlatesummerandfallareassociatedwiththefinaldeclineinthesummerpeaksinalgalbiomass.Thesedataprovideevidencethatphytoplanktongrowthintheharborislimitedbynitrogenandthatadditionalinputsofnitrogenhavethepotentialtofueladditionalalgalgrowth,causingevenloweroxygenlevelswhenthealgaerespireatnightordieandaredecomposedinthewatercolumnandsediments.HistoricaldataandinformationcollectedaspartofthisstudysuggestthathumanactivityonVashon‐MauryIslandhasresultedinelevatedsurfaceandgroundwaterconcentrationsofnitrogen,particularlyasnitrate.Increasesobservedinthemostsusceptibleaquifersnearthegroundsurfacehavenotexceededthedrinkingwatermaximumcontaminantlevel(MCL)of10mg/LandconcentrationsappeartovaryspatiallytosomedegreeinrelationtosusceptibilitytocontaminationbasedontheCriticalAquiferRechargeArea(CARA)designations.Itisuncertaintowhatextentanyparticularsourcecontributestoelevatednitrateconcentrationsinislandfreshwatersystems,butsourcesincludeonsitesepticsystems,applicationofnitrogencontainingfertilizerormanure,uncoveredmanurestorage,animalmanure/urine(urineistheprimarysourceofnitrogenfromanimals,includinghumans)andredalder.3However,ofthesesources,onsitesepticsystemsareclearlyacontributortonitrateingroundwaterbecausetheyaredesignedtodeliversolublenitrogenbelowthesoilsurfacetobedilutedintothelocalgroundwatersystembeforereachingastreamorthemarineshoreline.Anonsitesepticsystemdoesnotneedtofailinordertodischargeinorganicnitrogentogroundwaterandultimatelytoreceivingwaters.Upgradingconventionalsepticsystems,particularlysystemsalongtheshorelinelimitedbyareaandsoilquality,wouldbecostly.Developmentoflocaldecentralizedsystemsorconnectiontotheexistingcentralizedwastewatertreatmentsystemontheislandisnotanewideaand

3Redalderisanitrogenfixingtreecommonindisturbedareas,includingsecondandthirdgrowthforests.


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wasevaluatedasrecentlyas2008byKingCounty(HarborCommunitiesWastewaterManagementOptions).4Thereremainsagreatdealofuncertaintyregardingthehumancontribution,particularlyhumanactivityonVashon‐MauryIsland,tonitrogenandotherfactorsthatmaycauselowdissolvedoxygenconcentrationsandharmfulalgalbloomsinQuartermasterHarbor.ThecurrentbestestimatesoftherelativecontributionofnitrogensourcestotheharbordevelopedaspartofthisstudyandinformationgeneratedinotherrelatedstudiesofPugetSoundsuggestthatonlyaportionoftheobservedlowdissolvedoxygeninlatesummerisduetohumaninfluence.ThisisconsistentwithotherstudiesinPugetSound.However,thestateanti‐degradationstandardfordissolvedoxygenisbasedonadeterminationofanexpliciteffectofnomorethan0.2mg/Ldeclineinoxygenduetohumaninfluence.DeterminationofwhetherornotthisthresholdhasbeenexceededhasbeenachallengethroughoutPugetSound,particularlyforworkconductedonthisissueinHoodCanal.Theapproachthatistypicallytakentodeterminethehumancontributiontotheobservedlowoxygenlevels,andonethatwasoriginallyintendedforthisproject,istodevelopandcalibrateanumericaleutrophicationmodelandcomparecurrentconditionandnaturalconditionmodelscenariostoassesscompliancewiththeanti‐degradationstandardfordissolvedoxygen(nomorethan0.2mg/Ldeclineduetohumaninfluence).Thisapproachischallengingforanumberofreasons,especiallyconsideringtheoccurrenceofspeciesofpotentiallyharmfulalgaeandcomplicatedinteractionswithsedimentandweatherconditions.Managingwaterqualityunderthislevelofuncertaintypresentschallengesthatshouldbeacknowledgedandaddressed.AdditionalscientificinformationthatcouldhelpaddresssomeofthesechallengesinQuartermasterHarborincludesthefollowing:

Reviewcurrentfreshandmarinemonitoringprogramsandrecommendchangestoensurethatsamplingdesignsarerobusttodetectingchange,particularlywithrespecttoseparatingnaturalvariabilityfromanthropogeniceffects

Investigatethecausesoffishkills,includinganalysesofkeywaterqualityandplanktonicvariablesandanalysisoffishtissuesbypathologists

Standardizeandperformtrendanalysisofparalyticshellfishpoison(PSP)monitoringdatacollectedbytheWashingtonStateDepartmentofHealth

UsetheexistingEcologyPugetSound/GeorgiaBasinmodeltosupplyboundaryconditionstothecurrentQuartermasterHarborhydrodynamic/waterqualitymodelorincreasetheresolutionofthePugetSound/GeorgiaBasinmodelwithinQuartermasterHarbor

4TheseplanningeffortswereintendedtoaddressconcernsregardingcontaminationofshellfishbedswithhumanpathogensnowbeingaddressedbytheMarineRecoveryArea(MRA)designationhttp://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/wastewater/mra/quartermaster.aspx


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Collectandanalyzesedimentcorestoattempttobetteridentifythehistoryofcarbon,nutrientsandphytoplankton(andlevelsofanoxia)sincebeforeextensiveinhabitationanddevelopment

Conductastudythatattemptstoseparatetherelativecontributionofalder,OSS,fertilizeranddomesticanimalwastetoharbornitrogenloading

Developgroundwatersusceptibility/vulnerabilitymapsbasedonavailablenitratedataandlandcharacteristicsspecifictoVashon‐MauryIsland


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1.0 INTRODUCTION In2008,Region10oftheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)awardedKingCountyaWestCoastEstuariesInitiative(WEI)granttoconducttheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenManagementStudy,whichwasfundedthroughtheendof2013.ThegoalofthisstudywastosupporttheprotectionandrestorationofQuartermasterHarbor–ahighvalue,coastalaquaticresourceonVashon‐MauryIslandinPugetSound.PartnersworkingwithKingCountyonthisgrant‐fundedstudyincludedtheUniversityofWashington‐Tacoma(UWT)andtheWashingtonDepartmentofEcology(Ecology).Thisprojectsupportedtheenhancementofaquaticresourceprotectioninanareathreatenedbypopulationgrowthpressures.ThisfinalreportsummarizestheworkconductedaspartoftheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenManagementStudyandprovidesanoverviewofstudyfindings.

1.1 Study Area QuartermasterHarbor,locatedbetweenVashonandMauryIslandsinPugetSound,isshelteredfromthewindandwavesandreceivesrunofffromabout40percentofVashon‐MauryIsland(Figure1).Itisashallowembaymentthatcomprisesapproximately12.1km2(3,000acres)ofwatersurfaceareainaninnerandouterharbor.InnerQuartermasterHarborisespeciallyshelteredandJuddCreek,locatedinthenorthwesternportionoftheinnerharbor,isthelargestfreshwaterinput.InnerQuartermasterHarborisshallow,withgreatestdepthsof5to6m(16to20ft)relativetomeanlowerlowwater.OuterQuartermasterHarborwaterdepthsrangefromabout11to46m(36to150ft).Theharborisaregionallysignificantnaturalresourceareaandprovidesrearingandspawninghabitatforherring,surfsmelt,sandlance,andsalmon(i.e.,Chinook,coho,chum,andcutthroat).Itisanimportantwinteringgroundformigratorymarinebirdsincludingwesterngrebes,commonloons,surfscoters,blackscoters,goldeneyes,mergansers,andruddyducks.Inall,approximately60speciesoffish,78speciesofbirds,severalspeciesofmarinemammals,andavarietyofmarineinvertebratesinhabitoruseQuartermasterHarbor.QuartermasterHarborcurrentlycontainsthelargestPacificherringspawningpopulationinthisregionofPugetSoundandthethirdlargestinallofPugetSound.TheharborwasdesignatedasanImportantBirdAreabytheNationalAudubonSocietyin2001.QuartermasterHarboralsosupportsshellfishresources,includinggeoduckclams.AspartoftheWashingtonDepartmentofNaturalResources’effortstoprotectareaswithimportecologicalfeaturesandhabitats,amajorportionofQuartermasterHarborandtheeastsideofMauryIsland(subtidalandintertidalareasownedbythestate)wasdesignatedaspartoftheMauryIslandAquaticReservein2004.5Theislandiscomposedofglacially‐derivedsedimentdeposits.Thepredominantgeologyisglacialtill.Glacialtillcoversapproximately68percentoftheisland.Theremaining32percentoftheislandiscomposedofglacialoutwashandalluvialdeposits.Alloftheisland5WashingtonDepartmentofNaturalResourcesMauryIslandAquaticReserve:http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/Topics/AquaticHabitats/Pages/aqr_rsve_maury_island.aspx



Figure 1. Map of Vashon-Maury Island highlighting the drainage area to Quartermaster Harbor.



isdesignatedasruralzonedlandandisoutsideKingCounty’sGrowthManagementAct(GMA)‐designatedurbangrowthboundary.Low‐densityresidentialdevelopmentcoversmuchoftheisland—typicallyzoningofonehouseperfivetotenacres.Landcoverispredominatelyforestwithothercoverbeingnon‐forestvegetationanddevelopedland.Vashon‐MauryIslandhasnoexternalsourceofdrinkingwaterandtheunderlyinggroundwatersystemwasdesignatedaSoleSourceAquiferbytheEPAinJune1994.TheislandisoneoffiveGroundwaterManagementAreas(GWMAs)inKingCountydesignatedin1986‐87undertheprovisionsofWashingtonAdministrativeCode(WAC)173‐100.TheKingCountygroundwaterprotectioncodeestablishedaGroundwaterProtectionCommitteeforeachGWMAwithacertifiedgroundwaterprotectionplan.TheplanforVashon‐MauryIslandwascertifiedbyEcologyandtheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommittee(GWPC)wasformedin2001alongwithacounty‐widegroundwaterprotectionprogram.TosupporttheGWPC,theKingCountygroundwaterprotectionprogramdesignedseveralprojects,includingtheWaterResourcesEvaluation(WRE)todescribeandassessthewaterresourcesoftheisland(KingCounty2013a).In2004,KingCountydesignatedthreecategoriesofCriticalAquiferRechargeAreas(CARAs)forruralareasofthecountyincludingVashon‐MauryIsland.6LikemuchofruralPugetSound,nearlyalltheresidentsinthestudyareatreatdomesticwastewaterwithonsitesepticsystems(OSSs).AwatershedplanforVashon‐MauryIslandwascreatedbyKingCounty(2005a),whichidentifiedOSSasapotentialthreatandlistedpriorityactionareasincludingregularmonitoringfornitratesandotherpotentialsystemcontaminants,developmentofpoliciesfortheircontrol,education,andBestManagementPractices(BMPs)forOSSoperations.In2008,SeattleandKingCountyPublicHealthdesignatedareasonVashon‐MauryIsland,includingthewesternshorelinealongouterQuartermasterHarborasMarineRecoveryAreas(MRAs)basedoninformationindicatingthatshellfishharvestinginthoseareaswasthreatenedorrestrictedbecauseofcontaminationoriginatingfromsepticsystems.7

1.2 Project Overview DissolvedoxygenlevelsbelowtheWashingtonStatemarinewaterqualitystandard(WashingtonAdministrativeCode173‐201A)havebeenobservedinQuartermasterHarboroverthelastsevenyearsbyKingCounty(Figure2).OxygenconcentrationsaretypicallylowestinSeptemberorOctober.Dissolvedoxygenisessentialforfishandothermarinelife‐whenlevelsfallbelowcriticalthresholdsmarinelifecanbecomestressedorkilledorforcedtoescapetomoreoxygenatedwatersifpossible.QuartermasterHarborwasoneof19areasofPugetSoundjudgedtoberelativelysensitivetoanthropogenicnutrientinputs(RenselAssociatesandPTI1991).Nitrogenandphosphorusareessentialnutrientsformarineplantsandphytoplankton.Excessnutrients,

6ForadescriptionofthethreeCARAcategoriesseehttp://your.kingcounty.gov/ddes/cao/Manual/II‐CARA.pdf.7SeePublicHealth–SeattleandKingCountyVashon‐MauryIslandMarineRecoveryArea(http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/wastewater/mra.aspx).



Figure 2. Monthly dissolved oxygen concentrations measured in bottom waters of

Quartermaster Harbor by King County.

nitrogencompoundsinparticular,canleadtoexcessivephytoplanktonandalgaegrowthwhichcandepleteoxygenconcentrationswhenthealgaerespireatnightordieandaredecomposedbybacteriainthewatercolumnandsediments(Figure3).Althoughphosphoruscompoundsareimportantforphytoplanktongrowth,nitrogenisgenerallyconsideredtobethelimitingnutrientinmarinewatersofPugetSound(RenselAssociatesandPTI1991).Theinteractionsbetweennitrate(themostabundantformofnitrogenavailableforphytoplanktongrowth),algalbiomassanddissolvedoxygenininnerQuartermasterHarborareillustratedinFigure4.Algalbiomassgenerallypeaksduringspringandsummer,whichcoincideswithareductionofnitrateconcentrationstobelowthelimitoflaboratorydetectionasaresultofalgaluptakeandgrowth.Theminimumoxygenconcentrationsobservedinlatesummerandfallareassociatedwiththefinaldeclineinthesummerpeaksinalgalbiomass.Thesedataprovideevidencethatphytoplanktongrowthintheharborislimitedbynitrogenandthatadditionalinputsofnitrogenhavethepotentialtofueladditionalalgalgrowth,causingevenloweroxygenlevelswhenthealgaerespireatnightordieandaredecomposedinthewatercolumnandsediments.

1.3 Goals and Objectives TheoverallpurposeofthisstudywastodeterminehownitrogenfromavarietyofsourcesaffectsdissolvedoxygenlevelsinQuartermasterHarbor.TheexpectedlongtermoutcomeswereimprovedpoliciesintheKingCountyComprehensivePlanandtheprotectionandenhancementofwaterqualityinQuartermasterHarbor.

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Figure 4. Monthly concentrations of surface water algal biomass (based on measurements of

chlorophyll a), surface concentrations of nitrate nitrogen, and bottom water dissolved oxygen concentrations at the Yacht Club (Station MSWH01) in Inner Quartermaster Harbor.

Note:Redtrianglesinthecenterpanelrepresentnitrateconcentrationsthatwerebelowthelaboratorydetectionlimitof0.02mg/L.Thestatestandardfordissolvedoxygenisshownasadashedredlineinthebottompanel.


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SomeoftheinitialprojectobjectivesdescribedintheQualityAssuranceProjectPlan(KingCounty2009a)provedoverlyambitiousandwereadjustedinconsultationwithEPAduringthecourseoftheprojecttobetteralignthegoals,objectivesandresourcesofthestudy.Forexample,theinitialstudyproposalincludedafieldstudyofislandOSSnitrogenremovaleffectivenessandanitrogensourcetrackingstudyusingstableisotopes.UponfurtherconsiderationandconsultationwithEPAandreviewofexistinginformation,thesestudieswereconsideredtobetooexperimentaland/ortoodifficulttoimplementsuccessfully,andwerereplacedwithfourotherfocusedstudiesthatweremorelikelytobeinformativeandsuccessful:

Hydrodynamicstudy(currentmeterdeployments)oftheharbortosupportthedevelopmentandtestingofamarinecirculation/hydrodynamicmodel(KingCounty2009b)

Marinebenthicfluxstudytoprovidelocalestimatesofsedimentnutrientreleaseduringthecriticalperiodoflowdissolvedoxygen(KingCounty2010a)

Nearshorefreshwaterinputsstudytoprovideinformationonthenutrientlevelsandinputsfromsmall,previouslyunmonitoredtributariesandoutfallstotheharbor(KingCounty2010b)

MiletaCreeknitrogensourcetrackingstudytoprovidemoreinformationregardingseasonallyhighnitratelevelsinthiscreek(KingCounty2010c)

Estimatesofnitrogenloadingdirectlytotheharborweredevelopedaspartofthisstudyandincludeinputsfromtributaries,nearshoresepticsystems,atmosphericdeposition,marinevessels,bottomsedimentsandinputsfromtheexchangeofPugetSoundwaterattheentrancetotheharbor.Otherobjectivesofthestudyweretodevelopareceivingwaterqualitymodeloftheharbortoevaluatescenariosdesignedtodeterminethedegreeofhumaninfluenceondissolvedoxygenconcentrationsandtoevaluatetheeffectivenessofvariousnutrientmanagementscenarios(KingCounty2010d).Thehypotheticalnutrientinputreductionsweretobetiedtoplanninglevelestimatesofthecostsofachievingthosereductions,withrecommendationsforpoliciesandmanagementactions.Althoughahydrodynamicmodel(thefirststepindevelopmentofareceivingwaterqualitymodel)oftheharborwasdevelopedaspartofthisstudy(Albertson2013),thedevelopmentofanadequatelycalibratedwaterqualitymodeloftheharborwasnotaccomplished.Aworkingwaterqualitymodelwasdevelopedbasedonthehydrodynamicmodel,butprojectresourceswerenotsufficienttofullycalibrateandtestthemodel.Therefore,thestudydidnotdeterminethedegreeofhumaninfluenceondissolvedoxygenconcentrationsnorevaluatetheeffectivenessofvariousnutrientmanagementscenarios.Nonetheless,thisstudydoesprovideasolidfoundationofinformationandafunctioning,albeitun‐calibrated,waterqualitymodeloftheharborthatcouldbeusedbyEcologyto



developadissolvedoxygenTotalMaximumDailyLoadstudyforQuartermasterHarbor–listedasCategory5inWashington’s2012listofimpairedmarinewaters.8

1.4 Organization of Report ThisfinalstudyreportprovidesasummaryofalltheworkconductedaspartoftheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenManagementStudy.Section2.0ofthisreport,providesanintroductiontotheconceptandcurrentunderstandingofmarineeutrophicationwithanemphasisonPugetSoundandQuartermasterHarbor.Section3.0describesthehistoricalandcurrentconditionsinthewatershedsonVashon‐MauryIslandthatdraintoQuartermasterHarbor.AnoverviewofresultsandconclusionsfromthesurfaceandgroundwatermonitoringeffortsispresentedinSection4.0.Section5.0providesanoverviewoftheavailablemarinewaterandsedimentqualitydata,withanemphasisonrelationshipsbetweennitrogen,phytoplanktonbiomassanddissolvedoxygen;includingasummaryofbenthicnitrogenfluxmeasurementsmadeinQuartermasterHarboraspartofthisstudy.Section6.0providesasummaryofthemethodsandresultsofQuartermasterHarbornitrogenloadingestimatesdevelopedaspartofthisstudy,includingestimatesofnitrogenreleasedfromharborsedimentsdescribedinSection5.0andanestimateofthenitrogeninputdeliveredthroughtheharborentranceboundarywithPugetSound.StudyconclusionsandrecommendationsareprovidedinSection7.0.AppendixAprovidesasummaryoftheoutreachandeducationactivitiesundertakenaspartofthisstudyandthechangesincorporatedintothe2012ComprehensivePlanrelatedtonitrogenmanagementonVashon‐MauryIsland.

8Category5‐PollutedwatersthatrequireaTMDLorotherWaterQualityImprovement(WQI)project:thetraditionallistofimpairedwaterbodiesalsoknownasthe303(d)list.PlacementinthiscategorymeansthatEcologyhasdatashowingthatthewaterqualitystandardshavebeenviolatedforoneormorepollutants,andthereisnoTMDLorpollutioncontrolplan.TMDLsorotherapprovedWQIprojectsarerequiredforthewaterbodiesinthiscategory.



2.0 MARINE EUTROPHICATION Nitrogenisoneoftheearth’smostabundantelementsanditisalsoanessentialplantandanimalnutrient.Ironically,muchofthenitrogeninthebiosphereexistsinaformthatisunavailabletomostlifeforms–nitrogengas(N2).Throughaprocesscallednitrogenfixation,N2isconvertedtoaformofnitrogencallednitrate(NO3‐N)thatisavailableforuptakebyplants,includingmarinephytoplankton.Inthenaturalenvironment,nitrogenfixationiscarriedoutbyavarietyofspecializedbacteria.Othernaturalprocessessuchaslightningcanalsofixnitrogenfromtheatmosphere.Thenitrogencycleiscompletedbythedecompositionoforganicmatter,whichgeneratesammonia(NH3‐N).Ammoniacanbeconvertedviabacteriallymediatedprocessestonitrate,whichinturnisdenitrifiedbycertainbacteriatoN2.Overthepastseveraldecades,humanshavemodifiedtheglobalnitrogencycleprimarilythroughthecombinationofindustrialfixationofatmosphericnitrogenforfertilizerandtheuseofthisfertilizertomaintainandimprovecropyieldstofeedthegrowinghumanpopulation(Vitouseketal.1997,Gallowayetal.2004).Globally,othersignificanthumansourcesofnitrogenincludeincreasedcultivationofnitrogenfixingcropsandfossilfuelcombustion(Gallowayetal.2004).Muchoftheseadditionalinputsofnitrogentotheenvironmentaredeliveredtogroundwater,streams,rivers,lakes,estuariesandcoastalmarinewaters.Thenutrientenrichmentofreceivingwatersisknownaseutrophication.Thenutrientofmostconcerninmarineandestuarinewatersistypicallynitrogen,whichundercertainconditionscanbethelimitingfactorformarinealgaeandplantgrowth(HowarthandMarino2006).Increasedinputsofnitrogencanundercertainconditionsresultinexcessivegrowthofaquaticplantsand/oralgaeandmayalsoaffectwhichspecies,someofwhichcanbeharmful,arefavored.9Theprocessbywhichharmfulspecies,particularlyspeciesofphytoplankton,arepreferredremainspoorlyunderstood(Horneretal.1997,SmaydaandReynolds2001,Andersonetal.2002,Gilbertetal.2005).Whethernutrientenrichmentresultsinexcessiveplantoralgalgrowthinanyparticularestuarydependsonanumberofnaturalcharacteristicsthataffectanestuary’ssusceptibilitytoadditionalnutrientinputs.Thesecharacteristicsincludespatialandtemporalvariationinlightavailability,zooplanktongrazing,verticalmixing,flushing,salinity,temperatureandnutrientregeneration(RenselAssociatesandPTI1991,Brickeretal.2007).Aroundtheworld,theimpactsofthemodificationofthenitrogencyclebyhumanshavebeenobserved,particularlyincoastalmarineandestuarineecosystemswherephytoplanktonwerehistoricallylimitedbytheavailabilityofnitrogen(HowarthandMarino2006).Theimpactsthathavebeenidentifiedincludeincreasesinalgalandaquatic

9Notethatthereareanumberofotherpotentialcausesofexcessivealgalgrowthand/orincreasesintheamountandextentofoxygendepletion.Theseothercausesinincludelossofhighertrophiclevels,anthropogenicinputsofoxygendemandingsubstances,algalgrowthlimitationbynutrientsotherthannitrogen(Sharp2010).



plantbiomassandproductivity;reductionsintransparency;increasedincidencesanddurationofharmfulalgalblooms;degradationofseagrassandkelpbedsandcoralreefs;increasesinextentandseverityofhypoxicandanoxicwaters;andreducedpopulationsoffishandshellfish(ScaviaandBricker2006,Smith2006).IntheU.S.,significantproblemsrelatedtoestuarineeutrophicationhavebeenobservedinChesapeakeBay,LongIslandSoundandthenorthernGulfofMexico(Brickeretal.1999),althoughasmoreinformationbecomesavailableitappearsthatmanyU.S.estuariesexhibitsymptomsofeutrophicconditions(Brickeretal.2007).ConcernsregardingtheeutrophicationofPugetSoundhavebeenraisedatleastsincethe1970s,althoughinitiallythenutrientofconcernwasdissolvedphosphate,driventoalargeextentbythelackofnitrogendata(Duxbury1975,ColliasandLincoln1977).Atthattime,nosignificanteffectofapopulationincreasefromabout750,000toalmost2millionpeoplebetween1930and1970wasdetectedontheoxygenconcentrationinthemainbasinofPugetSound.Duxbury(1975)didacknowledgethathumaninfluencemightberegisteredindenselypopulated,small,confinedembayments.Thesestudiesalsohighlightedtheimportanceofinterannualvariabilityincoastalupwellingasamajorfactorcontrollingnutrientsanddissolvedoxygenconcentrationsinthesound.TheinitialattentiontothepotentialforeutrophicationofPugetSoundledtomoreextensivemonitoring,includingroutinemeasurementsofnitrate(thedominantnutrientformofnitrogen)andchlorophylla–asurrogatemeasureofphytoplanktonbiomass.Inthelate1980s,aneffortwasmadeagaintoevaluatetheavailabledatafortrends,bothspatialandtemporal,especiallyfortrendsinnutrients,dissolvedoxygenandindicatorsofphytoplanktongrowth(TetraTech1988).Ingeneral,dissolvedoxygenconcentrationsappearedtohaveincreasedornotchangedsignificantlyovertime.Afewareaswerejudgedtobesensitivetothedeleteriouseffectofalgaebloomsduetotheirphysicalconditionsand/ortheirproximitytolargehumanpopulationcenters:

SinclairInlet

BuddInlet

OaklandBay

SouthHoodCanalCitingevidenceofwaterqualityproblemsrelatedtonutrientenrichmentandphytoplanktonblooms,aswellasdepletionofdissolvedoxygenandrelatedfishkillsinpoorlyflushedembaymentsofPugetSound,areportwaspreparedthatreviewedthestateofknowledgeregardingnutrient‐phytoplanktonrelationshipsinPugetSoundandquantifiedtherelativesensitivityofvariousareasofthesoundtoadditionalinputsofnutrients(RenselAssociatesandPTI1991).Basedontheanalysespresentedintheirreport,primarilyanalysesofthefrequencyofwatercolumndepletionofnitrogenavailableforphytoplanktongrowth,RenselAssociatesandPTI(1991)expandedthelistofpotentiallynutrientsensitiveareastoincludeseveralotherlocationsinPugetSound.QuartermasterHarborwasalsolistedaspotentially



sensitivetonutrientadditions,butatthattimenonitrogendatawereavailablefortheharbor.QuartermasterHarborwaslistedonthebasisofastudyoftheoccurrenceofAlexandriumcatenellaintheharbor,amotiledinoflagellatethatcanproducetoxinsthataccumulateinshellfishtissueandcauseparalyticshellfishpoisoning(PSP)(Nishitanietal.1988).InterestinthepotentialfortheeutrophicationofPugetSoundcontinuesandhasleadtoatleastfourmajorstudies:

HoodCanalDissolvedOxygenProgram10

SouthPugetSoundDissolvedOxygenStudy11

PugetSound/SalishSeaModel12

DeschutesRiverWatershed(includingBuddInlet)WaterQualityImprovementProject13

FinalstudyreportsareavailablefortheHoodCanalandBuddInletstudies.TheBuddInletstudyissummarizedinRobertsetal.(2012)andtheHoodCanalstudyisdescribedinanumberofonlinereportchapters(http://www.hoodcanal.washington.edu/news‐docs/publications.jsp).Inaddition,areportsynthesizingavailableinformationrelatedtotheassessmentoftherelativehumaninfluenceonHoodCanaldissolvedoxygenwaspublished(CopeandRoberts2013).Overall,thesestudiesindicatethatoxygenlevelsinPugetSoundarenaturallylessthantheapplicableabsolutewaterqualitystandardatcertainplacesandtimesduringtheyearandthatthemaximumhumaninfluenceonthe“natural”(i.e.,withouthumaninfluence)oxygenlevelsisontheorderof0.5mg/LinisolatedportionsofBuddInlet(Robertsetal.2012).BuddInletcurrentlyreceivespointandnonpointsourceinputsofnitrogen(Robertsetal.2012).CopeandRoberts(2013)determinedthathumansarenotresponsibleforthefishkillsthathaveoccurrednearHoodsportinCentralHoodCanal,norforthelowdissolvedoxygenlevelsobservedinthisarea.TherelativeinfluenceofhumansondissolvedoxygeninLynchCoveatthemostsouthernendofHoodCanalwasdeterminedtoberelativelyuncertain,butsomewherebetween0.03and0.3mg/Lrelativetothenaturallyoccurringdissolvedoxygenconcentrations.DraftreportsoftheSouthPugetSoundandPugetSound/SalishSeastudieshavebeenpreparedandmadeavailableforreview(Ahmedetal.2013,Robertsetal.2013).TheSouthPugetSoundStudydeterminedthatthemaximumhumaninfluenceondissolvedoxygenwas0.4mg/LintheinnerportionsofBudd,Carr,EldandTotteninletscausedprimarilybydirectpermittedpointsourcedischargesoftreatedwastewatertoPugetSound–includinginputstoCentralPugetSound(Ahmedetal.2013).

10HoodCanalDissolvedOxygenProgram(http://www.hoodcanal.washington.edu/)11SouthPugetSoundDOStudy(http://www.ecy.wa.gov/puget_sound/dissolved_oxygen_study.html)12PugetSound/SalishSeaModel(http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/PugetSound/DOModel.html)13DeschutesRiverWatershedProject(http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/deschutes/index.html)



ThePugetSound/SalishSeastudyidentifiedasomewhatsmallereffectofhumansondissolvedoxygenlevelsinPugetSound.Amaximumeffectof0.2mg/LwasnotedintheinnerportionofCaseInlet.AsintheSouthSoundstudy,themajorityofthehumaninfluencewasduetoexistingpointsourcewastewaterdischargestoPugetSound.ThePugetSound/SalishSeastudyalsoevaluatedtheeffectoffutureincreasesinthePugetSoundpopulation(withoutadditionaltreatmentrequirements)andclimatechangeondissolvedoxygen.Thesescenariosindicatedthepotentialforamuchlargerinfluenceofhumans,primarilyastheresultofuncheckedincreasesinnitrogenloadingfromwastewatertoPugetSound,ofuptoa1.1mg/Ldeclineofdissolvedoxygenfrompredictednaturalconditions(Robertsetal.2013).TherelativelysmalleffectofthetotalincreaseinnitrogenloadingfromallcurrenthumansourcesondissolvedoxygeninthemainbasinofPugetSound(0.04‐0.08mg/L)andinHoodCanal(0.02‐0.04mg/L)estimatedbyRobertsetal.(2013)issupportedbyanalysesofsedimentcoresconductedbyBrandenbergeretal.(2008).CorescollectedfromHoodCanalandthemainbasinofPugetSoundrevealedtheeffectsoflandusechanges,includingforestclearingandurbanization,buttheydidnotrecordanyincreasingtrendinhypoxiainthelast100yearsthatwouldbeexpectedinresponsetolandusechangesandgrowthofthehumanpopulationinthePugetSoundbasin(Brandenbergeretal.2009).ThattheresponseofthemainbasinofPugetSoundandHoodCanalwascontrarytowhatwasexpected(i.e.,greaterimpactofnitrogeninputsonDOlevels)isconsistentwiththeevolvingconceptualmodelofcoastaleutrophication(Cloern2001).Theinitialconceptualmodelofcoastaleutrophicationwasbasedonexperiencewithfreshwatersystemsandassumedaproportionalrelationshipbetweenthemagnitudeofnutrientloadingandresponsereflectedinincreasedprimaryproductionandbiomassandadeclineindissolvedoxygen.Morerecentresearchhasleadtoamorecomplexconceptualmodelthatincludesafilterthatmodulatestheresponseofaparticularcoastalmarinesystemtonutrientloading(Figure5).Thepotentialresponsesarealsoexpandedtoincludechangesinnutrientratiosthatmayplayaroleinalteringthephytoplanktoncommunityorpromotingtoxicand/orharmfulalgalbloomsandalonglistofpotentialindirecteffectsthatincludefishkills,changesinwatertransparencyandalterationoffoodwebstructure(seeFigure5).InthemainbasinofPugetSound,themainfilterappearstobeageneraltendencyforlightlimitationofspringandsummerphytoplanktongrowth,whichmoderatestheeffectofnutrientinputstothesound(Duxbury1975,Winter1975).ThemaindriverhistoricallyofoxygenlevelsinthemainbasinofPugetSoundaredecadalclimatecyclesthataffecttheventilationofPugetSoundandtheoxygencontentofcoastalmarinewatersexchangedthroughtheStraitofJuandeFuca(Brandenbergeretal.2008).AlsoconsistentwiththeconceptualmodelofCloern(2001)isthefindingbyBrandenbergeretal.(2008)thattheredoappeartobesomeshiftsintheprimaryproducercommunityidentifiedinthesedimentcores,includingincreasedrelativeabundanceofspeciesgenerallyassociatedwitheutrophicationoverthelastseveraldecadessuchasPseudo‐nitzschia,whichiscapableofproducingthetoxindomoicacid.Alexandriumisanothertoxinproducingspeciesthat,althoughpresenthistoricallyincoastalmarine



waters,hasspreadtoPugetSoundsincethe1960salongwiththeobservedfrequencyofexceedancesofparalyticshellfishtoxinlevels(Mooreetal.2009).

Figure 5. Schematic representation of the contemporary (Phase II conceptual model of coastal

eutrophication proposed by Cloern (2001).

Source:Cloern(2001)PerhapsthemostchallengingthoughtprovidedbyCloern(2001)inresponsetothequestionposedregarding“Howcanthisscienceadvance?”isthatourviewoftheproblemistoonarrowandneedstoconsiderthatnutrientenrichmentdoesnotoperateasanindependentstressor,butratheroperatesinthecontextofmanyotherstressors.Theseadditionalstressorsincludehabitatloss,invasivespeciesandclimatechange.Thisbroaderviewthatincludesmultiplestressorsandresponsesrequiresamoresustainedandintegratedresearchandmonitoringeffort(Cloern2001).



3.0 HISTORICAL CONTEXT Researchhashighlightedtherolethatpastlanduseactivitymayplayinaffectingthecurrentenvironmentalconditions(Hardingetal.1998,Fosteretal.2003).OfspecificrelevancetothisstudyaretherecentfindingspublishedbySanfordandPope(2013)whoshowedadelayinnitrogenloadreductiontoChesapeakeBayduetothelagresultingfromnitrogenapplicationatthelandsurfaceandtransportviagroundwatertoreceivingwaters.Toprovidehistoricalcontextforthecurrentconditionsontheislandandintheharbor,thefollowinghistoricaloverviewisprovided.ThehistoryofVashon‐MauryIslandandQuartermasterHarborinparticularhasbeendocumentedpreviously–thebestexamplesbeingpublicationsbyVanOlinda(1935),Lynn(1975),andUniversityofWashington(1976),thelatterheavilydependentonthefirsttwosourcesandthereferencestherein.TheUniversityofWashington(1976)studyfocusedonQuartermasterHarborandwasconductedintheearly1970sfortheKingCountyDepartmentofParksandRecreation.ThestudywasconductedinresponsetopublicconcernsovertheexpansionofovernightrecreationalboatmooragefacilitiesatDocktonParkinQuartermasterHarbor.Thestudyincludedinvestigationofhistoricalrecreationpatterns,landuse,andenvironmentalimpacts;surficialsoilsandgeology,landslidehazards,drainfieldperformance,andbeachformingprocesses;marinecirculation,flushingrates,andwatertemperatures;marinebiologicalconditions;magnitudeandspatialextentofmarinefecalcontamination;andterrestrialvegetationandwildlifeprimarilyinrelationtorecreationalactivitiesandvalues.ThehistoricalbackgroundonQuartermasterHarborprovidedbelowisdrawnfromthethreesourcesofhistoricalinformationidentifiedabove.

3.1 Initial European Discovery and Settlement TheoriginalinhabitantsoftheislandweretheShomamish,abranchoftheSuquamishTribe,whohunted,fished,harvestedclams,andgatheredrootsandberriesontheisland.ThefirstEuropeantoidentifyVashonIslandwasCaptainGeorgeVancouverin1792.In1841theU.S.ExplorationExpedition,ledbyCaptainCharlesWilkes,gaveseparatenamesforVashonandMauryIsland.ItisnotcompletelyclearfromthehistoricrecordwhyWilkesgaveseparatenamestotheislandandVancouverdidnot,althoughthiswasmostlikelyduetothemorespecificsurveyingandmappingobjectivesoftheWilkesexpedition,ratherthangeneraldocumentationandmappingofnewdiscoveries.OneexplanationthathasbeengivenisthatVancouverchartedtheislandatlowtide,whileWilkesvisitedathightide–althoughLynn(1975)arguesthatVancouveralsopassedathightide.Wilkeschartedanarrowconnectionbetweenthetwomainlandmassesandtheexistenceofasandbarconnectingthetwoislandsduringlowtide(Blumenthal2009).Althoughthejournalentryofoneparticipant(JosephPerrySanford)intheExplorationExpeditionsurveyofVashonin1841describedthePortageconnectionas“averynarrow



isthmusofwhitesand,”themorecorrecttermwouldhavebeen“tombolo”–adepositionlandforminwhichtwolandmassesareattachedbyaspitorbar.Historically,thisareawasovertoppedandperhapserodedwithunknownfrequencyduringhightidesand/orstormsurges.Turnbeaugh(1976)suggeststhattheovertoppingoccurredatthehighestspringtides.Lynn(1975)doesmentionanearlysettler’swrittenaccount(W.T.Rendell,undatedmanuscript)ofseeingacoupleoffeetofwaterbetweenVashonandMauryathightide.ThepossibilityofopeningapermanentchannelatPortage–initiallyforvesseltraffic–wasproposedasearlyas1911.Thesuggestionhascomeupoffandonsincethen–mostrecentlyaspartoftheUniversityofWashington(1976)studieswhichexploredtheadditionalpossibilityofimprovingwaterqualitybyincreasingflushing–particularlyoftherelativelypoorlyflushedinnerharbor.TheVancouverandWilkesexpeditionswerefollowedinthemid‐1800sbytransientloggingsettlements,someofwhichwerelocatedinQuartermasterHarbor.AvillageofChineseimmigrantsdedicatedtocatching,drying,andexportingfishwasrumoredtohavebeenthefirstnon‐nativesettlement(atManzanitainQuartermasterHarbor)thatexisteduntilabout1885whenanti‐Chinesesentimentintheregionmayhavedriventhemfromthearea.ThefirstpermanentsettlersestablishedthemselvesonthenorthernshoreofQuartermasterHarborin1877.

3.2 Industrial and Agricultural Development Morepeoplecametotheislandandbythe1890s,industriessuchasshipbuilding,clayminingandbrickmaking,lumberandshingleproduction,fishcanninganddrying,farmcropprocessing,andshippinghaddevelopedinQuartermasterHarbor.Uplandareaswerebeingloggedandconvertedtofarmsandareasforsheepgrazing.Withtheexhaustionofthenativetimberontheisland,mostofthelumbermillsclosedby1916or1917.Docktoninparticularwasthesiteofasubstantialfishprocessingfacilitythatshippedcannedanddriedcodtolocationsthroughouttheworld.Asmuchas15tonsofdriedfishwereshippedinoneweekand200tonswereshippedin1920.Berryfarming(particularlystrawberriesandcurrants)onVashon‐MauryIslandwasasignificantcontributiontothelocaleconomyfromabout1890to1934–strawberryshipmentsin1908wereestimatedat75,000crates.However,thisboomcametoanendinthe1920sduetodrought,pests,disease,andcompetitionfrommainlandfarms.Eggproductionfollowedtheberryboom–in1923itwasestimatedthattherewere150,000layinghensontheislandwithanannualoutputof35,000casesofeggs.StrawberryfarmingwasstillnotedbyVanOlinda(1935)in1934,buttheproductionofabout31,000cratesofeggswasalsoreportedthatyear.

3.3 Transportation Development Initially,wagonroadsfollowedexistingdeertrails.By1890thereweresevenmilesofwagonroads–oneofthefirstroadsontheisland,DougwayRoad,hadbeenadeertrail.Availabletopographicmapsdevelopedfromsurveysconductedinthe1890sindicatethata



permanentroadofsomekindhadbeenbuiltacrossPortagearoundthattime.However,thisroadprimarilyconnectedPortagetothecentralbusinessareaonthenorthernportionofVashonviauplandroutes.ThefirstwaterfrontroadwasbuiltbetweenPortageandEllisportin1916andtheroadfromPortagewasextendedtoDocktonviaanuplandroutein1925.Lynn(1975)suggeststhatthedepressionatPortagewasfilledatthistimeaspartofconstructionoftheroadtoDockton.Althoughavarietyofvesselsprovidedtransportationaroundtheislandandtothemainlandintheearlyyearsofsettlement(i.e.,theMosquitoFleet14),thefirstdedicateddailypassengerferryservicebeganin1916betweenPortageandDesMoines.Atonepointtheislandwasservedbyferriesatthreelocations(VashonHeights,Tahlequah,andPortage).Withtheadventofreliabletransportationtothemainlandandtheavailabilityofjobsthere,duringthe1920speoplebegantocommutefromVashon‐MauryIslandtoworkinSeattleandTacoma.

3.4 Residential Development TheforestpriortoEuropean‐AmericansettlementwasdominatedbyDouglasfir,westernhemlock,andwesternredcedar,withalderlimitedtosmallareasalongstreamcorridors,landslidezones,beachareas,andopenareasgeneratedbywindfallandwildfires.Manyareasthatwereoriginallyclearedforhomes,agriculture,andgrazinghavebeenabandoned,resultinginregenerationofforestcover–primarilyDouglasfironabandonedgrazingfieldsandprimarilydeciduousforest(redalderandbigleafmaple)ontilledland.Forestregenerationfollowingtheinitialclearingbytheearly1900shasbeendocumentedforJudd,FisherandTahlequahcreeksaspartofanotherEPAWEIgrant‐fundedstudy(KingCounty2013b;Figure6).

Figure 6. Graph showing change in forest cover in selected basins on Vashon-Maury Island,

1911-2007.

Source:SeeAppendixDinKingCounty(2013b)

14SeeHistoryLink.orgessaynumber869:PugetSound’sMosquitoFleet(www.historylink.org)



Alongwithareturnofforestcovertotheisland,forestclearingassociatedwithresidentialdevelopmentisoccurringalongwithresurgenceinfarmingactivities.TheincreaseinpopulationoftheislandbasedonU.S.CensusBureaudatafrom1920‐2010indicatesthesteadyprogressioninthenumberofpeoplesettlingontheisland.Since1920,thepopulationhasincreasedaboutfourfold(Figure7).

Figure 7. Graph showing the population change on Vashon-Maury Island, 1920-2010.

TheVashonSewerDistrictoperatedawastewatercollectionandtreatmentfacilitywithdischargetoEastPassageinPugetSoundbeginningin1955.Priortothattime,mostislandresidentsreliedononsitesewagetreatmentanddisposal.Thecurrentwastewatercollectionandtreatmentsystem,includinganewtreatmentfacilityandextendedoutfalltoEastPassagebuiltandoperatedbyKingCounty,servesabout425residentialandcommercialcustomers,primarilyinandaroundtheisland’smainbusinessarea(Figure8).MostresidentswithintheQuartermasterHarborwatershedrelyononsitesepticsystemsasthewastewatercollectionandtreatmentsystemonlyservesasmallportionofthenorthernpartofthedrainagebasin.

3.5 Recreational Development ThefirstyachtclubinQuartermasterHarborwasestablishedatManzanitain1890,butwentbankruptin1894.However,boatingforpleasuredidnotbecomepopularuntilthe1920sandwasnotprevalentuntilafterWorldWarII.TheQuartermasterHarborYachtClubwasorganizedin1948andinthemid‐1970shad100membersand48boatslips.ExpansionofovernightrecreationalboatmooragefacilitiesattheKingCountyparkatDocktoninthe1970swasthedriverbehindtheextensivestudiesconductedbytheUniversityofWashington(1976).Oneoftheconcernsaboutincreasedrecreationalboatingactivitythatboater‐orientedparkimprovementswouldcausewasthepotentialforincreasedwasteinputsfromonboardtoilets.AsurveyconductedbytheUniversityofWashingtonin1974ofboatersinQuartermasterHarborindicatedthatabout75percentoftheboatssurveyedhadmarinetoiletsandonlyabout10percenthadholdingtanks.

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Figure 8. Map showing current service area for the Vashon Island Wastewater Treatment

System.



3.6 Implications WiththeexceptionoftheUniversityofWashington(1976)study,nootherpreviousstudieshaveevaluatedthepotentialeffectofallofthesechangesonthewaterqualityoftheharbor.Alongtheshore,theharborhasreceivedunknownamountsofwastefromlograftsandsawmills,fishandotherfoodprocessingplants,shipyards,clayminingandbrickmaking,anduplandareashavedeliveredsoilandwastefromloggingoperations,residentialhomeconstruction,andfarming(Figure9).Farmimpactswouldincludeinputsfromsheep,horse,cattle,andchickens.Nearshoreanduplandareasinitiallydelivereduntreateddomesticwastewatertotheharboranditsreceivingstreamsuntilonsitesepticsystemscameintouse.Bulkheadingforwaterfrontindustriesandshorelineresidentialdevelopmenthasalsolikelyaffectedinorganicsedimentdeliverytotheharborshorelineandsubsequenttransporttodepositionalareas.ThebackgroundhistoryofQuartermasterHarborprovidedaboveismeanttoremindusthatpastlanduseactivitymaystillplayanimportantroleinthecurrentqualityofQuartermasterHarbor.ThisconceptwasemphasizedbyHardingetal.(1998)intheirwidelycitedpaperon“TheGhostofLandUsePast.”ThisconceptisimplicitintherelativelyfrequentcallforinvestigationofthepotentialbenefitofrestoringsomehydrologicconnectionacrossPortage(KingCounty1998).



Figure 9. Map showing early distribution pattern of development activities around

Quartermaster Harbor.

Source:UniversityofWashington(1976)



4.0 FRESHWATER FreshwaterinputstoQuartermasterHarborincludeanumberoftributarystreamsandgroundwaterseepage.Thissectionprovidesanoverviewofavailabledataonthequantityandqualityofsurfacewaterandgroundwaterinputstotheharbor.Foracompleteoverviewofthedataandresearchontheisland’sfreshwaterresourcesconductedtodate,thereaderisreferredtoKingCounty(2013a).

4.1 Surface Water TributarystreaminputsincludefreshwaterflowtoQuartermasterHarborvialargeandsmalltributariesthatdeliverwaterandnutrientstotheharbor.FourmajortributariesonVashon‐MauryIslandhavebeenmonitoredmonthlyfornutrientconcentrationsandhavebeencontinuouslygaugedtoestimatedailyflow.TwoofthesetributariesdischargedirectlytoQuartermasterHarbor–JuddCreekdischargestotheinnerharborandFisherCreekenterstheouterharbor–whiletheothertwotributariesdischargetoPugetSound(TahlequahandShingleMillcreeks)(Figure10).MiletaCreekdischargestoinnerQuartermasterHarborandhasbeenmonitoredroutinelyforwaterquality,butcontinuousflowdatahaveonlybeencollectedsincethebeginningof2010(seeFigure10).Waterqualityobservationsincludedmonthlymeasurementsoftotalsuspendedsolids(TSS),nutrients(totalandsolubleformsofnitrogenandphosphorus),indicatorbacteria,specificconductance,alkalinity,temperature,pHanddissolvedoxygen.Nutrientanalysesincludedtotalnitrogen,nitrate+nitritenitrogen(hereafterreferredtoasnitrate),ammonianitrogen,totalphosphorus,solublereactivephosphorusanddissolvedsilica.IndicatorbacteriameasurementsincludedfecalcoliformandEscherichiacoli.TheavailableflowandwaterqualitydataforthesefivetributariesareillustratedinFigure11throughFigure15.Ingeneral,thetemporalpatternsinflowweretypicalofruralstreamsinKingCounty,withhighestflowsduringthewinterrainyseasonandlowestflowsduringlatesummerwhenrainfallisleast.Temporalpatternsinthewaterqualitymeasurementsandtheirrelationshipswithvariationsinflowwerealsofairlytypical.Forexample,highflowswereoftenassociatedwithspikesinTSS,totalnitrogen,totalphosphorusandindicatorbacteriadrivenbywashoffofparticulatematterandinstreamerosionandtransportduringstorms.Otherconstituentsincreasedduringlowflowastheresultofthedominanceofgroundwaterbaseflowasthesourceofthoseprimarilydissolvedconstituents(e.g.,dissolvedsilicaandsolublereactivephosphorus),whichwasalsoreflectedinanincreaseinspecificconductanceandtotalalkalinityassociatedwithsummerbaseflow.Withtheexceptionoftheeffectofstormeventsonparticulatenitrogenconcentrations,totalnitrogenwascomprisedprimarilyofnitrate,whileammonianitrogenconcentrationswererelativelyloworbelowthelaboratorylimitofdetection.Seasonalpatternsintotalnitrogenandnitrateconcentrationswerealsoevident,althoughthedetailsdifferedamongstreams.Generally,thehighestconcentrationswereobservedinlatefallasbasinsoilsbecamesaturatedanddeliveredshallowsubsurfaceflowscontainingnitrogenstored



Figure 10. Map showing locations of stream discharge gauging and water quality monitoring

stations.



Figure 11. Graphs showing stream discharge (gauge 28a) and water quality data (station VA42A) for Judd Creek.

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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Figure 12. Graphs showing stream discharge (gauge 65B) and water quality data (station VA41A) for Fisher Creek.

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Figure 13. Graphs showing instantaneous stream discharge and water quality data (station VA45A) for Mileta Creek.

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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Figure 14. Graphs showing stream discharge (gauge 43a) and water quality data (station VA12A) for Shingle Mill Creek.

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Figure 15. Graphs showing stream discharge (gauge 65A) and water quality data (station VA37A) for Tahlequah Creek.

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

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duringthesummer(Figure16).Concentrationsremainedhighduringwinterwhenplantuptakewaslowest,buttypicallyfelltothelowestlevelsinsummerwhenplantuptakewasgreatestandsoilsweregenerallydryandaccumulatingnitrogen.Lownitrateconcentrationswerealsoassociatedwiththedeclineinsummerbaseflow.ThemostdistinctivespatialpatterninstreamnitrogenconcentrationsistheoccurrenceofrelativelyhighlevelsofnitrateinMiletaCreekthatpeakinlatefallwiththefirstsoilsaturatingrainsandremainrelativelyhighthroughoutthesummer(Figure17).Anattemptwasmadeaspartofthisstudytoidentifythesourceofelevatednitrate(KingCounty2012a).Nospecificsourcewasidentified,althoughpotentialsources(agolfcourse,anabandonedchickenfarmandanoldheronrookery)wereruledoutaslikelysources.ThesesuspectedsourceswerenotlocatedonthebranchofMiletaCreekwheretheelevatednitrateconcentrationswereobserved.Althoughnotunequivocallyestablished,thesimilarseasonalnitrateconcentrationpatternsuggestedthattheelevatedconcentrationsmaybetheresultofacombinationofsoil,subsurfacehydrologyandtheaccumulationofnitrateandsubsequentreleasefromstorageofnitrogenfromredalder–atreeknowntofixnitrogen–thatisfoundintheMiletaCreekbasinandisdistributedthroughoutdisturbedforestsinthePugetSoundbasin(Davis1973,Bechtoldetal.2003,Comptonetal.2003,CairnsandLajtha2005,Steinbergetal.2011,Wardetal.2012).ItwasalsonotedthatalthoughMiletaCreekislikelyoneofthelargestMauryIslandcreeksdrainingtotheharbor,thetotalcontributionofnitrogenisrelativelysmall.Considerthattheflowduringlatefall/winterwhenpeaknitrateconcentrationsoccurislessthan1cfsandthatthepeakdailyflowinthiscreekhasnotexceeded4cfs.Ofmostinteresttotheissueoflowdissolvedoxygenconcentrationsintheharborduringlatesummer/fallistheconcentration(andmassloading)ofnitrogendeliveredbytributarystreamsatthistimeofyear.Becausetheharborwasknowntoreceivefreshwaterinputfrommanysmallunmonitoredtributarysources,anothersamplingstudyconductedaspartofthisgrantfocusedonmeasuringflowandnitrogenconcentrationsinthesepreviouslyunmonitoredsourcesduringOctoberof2010(KingCounty2012b).Althoughtherangewaslarger,themediannitrateconcentrationmeasuredinOctober2010insmallfreshwaterinflowswassimilartothemediannitrateconcentrationmeasuredinOctoberinthethreelargesttributarystreamstoQuartermasterHarborfrom2007to2010‐~0.8mg/L(Figure18).Althoughtherewasnodistinctivespatialpatterninsmalltributarynitrateconcentrations,thehighestfourobservedconcentrationsweremeasuredinspringsthatdischargedalongthewesternshorelinejustsouthoftheBurtonPeninsula.ThesespringsarebelowtheBurtonSpringsandBurtonGroupAwatersupplysystemsthathaveexperiencedanincreaseinnitratelevelsastheresultofhistoricallandmanagementactivitiesassociatedwithfarmingandlivestockproduction(CDM2007,KingCounty2013a).



Figure 16. Box plot of monthly (November 2006 through December 2010) nitrate+nitrite nitrogen

concentrations measured in routine monthly water quality samples from the three creeks that discharge directly to Quartermaster Harbor (Judd, Fisher, and Mileta creeks).

Figure 17. Nitrate+Nitrite nitrogen concentrations measured in routine monthly water quality

samples from four Vashon-Maury Island Creeks collected from November 2006 to September 2012.

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Figure 18. Box plot comparing nitrate concentrations observed at freshwater inputs along the shore of Quartermaster Harbor in October 2010 and the concentrations measured in October from 2007 to 2010 in the three routinely monitored tributaries – Fisher, Judd and Mileta creeks.

4.2 Groundwater BecauseofthelongstandinginterestingroundwaterontheVashon‐MauryIsland,residentsrelyalmostexclusivelyongroundwaterforwatersupply.Becauseofdrinkingwatersystemmonitoringandreportingrequirements,agreatdealisknownaboutthequalityandquantityoftheisland’sgroundwatersystem.Foracompleteoverviewofthedataandresearchconductedtodate,thereaderisreferredtoKingCounty(2013a).Ingeneral,theislandisoverlainprimarilybyglacialtillandsmallerpocketsofrecessionaloutwashandadvanceoutwashdeposits.15Deeperglacialdepositsincludevaryinglayersoffinegrained(lesspermeable)andcoarsegraineddeposits(morepermeable).Thenomenclaturedescribingthemainislandaquifershaschangedovertime,butforthepurposesofthisreport,thegroundwaterqualitydatahavebeenseparatedinto“Shallow”and“Deep”aquifercategories.“Shallow”aquiferdatarepresentthegroundwatersourcesinclosestproximitytolandsurfaceactivities,particularlyinthoselocationswherethese15Theshorthandfortheseongeologicmapsandinthetextareasfollows:Qvr=Vashonrecessionaloutwashdeposits,Qva=Vashonadvanceoutwashdeposits,Qpfc=Pre‐Frasercoarsegraineddeposits,Qpoc=Olympiacoarsegraineddeposits.

Routine Nearshore

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aquifersareexposedatthelandsurface(i.e.,arenotoverlainbyaprotectivelayeroflesspermeabletill).“Deep”aquiferdatarepresentaquifersthathaveoneormorelesspermeablelayersoftillandsoarelesssusceptibletoactivitiesatthelandsurface(Table1).These“Shallow”aquiferswereoriginallytermedthePrincipalAquiferbecausemostoftheindividualwellsandsmallerwatersystemsrelyontheseaquifersforwatersupply.The“Deep”Aquiferisgenerallytappedbylargerwaterutilitiesontheisland.Inadditiontodifferentiationbysusceptibility,theShallowAquifersarealsothedominantsourceofwatertoislandstreams,particularlyintheQuartermasterHarbordrainagebasin.Theavailablegeologicinformationalsoindicatesthatinparticular,theShallowAquiferVashonadvanceoutwashdepositsarelikelythemainconduitforgroundwaterinputtoQuartermasterHarborandmaybelimitedprimarilytoinnerharborandtheinnerportionoftheouterharbornearBurtonPeninsula(Figure19andFigure20).Table 1. Various definitions of Vashon-Maury Island aquifer units, including the definitions

used in this study.

This report Carr/Associates

(1983) VMI GWMC

(1998) WRE

Shallow Aquifer Principal Aquifer

Zone 1 Zone 1 - shallow Vashon recessional outwash deposits (Qvr)

& Principal/ Main Vashon advance outwash deposits (Qva) & alluvium deposits (Qal)

Zone 2

Deep Aquifer Deep Aquifer

Zone 3 Zone 2 - Deep 1 Pre Fraser coarse grained deposits (Qpfc)

Zone 4 Zone 3 - Deep 2 Olympia coarse grained deposits (Qpoc) and deeper units

VMIGWMC=Vashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterManagementCommitteeWRE=WaterResourcesEvaluation(seeKingCounty2013a)Insupportofthisstudy,groundwaterqualitydatawerecompiledfromKingCountymonitoringwells(Figure21).ThemonitoringdatafromthesewellsindicatesthatnitrateisgenerallyhigherintheShallowAquifer,whiletheconcentrationsofsolublereactivephosphorusandammoniaaregenerallyhigherintheDeepAquifer(Figure22).AmmoniaconcentrationsinwellscompletedintheShallowAquiferweregenerallybelowthelimitofdetectionindicatingthattheinorganicnitrogenwasintheformofnitrate.BecauseofthelimitednumberofKingCountymonitoringwellsrepresentingthequalityoftheShallowAquiferontheisland,additionalmonitoringdatareportedtotheWashingtonStateDepartmentofHealthfrommunicipalandsmallprivatewatersupplysystemswasalsocompiledandwellsclassifiedintoShallowandDeepaquifercategories.Ingeneral,nutrientdatareportedtotheDepartmentofHealtharelimitedtonitratebecauseofaMaximumContaminantLevelstandardfortheprotectionofhumanhealth,whichis10mg/L.



Figure 19. Estimated bottom elevations of the Vashon advance outwash geologic layer

(elevation datum is NAVD88 – 2.9 ft is equal to Mean Lower Low Water).

Source:KingCounty(2005)



Figure 20. Geologic cross section from west to east (left to right) through inner Quartemaster Habor and Burton Peninsula.

Source:KingCounty–OurLiquidAssets:GoingUndergroundhttp://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water‐and‐land/groundwater/liquid‐assets‐brochure/p4‐going‐under‐ground‐geology‐of‐the‐rock.pdf

Location of Section A-A’



Figure 21. Map showing locations of precipitation gauging stations and shallow and deep

groundwater water quality monitoring wells.



Figure 22. Box plots showing Shallow and Deep groundwater concentrations of dissolved

nutrients: A) nitrate, B) ammonia, C) soluble reactive phosphorus and D) dissolved silica.

ThisexpandeddatasetconfirmedthatnitrateconcentrationsintheSurfaceAquiferaregenerallyhigher,withamedianconcentrationofapproximately0.6mg/L(Figure23).Asnotedabove,thisconcentrationisverysimilartothemedianconcentrationobservedinstreamsduringlatesummerbaseflowandsimilartothemedianconcentrationobservedinfreshwaterinputstotheharborfromsmalltributarysourcesinOctober2010.Similarconcentrationsingroundwaterandstreambaseflowaretypicalofpermeablesoilsandoxygenatedgroundwater(Spahretal.2010).NolargescalespatialpatternwasevidentinthedistributionofnitrateconcentrationsintheShallowAquiferacrosstheisland,althoughtheredidappeartobeanassociationofelevatedconcentrationsofnitrateassociatedwithareasidentifiedasCARACategory1,whichisthecategoryusedtoidentifygroundwaterrechargeareasmostsusceptibletocontamination(Figure24).

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Figure 23. Box plot showing Shallow and Deep groundwater concentrations of nitrate nitrogen in

King County routine monitoring wells and available data compiled for Group A and Group B water supply systems.

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Aquifer wells and Critcal Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA) categories.

Note:CARACategory1=highlysusceptibletocontamination,Category2=mediumsusceptibilitytogroundwatercontaminationandCategory3=lowsusceptibilitytogroundwatercontamination.

CARA 1 CARA 2 CARA 3

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4.3 Synthesis Ofultimateinterestiswhetherornottheobservedlevelsofnitrateinislandstreamsoraquifersystemsareelevatedabovenaturalbackgroundconditions,andifso,byhowmuch?Smithetal.(2003)describedthechallengestoestimatingnaturalbackgroundconcentrationsofnutrients,includingthelackofpristinereferencesitesinindustrializedcountriesliketheUnitedStates.Theyfurtherdistinguishednaturalbackgroundconditionsfrombackgroundorreferenceconditionsbasedondataavailablefromrelativelyundeveloped,butculturallyimpacted,samplinglocations.BasedonlogisticregressionmodelsdevelopedtoevaluatetheriskofgroundwaternitratecontaminationthroughoutthePugetSoundbasinbyTesorieroandVoss(1997),theprobabilityofdetectingelevatednitrateconcentrations(>3mg/L)inshallowgroundwateronVashon‐MauryIslandisrelativelylow.However,theirassessmentwasdirectedmoreatidentifyingareasofPugetSoundthatmightbeatriskofreachingconcentrationsclosetothe10mg/LMCLfornitrateindrinkingwatersupplies.Theirmodelswerebasedonvulnerabilityduetoproximitytourbanandagriculturalareasandsusceptibilitybasedonwelldepthforcoarse‐grained,alluvialandfine‐grainedsurfacegeology.Althoughnotterriblyusefulfordeterminingiftheobservednitrateconcentrationsinislandfreshwatersystemsareelevatedabovehistoricalbackground,thisinformationdoessuggestthatingeneral,widespreadnitratecontaminationabove3mg/LisnotlikelytooccuronVashon‐MauryIslandatthistime.However,longtermgroundwatermonitoringdataatspecificlocationsonVashon‐MauryIslanddoprovideanindicationthatlocalizedincreasesinnitratehaveoccurred,includinganincreaseintheBurtongroundwatersupplymentionedpreviously(Figure25).GiventheavailabilityofarelativelylargedatasetandthatanumberofislandwellsintheShallowAquiferhaveconcentrationsabove2mg/L(20of108wells),itmightbeusefultodevelopanisland‐specificnitrateriskcontaminationmodelfollowingtheexampleofTesorieroandVoss(1997)orNolanandHitt(2006).Anotherpotentialsourceofinformationregardingbackgroundconcentrationswouldbehistoricalpre‐developmentobservationsofnitratelevelsorobservationsfromarelativelyundisturbedsystemwithsimilarcharacteristicssomewhereinthePugetSoundbasin.AlthoughCarr/Associates(1983)suggestedthatthenaturalbackgroundconcentrationofnitrateinislandgroundwaterwasnearthelaboratorylimitofdetection(statedas<0.01mg/L),itisunclearhowthiswasestablished.TheirestimateofbackgroundnitrateconcentrationmayhavebeenbasedtosomeextentonconcentrationsmeasuredintheDeepAquifer,whichverylikelyhasnaturallylowerconcentrationsthantheShallowAquifer.AnothersourceofinformationregardinglikelybackgroundconcentrationsofnitrateisbasedondatacollectedfromreferencestreamsandriversaspartoftheU.S.GeologicalSurvey’sNationalWater‐QualityAssessment(NAWQA)programandextrapolatedusingtemporalandspatialregressionequations(Smithetal.2003).Datawerestratifiedby14majorecoregionsintheUnitedStates,withtheWesternForestedMountainsecoregion



encompassingthePugetSoundbasin.Theiranalysessuggestanaveragebackgroundstreamnitrogenconcentrationbetweenabout0.08and0.2mg/Lafteraccountingfortheanthropogenicinfluenceofatmosphericnitrogeninputs.ThisestimateisverysimilartoarangeofnaturalbackgroundnitrateconcentrationestimatesdevelopedbyEcologyforPugetSoundeutrophicationstudies,whichalsoincludedestimatesbasedonnitrogendepositionmeasuredatalocationrelativelyuninfluencedbyhumans(Mohamedalietal.2011aandMohamedalietal.2011b).AnotherpotentialindicationofbackgroundsurfacewaternitrateconcentrationscomesfromdatacollectedbyKingCountyfromGriffinCreek–arelativelyundeveloped,forestedtributarytotheSnoqualmieRiver.TheGriffinCreekbasinispredominantlysecondgrowthconiferousforestwithverylittleagriculturalactivityorhumanhabitation(Wilhelmetal.2013).NitrateconcentrationsmeasuredmonthlyinGriffinCreeksince2011hadasimilarseasonalpatterntoconcentrationsinVashon‐MauryIslandstreams–peakinlatefall/winter,elevatedwinterconcentrationsandlowerconcentrationsduringsummer–buttheoverallconcentrationswerelowerinGriffinCreek(Figure26).

Figure 25. Response of nitrate in shallow groundwater wells to upland land clearing and

agricultural activities.

Note:Pre‐treatment,compositeandpost‐treatmentsampledesignationsetbypublicwatersystem.Forexample,treatmentmayincludechlorination(Source:KingCounty2013a)

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Figure 26. Graph comparing monthly stream nitrate concentrations in Vashon-Maury Island

Creeks with relatively undeveloped Griffin Creek.

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5.0 MARINE WATER Asnotedabove,QuartermasterHarborhasbeenthefocusofseveralpreviousstudiesfocusedonwaterquality,circulationandharmfulalgalblooms(e.g.,Turnbeaugh1976,UniversityofWashington1976,Nishitanietal.1988).ThissectionprovidesanoverviewofavailableinformationonthewaterqualityandcirculationofQuartermasterHarbor.ForacompleteoverviewofmarinewaterqualitydatacollectedbyKingCountyandUWT,thereaderisreferredtoKingCounty(2014).Thesectionsbelowareorganizedasfollows.Thenextsection(Section5.1)discussesinmoredetailthedissolvedoxygenstandardsrelevanttoQuartermasterHarbor.Section5.2providesanoverviewofthephysicalcharacteristicsoftheharbor,includingcirculationandflushingcharacteristics.Section5.3presentsanoverviewoftheavailabledataondissolvedoxygen,nitrogenandphytoplanktonandSection5.4describestheavailabledatadescribingtheroleofsedimentnutrientreleaseanddissolvedoxygendemandintheharbor.Thelastsectionprovidesasynthesisofthecurrentunderstandingoftherelationshipsamongcirculation/flushingandnutrient/phytoplankton/dissolvedoxygendynamicswithanemphasisonthecriticallatesummerperiodwhenharboroxygenconcentrationsaretypicallylowest.

5.1 Water Quality Standards WaterqualitystandardshavebeenadoptedbyWashingtontomeettherequirementsoftheFederalWaterPollutionControlActAmendmentsof1972(lateramendedtobetheCleanWaterAct).16Thesestandardsarefortheprotectionofdesignatedusesofstatewaters,whichincludeusebyaquaticlife,usebyhumansforrecreation,useforwatersupplyandothermiscellaneoususes.Miscellaneoususesincludeuseaswildlifehabitat,harvestingofaquaticlifebyhumansaswellasuseforcommerceandnavigation,boatingandaesthetics.Althougheutrophicationofmarinewatershasthepotentialtoaffectaquaticlife(viadirecteffectsondissolvedoxygenandviaindirecteffectssuchaschangesinphytoplanktoncommunitystructureandpromotionofharmfulalgalblooms),statewaterqualitystandardsfortheprotectionofmarineaquaticlifehaveonlybeenestablishedfordissolvedoxygen(WashingtonAdministrativeCode173‐201A‐210).Theestablishmentofwaterqualitystandardsfordissolvedoxygendifferswithrespecttothedevelopmentofstandardsforsyntheticcontaminantsintwoimportantways(U.S.EPA2000).Onedifferenceisthatlowoxygenconcentrationscanoccurnaturally.Theseconddifferenceisthatwhenlevelsarefoundtobeinfluencedsignificantlybyhumansitiscontrolledindirectlybyreducinghumaninputsofnutrientsand/oroxygendemandingwastes.Thestatemarinedissolvedoxygenstandardforaparticularwaterbodydependsonthecategoryassignedinthestandards(Table2).QuartermasterHarboriscategorizedasExtraordinaryandtheapplicablestandardisthatdissolvedoxygenconcentrationsdonot

16WaterQualityStandardsforSurfaceWatersoftheStateofWashington(revisedJanuary2012):http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0610091.html



gobelow7.0mg/Lmorethanonceeverytenyears.Whendissolvedoxygenconcentrationsgobelowtheapplicablestandardduetonaturalconditions,thenhumaninfluenceconsideredcumulativelymaynotcausethedissolvedoxygentodecreasemorethan0.2mg/Lbelowthenaturallevel.Thestandardismeanttoapplytothedominantaquatichabitatoftheareaandnottoshallow,stagnant,backwaterareas.AnotherrequirementoftheCleanWaterAct,foundinSection303(d),isthatstatesmustroutinelyperformawaterqualityassessmentofsurfacewatersofthestateusingavailabledataandsubmitalistofimpairedwatersinneedofawatercleanupplan.ThemostrecentstateassessmentapprovedbyEPAinDecember2012placedQuartermasterHarborinCategory5forimpairmentfordissolvedoxygen.Category5isreservedforwaterbodieswhereEcologyhascredibledatathatwaterqualitystandardshavebeenexceededandthereisnowatercleanupplanalreadydeveloped.WaterbodiesdesignatedasCategory5requirethedevelopmentofaWaterQualityImprovementproject.AWaterQualityImprovementprojectcanleadtoaTotalMaximumDailyLoad(TMDL)orleadtoanapproachknownasStraighttoImplementation.17BecausethedataavailablefortheassessmentrepresentcurrentconditionsandnaturalconditionsinQuartermasterHarborcanbepartofthecauseoflowdissolvedoxygen,aWaterQualityImprovementProjectwouldtypicallyrequirethedevelopmentofacalibratedwaterqualitymodeltoestablishifhumaninfluenceondissolvedoxygenconcentrationsisgreaterthan0.2mg/L(e.g.,Robertsetal.2012,Ahmedetal.2013).Table 2. Washington marine dissolved oxygen standards (WAC 173-201A-201).

Category Lowest 1-Day Minimum

Extraordinary 7.0 mg/L

Excellent quality 6.0 mg/L

Good quality 5.0 mg/L

Fair quality 4.0 mg/L

Theallowanceofnomorethana0.2mg/Ldecreaseduetohumaninfluenceispartoftheanti‐degradationpolicyofthestatewaterqualitystandardsintendedtorestoreandmaintainthehighestpossiblequalityofwatersofthestate.Generally,WaterQualityImprovementProjectsorTotalMaximumDailyLoadStudiesbasedoneutrophicationmodelsofthesystemofinterestaredevelopedtoevaluatethecurrentandfutureinfluenceofnutrientinputsfrompointand/ornonpointsourcesondissolvedoxygen(e.g.,Robertsetal.2012).

17EcologyWaterQualityImprovementprocess:http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/tmdl/index.html



5.2 Physical Characteristics TidesinPugetSound,includingQuartermasterHarbor,areofthemixedsemi‐diurnaltypewithtwohighandtwolowtideseachday.Thetidalrangeisabout3.7m(12ft)betweenmeanhigherhighwater(MHHW)andmeanlowerlowwater(MLLW)(Mofieldetal.2002).18Turnbeaugh(1976)conductedacirculationstudyoftheharborwhichindicatedthatweakestcurrentswerefoundintheinnerharbor.Surfacecurrentspeedsduringmaximumfloodandebbtideweregreatestintheouterharborwithmaximumcurrentspeedsof0.27m/s(0.9ft/s).Turnbeaugh(1976)alsonotedthatalthoughsalinityandtemperaturevariedverticallyatvariouslocationsthroughouttheharbor,consistentwithtwolayerpartially‐mixedestuarinecirculation,longitudinalsalinitydifferenceswererelativelysmall.Thispatterninsalinityistypicalofinnerbaysoflargerestuarieswithrelativelylowfreshwaterinputattheheadofthebay(MacCreadyandBanas2011).Thispatterninlongitudinalsalinity(anddensity)wasalsoobservedduringcruisesconductedbyUWTaspartofthisstudy(Figure27).Ofprimaryinteresttothisstudyistheflushingtimeoftheharbor,whichasnotedpreviouslyisanimportantfactorincreatingfavorableconditionsforphytoplanktonbloomsandlowoxygenconditions(RenselAssociatesandPTI1991).Thehydrodynamicmodeldevelopedforthisstudy(Albertson2013)confirmedthattheinnerharborisrelativelypoorlyflushedinlatesummer(Figure28).Albertson(2013)alsopresentedspatiallyvaryingflushingratesforOctober,whichhighlightedthepoorflushingtimeoftheinnerharbor–averagingabout86daysin2009basedonthemodelresults(Figure29).

5.3 Water Quality Asnotedabove,dissolvedoxygendatacollectedbyKingCountysince2006haveindicatedlowdissolvedoxygenconditionsinQuartermasterHarbor,particularlyinSeptemberandOctober(seeFigure2).Alsonotedabove,andillustratedagainhereisthatcoincidentwithsummeralgalblooms,nitrateconcentrationsfallbelowlaboratorydetectionlimits(Figure30).Figure30alsoillustratesthatnitrateconcentrationsinthemainbasinofPugetSound(hererepresentedbytheKingCountyambientmonitoringstationinEastPassage)rarelyfallbelowlaboratorydetectionlimits–andthentypicallyonlyduringthespringalgalblooms.BottomwaterconcentrationsinEastPassagealsofallbelowtheapplicablestatestandardof7mg/Linlatesummer(toabout5mg/L),butnotnearlyaslowasinQuartermasterHarbor(Figure31).ThefirstobservationsoflowoxygenconcentrationsintheharborwerelikelymadebyTurnbeaugh(1976)whoreportedadissolvedoxygenconcentrationof3.8mg/LinbottomwatersoftheinnerharborinOctober1974.Turnbeaugh’smapindicatesthatthesamplinglocationwherethelowestoxygenconcentrationwasobservedinOctober1974issimilartoKingCounty’sStationMSWH01attheYachtClubintheinnerharbor(Figure31).

18TheelevationoftheNAVD88datumrelativetoMLLWattheBurtontidestationinQuartermasterHarboris0.89m(2.92ft).


KingCounty 44 December2013

Figure 27. Color contour maps showing the longitudinal distribution of density (sigma-t) in Quartermaster Harbor based on monthly

cruises conducted by UW Tacoma in 2011 (King County 2014).



Figure 28. Graph showing Quartermaster Harbor flushing times (days) determined for 2009

conditions from the fine resolution hydrodynamic model developed for this study.

Source:Albertson(2013)

Figure 29. Map of the fine resolution hydrodynamic model grid of Quartermaster Harbor

illustrating the predicted October 2009 flushing time (Albertson 2013).



Figure 30. Time series plots comparing surface water concentrations of chlorophyll a and nitrate nitrogen and bottom water concentrations of dissolved oxygen at A) the Yacht Club and at B) East Passage from 2006 through 2012.

Note:Redtrianglesinthecenterpanelrepresentnitrateconcentrationsthatwerebelowthelaboratorydetectionlimitof0.02mg/L.Thestatestandardfordissolvedoxygenisshownasadashedredlineinthebottompanel.


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Figure 31. Map showing marine monitoring stations sampled by King County and UWT as part of

this study.



Figure31illustratesthelocationsofKingCountyandUWTmooringandmonthlymonitorstationssampledaspartofthisstudy.ThereaderisreferredtothemarinemonitoringreportforadetailedoverviewofwaterqualityconditionsinQuartermasterHarbor(KingCounty2014).Inthisreport,theKingCountymooringdatacollectedatDockton(NSAJ02)andtheYachtClub(MSWH01)(at15minuterecordingintervals)areusedtofurtherhighlightthepatternsinlowdissolvedoxygenintheinnerharbor(Figure32).Amooredmulti‐sensorprobewasdeployedinitiallyattheQuartermasterHarborYachtClubalongwithaweatherstationduringSeptember2008.Themooringwassuspendedfromafloatonthewatersurface.Thedissolvedoxygendatafromthisrelativelyshortdeploymentindicatedthatdissolvedoxygenlevelsintheinnerharborwoulddeclineprecipitouslynearmidnightandremainlow(1to2mg/L)untilmorning.Theserelativelyextremedissolvedoxygenexcursionsweremissedbytheroutinemonthlysamplingatthesamelocation,whichonlytakesplaceduringtheday.ThemooringandweatherstationweremovedtoDocktonin2009.TheDocktonmooringwasfixedtoamarinapilingandthereforesampleddifferentdepthsofwateroverthetidalcycles,butbecausethesensorrecordeddepth,italsorecordedchangesintidalelevation(andtheoccasionaltsunamiwave).AlthoughminimumdissolvedoxygenconcentrationswereobservedinSeptemberandOctoberatDockton(typicallyabout4mg/L),extremelylowoxygenlevelswerenotrecorded(Figure32).In2011,themooringattheYachtClubwasre‐establishedandthemoreextremeexcursionsinlatesummer/falldissolvedoxygenlevelswereobservedagain(Figure32).Togetabettersenseoftheconditionsprecedingtheseevents,theavailabledatawereexaminedmoreclosely.Timeseriesplotsshowingtwotothreeweeksofdatasuggestthattheseeventsaretypifiedbyperiodswithdiurnalwindschangingfromrelativelystrongnortherlywindsduringthedaytolightsoutherlywindsduringthenightwithmany,butnotall,episodesoccurringduringlowerlowtides(Figure33andFigure34).SalinityalsoincreasesattheYachtClubduringtheselowdissolvedoxygenevents,whichismostapparentinFigure34.Thissuggeststhattheepisodesofextremelylowdissolvedoxygenareassociatedwitheventsrelatedtowindsfromthenorthduringthislatesummerperiod.Sustainedperiodsofwindsfromthesoutharenotassociatedwithlowdissolvedoxygenepisodesintheinnerharborduringthissameperiod(seeFigure33).Itshouldbenotedthatdiurnalwindsarealsoassociatedwithclearsunnyweatheratthistimeofyearandsustainedsoutherlywindsareassociatedwithstorms.LatesummerlowdissolvedoxygenattheheadsoffjordswithlittlefreshwaterinflowhavebeenobservedinDabobBay(inPugetSound)andinBritishColumbiamainlandfjords(Pickard1961,Kollmeyer1965,Ebbesmeyer1973).Whatisstilluncleariswherethewaterwithsuchlowdissolvedoxygenconcentrationsoriginatesfrom.ThesubsurfacedissolvedoxygenlevelsmeasuredatDocktonhavealsoindicatedexcursionsinthemooringandgrabdatatoconcentrationsnear2mg/L.Itispossiblethatwaterwithverylowdissolvedoxygenoccursnearthebottomintheouterharborthatisupwelledintotheinnerduringtheseepisodes,itisalsopossiblethatthereis



Figure 32. Time series plots of King County continuous mooring (Dockton and Yacht Club) and

weather (Dockton) data collected by King County in Quartermaster Harbor since late 2008.

Note:Windspeed/directionandsolarradiationdatawerecollectedatDockton.TheDocktonmooringisfixedtoapierpilingsothedepthofthesensorsvariesoverthetidalcycle.ThesecondpanelfromthetopplotsthedepthovertimeofthemooringatDockton.ThemooringattheYachtClubissuspendedfromafloatapproximately1mbelowthewatersurface.




weather (Dockton) data collected by King County in Quartermaster Harbor during periods of low dissolved oxygen at the Yacht Club in September 2012.

Note:Verticalblue‐dottedlinesprovidedasavisualorientationtotheconditionsproceedingandfollowingselectedlowdissolvedoxygeneventsobservedintheinnerharbor.Windspeed/directionandsolarradiationdatawerecollectedatDockton.TheDocktonmooringisfixedtoapierpilingsothedepthofthesensorsvariesoverthetidalcycle.ThesecondpanelfromthetopplotsthedepthovertimeofthemooringatDockton.ThemooringattheYachtClubissuspendedfromafloatapproximately1mbelowthewatersurface.

Windfromsouth WindfromnorthSustainedhigherwindsfromnorth




weather (Dockton) data collected by King County in Quartermaster Harbor during periods of low dissolved oxygen at the Yacht Club in October 2013.

Note:Verticalblue‐dottedlinesprovidedasavisualorientationtotheconditionsproceedingandfollowingselectedlowdissolvedoxygeneventsobservedintheinnerharbor.Windspeed/directionandsolarradiationdatawerecollectedatDockton.TheDocktonmooringisfixedtoapierpilingsothedepthofthesensorsvariesoverthetidalcycle.ThesecondpanelfromthetopplotsthedepthovertimeofthemooringatDockton.ThemooringattheYachtClubissuspendedfromafloatapproximately1mbelowthewatersurface.

Windfromsouth Windfromnorth



alayeroflowdissolvedoxygennearthebottomoftheinnerharbor,oraportionoftheinnerharbor,thatremainsdistinctunderconditionsoflowtidalamplitudetypicalofthistimeofyearand/orminimalmixingbyweakwindsfromthesouth.

5.4 Harmful Algal Blooms Asnotedpreviously,thetoxinproducingdinoflagellateAlexandriumcatenellahasbeenobservedininnerQuartermasterHarbor(Nishitanietal.1988).PhytoplanktonanalysesconductedbyKingCountyandUWTalsonotedthefrequentoccurrenceofAlexandriuminQuartermasterHarbor,typicallybetweenAugustandNovember(KingCounty2014).Infact,QuartermasterHarborhasthedistinctionofhavingthehighestconcentrationofAlexandriumcystsinsedimentssampledthroughoutPugetSoundin2005(Horneretal.2011).Cystsarearestingstageandarethoughttoprovidetheseedforinitialbloomsunderfavorableenvironmentalconditions(Coxetal.2008).WashingtonStateDepartmentofHealthmonitorstoxinlevelsinshellfishthroughoutPugetSoundandclosesshellfishbedstoharvestingwhentoxinlevelsexceedsafelimitsforhumanconsumption.QuartermasterHarborisaninitiationsiteforthesetoxicbloomsandisfrequentlyclosedduetoPSP(Horneretal.2011).Nishitanietal.(1988)alsonotedthatAlexandriuminQuartermasterHarborexhibitedadiurnalmigrationpattern,migratingdownwardintheeveningandthenreturningtotheupperwatercolumnbymorning.Perhapsitispossiblethatmotilephytoplanktonintheinnerharborduringlatesummer/fallmaybeinvolvedinthedevelopmentofalowoxygenlayeralongthebottomoftheinnerharbor.AlexandriumisnottheonlyharmfulalgalspeciesinQuartermasterHarbor.PhytoplanktonmonitoringindicatesthatalargebloomofHeterosigmaakashiwo,amotilerhaphidophytethatcanbetoxictofishandpossiblyotherwildlife(Rensel2007)wasobservedinQuartermasterHarborinSeptember2011(KingCounty2014).AnotherbloomwasobservedinJulyof2013thatwasattributedasthecauseofafishkillobservedatthesametimebyFrankJackson,anislandresident.AnotherpotentiallyharmfulphytoplanktonspeciesobservedinQuartermasterHarboristhedinoflagellateNoctilucascintillans,whichoftenresultsinastrongpinkishredororangediscolorationwhichmakesthewaterlookliketomato‐soup.InthePacificNorthwest,thisspeciesdoesnotappeartoproducetoxinsandisn’tassociatedwithharmfuleffects,althoughwhenlargebloomsstarttodecaytheycandepletewatercolumnoxygenconcentrations(PugetSoundActionTeam2007).AlargebloomwasnotedthroughouttheinnerandouterharborinSeptember2010.Whatisparticularlyinterestingaboutthisspeciesisthatitisnotphotosynthetic,butratherheterotrophic,feedingonotherphytoplankton,protozoans,detritus,andfisheggs.

5.5 Sediment Nutrient and Dissolved Oxygen Flux AstudyconductedbyEcologytosupportthedevelopmentofthewaterqualitymodelofSouthPugetSoundfoundthatnutrientfluxesfrommarinesedimentsofshallowembaymentsmaybeasignificantsourceofnitrogentomarinewatersduringthecritical



periodoflowdissolvedoxygen(Robertsetal.2008).BasedonthedataprovidedinRobertsetal.(2008),themarinesedimentsofQuartermasterHarbormayalsobearelativelysignificantsourceofnutrientstoQuartermasterHarborduringthecriticalperiodoflowdissolvedoxygen(KingCounty2010e).KingCounty(2010e)recommendedconductingabenthicnutrientfluxstudyinQuartermasterHarbortoconfirmtheratesmeasuredinothershallowembaymentsofPugetSoundandprovidesite‐specificdataforuseinthedevelopmentofmoreaccuratesedimentnutrientloadingestimatesfortheharbor.ThedetailsoftheQuartermasterHarborsedimentnutrientreleasestudyareprovidedinKingCounty(2012c).Fivestationswereoccupiedforanapproximate24‐hrperiodinSeptember2010(Figure35).TheresultsweresimilartotherangeofresultsreportedbytherecentstudyconductedinfourSouthPugetSoundembaymentsthatusedthesameequipmentandmethods(Robertsetal.2008).Therewasadistinctgradientintheresultswiththegreatestsedimentoxygendemandandnutrientfluxobservedattheshallowestlocationintheinnerharbor(Table3).Lowestnutrientrelease(andlowestsedimentoxygendemand)wasestimatedforthedeepeststationintheouterharbor.Thisstationalsohadverylittlefinesedimentandthelowestamountofsedimenttotalorganiccarbon.Highestnutrientrelease(andhighestsedimentoxygendemand)wasobservedatthestationlocatedintheinnermostportionoftheinnerharbor.Sedimentcharacteristicsatthisstation,andattheotherthreestationswithmoderatenutrientreleaseratesandsedimentoxygendemand,weredominatedbyfinesandhadsimilarlevelsofsedimentorganiccarbon,totalnitrogenandsulfide(Table3).Becausesedimentsmayprovidealong‐termreservoir(i.e.,internalsource)ofnitrogenforphytoplanktongrowththatcoulddelaytheresponseoftheharbortonitrogenloadingreductionfromhumansources,additionalstudiesofsedimentnutrientfluxmaybewarranted.

5.6 Synthesis Similartothedifficultyofdeterminingtheconcentrationsofnitrateinstreamsandgroundwaterpriortohumandisturbance,therearenohistoricalobservationsavailablefordeterminingthenaturalnutrient‐phytoplankton‐oxygendynamicsofQuartermasterHarbor.Itappearsthatlowoxygenconcentrationshaveoccurredintheinnerharboratleastsincethemid‐1970s.InordertoaddressthequestionofhowthetrophicstateoftheharborhaschangedsinceitsdiscoverybytheWilkesexpedition,thereappeartobeatleasttwoindependentapproaches.OneapproachwouldbetocollectandanalyzesedimentcoresfromtheharborandconductanalysessimilartothoseusedbyBrandenbergeretal.(2008)toreconstructthehistoryofhypoxiainthemainbasinofPugetSoundandHoodCanal.Thesecondapproachwouldbetodevelopandcalibrateanutrient‐phytoplankton‐oxygenmodeloftheharborandevaluatenitrogenreductionscenariostoestimatetherelativehumaninfluenceonharbordissolvedoxygenresourcesandperhapstheeffectsofhumanactivityonthefrequencyandseverityofharmfulalgalbloomsintheharbor.



Figure 35. Map showing locations of benthic nutrient flux chambers.

Note:Bathymetriccontours(5‐ftintervals;NAVD1988)basedondatafromFinlayson(2005)areshowntoillustrateexpectedbottomtopographyateachsamplingstation.



Table 3. Comparison of dissolved oxygen and nutrient flux estimates to surface sediment (0-2 cm) chemistry measured in the vicinity of each benthic flux chamber.

Sediment Data Flux Data

Station %Fines %TOC TN NH3‐N TS DO DIN Ortho‐P

DSi

% mg kg‐1 dry sediment g m‐2 d‐1

MSVK01 QMH‐A

76 2.8 2,460 14.3 404 1.72 0.15 0.04 0.996

MSXM01 QMH‐B

68 2.0 1,970 17.9 717 0.72 0.06 0.01 0.219

NSAJ03 QMH‐C

75 2.5 2,280 9.2 935 0.64 0.05 0.0 0.079

MSZF01 QMH‐D

75 2.1 2,030 11.5 1,010 0.95 0.01 0.0 0.019

NSCE01 QMH‐E

19 0.5 458 5.2 21.7 0.16 ‐0.01 0.0 0.014

SedimentdatafromKingCounty(unpublished)TOC=TotalOrganicCarbon,TN=TotalNitrogen,NH‐3=AmmoniaNitrogen,TS=TotalSulfide,DO=DissolvedOxygen,Ortho‐P=OrthophosphatePhosphorus,DSi=DissolvedSilicaThefirstapproachmaybeconsideredsomewhatlimited,becauseitdoesnotdirectlyaddresstheanti‐degradationstandardofnomorethana0.2mg/Leffectonoxygenlevelsduetohumanactivity.Inotherword,thesedimentreconstructionapproachwouldnotresolvesmallchangesinthetrophicstateoftheharbor,butitmightprovidesomeinsightastowhetherthechangeswerelargeorsmall.ThesecondapproachbasedonthedevelopmentandcalibrationofeutrophicationmodelshasprovidedanestimateofthepotentialhumaninfluenceondissolvedoxygeninPugetSound(Ahmedetal.2013,Robertsetal.2013)andinBuddInlet(Robertsetal.2012).However,themechanismsthatresultintheextremelylowoxygenconcentrationsinQuartermasterHarborappeartobemorecomplicatedthanassumedinthesemodelingeffortsduetothepresenceofharmfulalgalspecies.Thecomplicationsassociatedwithmodelingharmfulalgaehavebeenhighlightedinanumberofpublications(Horneretal.1997,SmaydaandReynolds2001,Andersonetal.2002,Gilbertetal.2005).Ingeneral,thereappeartobeamultitudeoffactorsthatpotentiallycontributetotheresponseofaparticularstrainofaharmfulspeciestohumandisturbance,includingincreasednutrientloading.Perhapsofevenmorerelevanceisthelackofassociationofepisodesoflowdissolvedoxygenlevelswithfishkills.FishkillshavebeenobservedinQuartermasterHarbor,butthesefishkillsappeartobeassociatedwiththeoccurrenceofharmfultypesofalgae.Thesuggestionisthatthefocuswithrespecttobeneficialusesoftheharbormightbetterbedirectedprimarilytowardunderstandingthefactorsinfluencingharmfulalgalbloomsand



secondarilyatconcernsregardingdissolvedoxygen,althoughsomeresearchhasactuallysuggestedthatanoxicsedimentsmaybeaprerequisiteforinitiationofsomeharmfulalgalblooms(SmaydaandPackard1979).



6.0 NITROGEN LOADING Initialestimatesofnutrientloadingfromtributarystreams,groundwater,nearshoresepticsystems,atmosphericdepositionandsedimentstoQuartermasterHarborwerereportedbyKingCounty(2010e).Sincethattime,additionalstreamandgroundwaterqualitydatawerecollected(KingCounty2013a)andastudyofsedimentnutrientfluxinQuartermasterHarborwasconducted(KingCounty2012c).Furthermore,noinitialestimatewasdevelopedfortheinputofnutrientsviatidalandestuarineexchangeflowthroughtheharborentrance.Also,asaresultofpresentationsandpublicmeetings,interestinquantifyingtheimportanceofinputsfromboatsmooredintheharborwasalsoexpressed.Thesub‐sectionsbelowsummarizethecurrentbestestimatesofdissolvedinorganicnitrogen(DIN)loadingtotheharborfocusingonthecriticalseason(definedhereasOctober)loadingtotheharborasawholeandspecificallytotheinnerharbor.Dissolvedinorganicnitrogenreferstothesumofnitrateandammonianitrogen.Ingeneral,nitrateisthedominantformofinorganicnitrogeninfreshandmarinewaterandammonianitrogenistheformofnitrogenreleasedfrommarinesediments.Formoredetailedinformationonthesourcesofdataandmethodsusedtoestimatenutrientloadingtotheharbor,otherthanthosedescribedbelow,thereaderisreferredtoKingCounty(2010e).

6.1 Groundwater Theinitialestimateofgroundwaterflowtotheharborwasrevisedbasedonincorporationofadditionalyearsofwaterbalancedataforthedrainagebasin(basedonstreamflowandprecipitationdatacollectedthrough2010).DetailsoftheapproachusedareoutlinesinKingCounty(2012c)andarebasedonarelativelysimplewaterbalanceapproachsimilartothatusedbyPaulsonetal(2007)toestimategroundwaterinputtoHoodCanal.Theupdatedgroundwaterrechargeestimateis16cfs(Table4).ThisestimateisfairlyconsistentwithanindependentestimateprovidedbytheUSGSregionalaquifer‐systemanalysis(RASA)modelof18.6cfs(Vaccaroetal.1998).Table 4. Water balance-based estimate of recharge in the Quartermaster Harbor drainage

basin.

A: Precipitation 49.3 in

B:ET 20 in

C: Runoff 14.9 in

D: Consumptive Use 0.4 in

E = A – B – C – D

E: Recharge 14.0 in

Recharge = 16 cfs

ET = Evapotranspiration



RechargeinitiallyenterstheShallowAquifer,whichappearstointersectprimarilywiththeinnerharbor(seeFigure19).ItisassumedherethatalloftherechargeisdischargedtoQuartermasterandthathalfisdeliveredtotheinnerharborandtheotherhalftotheouterharbor.ItisunlikelythatalloftherechargeisdischargedfromtheShallowAquifertoQuartermasterHarborasaportionlikelyrechargestheDeepAquifersystem.Inotherwords,theestimateofrechargeintheQuartermasterHarbordrainagebasinmaybefairlyaccurate,buttheestimateoftheamountofgroundwaterrechargethatdischargestoQuartermasterHarbor(andhowthedischargeisdistributed)ishighlyuncertainatthistime.PendingfurtherrefinementsthatincluderechargeoftheDeepAquiferandtheamountanddistributionofgroundwaterinputtotheinnerandouterharbor,thecurrentestimateof16cfsisconsideredtobeanapproximateupperboundforthesubmarinegroundwaterinputtoQuartermasterHarbor.Althoughtheinitialharbornitrogenloadingestimateincludedanestimateofnitrogenloadingfromgroundwaterinputtotheharbor(KingCounty2010e),otherresearchhashighlightedthedifficulty(anduncertainty)inextrapolatinggroundwaterloadingestimatesfromnutrientmeasurementsmadeinwatersupplyandgroundwatermonitoringwells(Pitz2009).AlthoughtheestimatedannualrechargeandmeanShallowAquifernitrateconcentrationbasedonwelldatadescribedabovecouldbeusedtoestimategroundwaternitrateloadingtotheharbor(16cfsx0.7mg/Lx2.45conversionfactor~=27kgNperday),thisisassumedtobeaworst‐caseupperboundestimateratherthananapproximatebestestimateofgroundwaternitrogenloading(Pitz2011).Withtheexceptionofinputsfromvisiblenearshoreseepsthatareassumedtocaptureinputsfromnearshoresepticsystemsthatareaccountedforbelow,submarinegroundwaterinputisassumedtotravelthroughmarinesedimentswheredenitrificationofgroundwaternitratewouldreduceoreliminatenitratedeliveredtotheharborviagroundwater.

6.2 Marine Boundary BecauseupwellingwatersofftheWashingtoncoastarerichininorganicnitrogenandhavebeenfoundtobeasignificantsourceofnitrogentoPugetSoundandHoodCanal(CopeandRoberts2013,Robertsetal.2013),asimilarestimateforthecontributionofnitrogenfromPugetSoundthroughtheentranceofQuartermasterHarborisdevelopedbelow.Twoindependentapproacheswereusedfocusingon2009,theyearuponwhichtheQuartermasterHarborhydrodynamicmodelwasdevelopedandtested(Albertson2013).Thefirstmethodreliedonthedevelopmentofatwo‐layersalinitymassbalanceoftheharborusingthemonthlysalinityprofilingdatacollectedbyUWT,similartothatusedbySteinbergetal.(2010)forHoodCanal.FollowingSteinbergetal.(2010),thesalinitymassbalancewascalculatedasfollows:QSF=QUP+QFW,andQSF*SSF=QUP*SUP+QFW*SFW



WhereQisflow,Sissalinity,andthesubscriptsSF,UPandFWrepresentthesurfacelayer,upwellingwaterandfreshwaterinputs,respectively.Theseequationsaresolvedfortheupwellingflow(QUP):QUP=QFW/(SUP/SSF–1)UpwellingDINloadcanthenbecalculatedfromtheupwellingDINconcentration(DINUP)andtheupwellingflow(QUP).BothmethodsreliedonthesurfaceandbottominorganicnitrogendatacollectedbyUWT.ThesalinityprofilesfromtheCTDcastsforstations51through56wereaveragedintosurface(0‐3m)andbottom(>3m)(3misanapproximateaveragedepthofthepycnoclineintheharbor)foreachstationandthenthesevalueswereusedtocalculateavolume‐weightedaverageofsurfaceandbottomsalinityintheharborforeachmonth.Thesurfaceandbottominorganicnitrogendatawerealsousedtocalculateavolume‐weightedharbormeansurfaceandbottominorganicnitrogenconcentration.Totalfreshwaterinflowfor2009wasbasedonthesumofmonthlymeanJuddandFishercreekflows(MiletaCreekflowwasnotmeasuredin2009)plusflowfromtheungaugeddrainagearea,whichwasbasedonscalingfromthegaugedtotheungaugeddrainagearea.Inadditiontoanestimateofsurfacewaterinputtotheharbor,anestimateofgroundwaterinputbasedonthewaterbalanceapproachpresentedinKingCounty(2010e),butupdatedwithdatathrough2010.ThemarineboundarynitrogenloadingestimatesfortheharborasawholeandfortheinnerharborarepresentedinTable5andTable6,respectively.Unfortunately,UWTdidnotconductsamplinginOctober2009,sothemarineboundaryloadingestimatewasbasedontheaverageloadingcalculatedforSeptemberandNovember.Ingeneral,theestimatedupwellingflowandnitratefluxvariedovertheyearinresponsetovariationsinfreshwaterinflow,differencesinsurfaceandbottomwatersalinityandbottomwaternitrateconcentrations.EstimatedupwellingnitratefluxwaslowestduringApriltoJunewhenthedifferencebetweensurfaceandbottomsalinitywasgreatest.ThemarineboundaryDINloadingestimatesfortheharborasawholeandfortheinnerharborinOctoberare1,305and1,416kg/d,respectively.ThesecondmethodreliedontheobservedandmodeledresidualflowestimatespresentedbyAlbertson(2013).TheseresidualflowestimatesincludedanestimatebasedoncurrentmeterdeploymentsconductedinOctober2009(KingCounty2009c)andmodelestimatesbasedonafineandcoarseresolutionhydrodynamicmodelgrid(Albertson2013).Theseestimatesweremadeforatransectacrosstheouterharbor(Figure36).TheestimatedmarineboundaryDINinputtotheharborinOctober2009basedontheresidualflowestimatesrangedfrom1,320to2,000kg/d(Table7),whichareinreasonablygoodagreementwiththeestimatesderivedfromthefirstapproach,particularlytheestimatesbasedoncurrentmeterdataandtheresultsfromthefineresolutiongridhydrodynamicmodel.



Table 5. Salinity box model results for monthly marine boundary inorganic nitrogen inputs to

Quartermaster Harbor.

SSF SUP Q sw Q gw QFW QUP DINUP DINUP

psu cfs mg/L kg/d

Jan ‐ ‐ 39.9 16 55.9 ‐ ‐ ‐

Feb 29.1 29.5 10.6 " 26.6 1,935 0.216 1,024

Mar 28.9 29.4 17.2 " 33.2 1,919 0.447 2,102

Apr 27.2 29.4 15.7 " 31.7 392 0.527 506

May 27.5 29.4 16.2 " 32.2 466 0.421 481

Jun 28.2 29.2 5.6 " 21.6 609 0.323 482

Jul 29.3 29.7 4.1 " 20.1 1,472 0.324 1,168

Aug 29.7 30.1 3.9 " 19.9 1,478 0.700 2,535

Sep 30.2 30.5 4.6 " 20.6 2,074 0.328 1,667

Oct ‐ ‐ 8.1 " 24.1 ‐ ‐ (1,300)

Nov 29.9 30.4 27.0 " 43.0 2,571 0.148 932

Dec ‐ ‐ 16.5 " 32.5 ‐ ‐ ‐ aValueinparenthesesisanaverageoftheestimatedloadinginSeptemberandNovember.Table 6. Salinity box model results for monthly marine boundary inorganic nitrogen inputs to

inner Quartermaster Harbor.

SSF SUP Q sw Q gw QFW QUP DINUP DINNUP

psu cfs mg/L kg/d

Jan ‐ ‐ 19.2 8 27.2 ‐ ‐ ‐

Feb 29.3 29.4 4.8 " 12.8 3,750 0.346 3,179

Mar 28.2 28.6 8.2 " 16.2 1,142 0.005 14

Apr 28.2 29.5 7.5 " 15.5 336 0.000 0

May 26.6 29.4 7.7 " 15.7 149 0.000 0

Jun 28.1 28.9 2.4 " 10.4 365 0.000 0

Jul 29.3 29.5 1.8 " 9.8 1,436 0.080 281

Aug 29.6 29.9 1.7 " 9.7 957 0.060 141

Sep 30.2 30.4 2.1 " 10.1 1,525 0.440 1,644

Oct ‐ ‐ 3.6 " 11.6 ‐ ‐ (1,416)a

Nov 29.3 30.1 13.0 " 21.0 769 0.630 1,187

Dec ‐ ‐ 7.8 " 15.8 ‐ ‐ ‐

aValueinparenthesesisanaverageoftheestimatedloadinginSeptemberandNovember.Table 7. Marine boundary inorganic nitrogen input to Quartermaster Harbor in October 2009

based on residual flow estimates provided by Albertson (2013).



Landward flux DINUP DINUP

m3/s cfs mg/L kg/d

Current meter data 65 2,295 0.238 1,338

Modeled

Fine grid 64 2,260 0.238 1,318

Coarse grid 97 3,426 0.238 1,998

AlthoughtheestimateoflatesummerDINfluxtotheharborasawholeappearsreasonablebasedontheconsistencybetweenthetworelativelyindependentcalculationmethods,theestimatefortheinnerharborshouldbeviewedwithcautionforanumberofreasons.Forone,therelativelyhighexchangeflowestimatedfortheinnerharborinOctoberseemstobeatoddswiththeverylowflushingratepredictedbythemodel(seeFigure29),whichindicatedameanflushingtimeofover80daysfortheinnerharbor.Theinnerharboralso

Figure 36. Map showing locations of bottom-mounted acoustic doppler current profilers.

doesnotappeartobestronglystratifiedinOctober(noristherestoftheharbor).Atthistimeofyear,thesalinityinPugetSound,andbyextensioninQuartermasterHarbor,isuniformlyhighduetolowfreshwaterinputnotonlyinQuartermasterHarbor,but



throughoutPugetSound.Inaddition,thegroundwaterestimateincludedinthecalculationofQFWishighlyuncertainandthefluxestimateissensitivetothefreshwaterflowestimate.Usinghalfor1.5timestheassumedgroundwaterinflowof8cfschangedtheestimatedinnerharborDINboundaryfluxfrom980to1,855kg/d.

6.3 Marine Vessels SincetheUniversityofWashington(1976)studyofQuartermasterHarborwasinitiatedbecause“…aconcernbylocalresidentswas,andstillis,thatovernightboatusehasbeencreatingdetrimentaleffectsonthequalityofQuartermasterHarborbythedumpingofsewageintoharborwaters,”itisnosurprisethatnitrogeninputsfromharborvesselswasexpressedasaconcernduringpublicmeetingsandpresentationsforthisproject.Ideally,toestimateinorganicnitrogeninputsfromboats,onewouldnotonlyhavedailycountingofalloccupiedvesselsintheharbor,butalsothenumberofpeopleonboardandwhetherornottheydischargesanitarywastetotheharbor.Informationascompleteasthisisnotcurrentlyavailable,butinformationisavailableforthenumberofboatslipsintheinnerandouterharbor(Toy2010).Basedontheassumptionthatthereare160boatsintheinnerharborand50boatsintheouterharbor(Toy2010),thattherearetwopeopleoneachboatandthateachpersonreleases6.4kgDINeachyear(Whiley2010),andthat20vesselsonanyparticulardayareoccupiedresultsinanestimatedDINloadof1.6kg/dtotheharborfromuntreatedvesseldischarges.Ifall210oftheboatswereoccupiedonanygivenday,andwastesweredischargeduntreated,theestimatedDINloadwouldbe8.4kg/d.

6.4 Nearshore Septic Systems TheinitialestimateofDINloadingfromnearshoresepticsystemswasupdatedwithimprovedinformationandsimilarassumptionsasfollows.Itwasassumedthattherewere539septicsystems(identifiedasoccupiedparcelsadjacenttotheshoreline)servinganaveragehouseholdsizeof2.4peoplereleasing6.4kgDINperyear.ItwasassumedthatthesesystemsprovidedminimaltreatmentbasedonstudiesofnearshoresepticsystemsalongHoodCanal(Atieh2008,Atiehetal.2008).TheDINloadingestimatefromnearshoresepticsystemswasreducedby10percenttoestimateultimateloadingtotheharbor.ThisamountofattenuationisassumedtoberatherconservativebasedonadditionalevaluationofnearshorenitrogeninputstoHoodCanal(CopeandRoberts2013).TheseassumptionsresultinanestimatedDINloadingof19.1kg/dfromnearshoresepticsystems–consideredanupperboundestimate.Basedonanestimateof185systemsreleasingDINtotheinnerharborandthesameassumptionsregardingloadingtothesystemandattenuation,theestimatedDINloadingtotheinnerharborfromnearshoresepticsystemsis6.7kg/d–alsoconsideredtobeanupperboundestimate.



6.5 Surface Water BasedonthemethodsanddatapresentedinKingCounty(2010e),butusingupdateflowandwaterqualitydataforJudd,FisherandMiletaCreekthrough2010,thecurrentestimateofDINloadingtotheharborfromsurfacedrainagetotheharborasawholeis15.9kg/dand9.0kg/dtotheinnerharborinOctober.AlthoughDINloadingfromgroundwaterwasestimatedintheinitialloadingsreport(KingCounty2010e),itiscurrentlyconsideredtobesohighlyuncertainandlikelycapturedalreadyinthesurfacewaterandnearshoresepticloadingestimates.TheestimateofgroundwaterrechargeisusedintheestimateoftotalfreshwaterflowtotheharbortoestimatethemarineboundaryDINinput.

6.6 Atmospheric Deposition ThedataandmethodsusedtoestimateatmosphericdepositionaredocumentedinKingCounty(2010e).TheestimatedDINinputfromatmosphericdepositiontotheharborwasupdatedusingdatathrough2010.TheestimateddepositionofDINtothesurfaceofQuartermasterHarborinOctoberis4.1kg/d.Theestimateddepositiontotheinnerharboris1.1kg/d.

6.7 Benthic Flux Marinesedimentscanbeasignificantsourceofnutrientstothewatercolumndependingonthecharacterofthesedimentandconditionsintheoverlyingwater.BenthicnutrientfluxeshavebeenrecognizedasasignificantcomponentoftheoverallnutrientbudgetinpreviousstudiesofSouthPugetSoundembaymentswherelowdissolvedoxygenlevelsareofconcern(Robertsetal.2008).BasedonmeasurementsmadeinQuartermasterHarboraspartofthisstudy(seeTable3)itisassumedthatthatinnerandouterharborDINfluxfromthesedimentsis0.10and0.02gm‐2d‐1,whichresultsinaharbor‐wideDINsedimentfluxof400kg/dandafluxintheinnerharborof360kg/d.

6.8 Synthesis AsnotedintheinitialloadingestimatesthatincludedsedimentnutrientfluxesbasedondatacollectedfromothershallowembaymentsinPugetSound(Robertsetal.2008),sedimentnutrientreleaseinlatesummerduringthecriticaloxygenperiodappearstobemuchlargerthanallotherquantifiedsources,withthepossibleexceptionofinorganicnitrogendeliveredfromPugetSoundthroughthemarineboundary(Table8andFigure37).Ingeneral,thereremainsagreatdealofuncertaintyintheestimatesofnitrogenloadingtotheharbor,withthepossibleexceptionoftheestimateofloadingfromsurfacerunoff.Althoughthereisuncertaintyassociatedwiththeestimatedinputofnitrogenfromatmosphericdepositionandmarinevessels,theirrelativecontributiontotheharborappearstobesmall.



Table 8. Summary of estimated DIN inputs to Quartermaster Harbor in October.

Quartermaster Harbor (Total)

Outer Harbor Inner Harbor

kg DIN d‐1

Marine boundary a 2,700 a 1,300 1,400

Sediment flux 400 40 360

Surface flow 15.9 6.9 9

Nearshore septics 19.1 12.4 6.7

Atmospheric deposition 4.1 3.0 1.1

Marine vessels b 1.6 0.8 0.8 aItisassumedherethatthemarineboundaryfluxestimatesfortheouterandinnerharborareindependentandthatthesumequalsthetotalmarinefluxtotheharbor.Thisisassumedtobeanupperboundestimate.bAssumesall10vesselsdischargingsanitarywastearelocatedintheinnerharborand10vesselsarelocatedintheouterharbor.

Figure 37. Bar chart illustrating the relative contribution of DIN to Quartermaster Harbor in

October, the critical period when dissolved oxygen concentrations are typically lowest.

Note:Thetotalheightofthebarindicatestheloadingratetotheentireharbor.



Inputsfromnearshoresepticsystemsareparticularlydifficulttomeasuredirectlyandeffectivenessofanyparticularsystemtoremovenitrogenisdependentonlocalsoilandgroundwaterconditions.MoresophisticatedandintensivefieldstudiessimilartothoseusedtoevaluatenearshoreinputstoHoodCanalmaybeneededtobetterestimateinputsfromgroundwaterandnearshoresepticsystems(e.g.,Swarzenskietal.2007,Simmondsetal.2008).Althoughsitespecificmeasurementsofbenthicnutrientfluxweremadeaspartofthisstudy,measurementsweremadeatasinglepointintimeusingarelativelysimplesamplingapproach.SheibleyandPaulson(2013)havereviewedtheavailabledataandtechniquesusedtomeasurebenthicnutrientfluxesinPugetSound,whichmayleadtofurtherimprovementsinmethodsanddatainthefuture.TheestimatedinputofnitrogentoQuartermasterHarborviathemarineentranceboundarywithPugetSoundappearstobethelargestsourceofnitrogentotheharborduringthecriticallatesummerperiodfordissolvedoxygen.ThisisconsistentwithestimatesforPugetSoundasawholeandforotherembaymentswithrestrictedcirculationduringthistimeofyear(e.g.,HoodCanal/LynchCove)(CopeandRoberts2013,Robertsetal.2013).Theestimatefortheharborasawholeissomewhatuncertain,butseemstobereasonablebasedonthesimilarityofestimatesderivedfromcurrentmeterdata,hydrodynamicmodeloutputandasimplemodelbasedonasalinitybalance.Theestimatedmarineinputtotheinnerharborissomewhatlesscertain–ithasonlybeenestimatedusingthesalinityboxmodel.



7.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Basedonhistoricaldataandinformationcollectedaspartofthisstudy,itappearsthathumanactivityonVashon‐MauryIslandhasresultedinelevatedsurfaceandgroundwaterconcentrationsofnitrogen,particularlyasnitrate.IncreasesobservedintheShallowAquiferhavenotexceededthedrinkingwaterMCLof10mg/LandconcentrationsappeartovarytosomedegreeinrelationtosusceptibilitytocontaminationbasedontheCARAdesignations.StreambaseflownitrateconcentrationsinlatesummerappeartointegratethepatchinessinobservedShallowAquifernitrateconcentrationsandwouldprovideabasisformakingafirstapproximationestimateoftherelativehumancontributionfromuplandsourcestonitrogeninputstoQuartermasterHarbor.Itisuncertaintowhatextentanyparticularsourcecontributestoelevatednitrateconcentrationsinislandfreshwatersystems,butsourcesincludeonsitesepticsystems,applicationofnitrogencontainingfertilizerormanure,uncoveredmanurestorage,animalmanure/urine(urineistheprimarysourceofnitrogenfromanimals,includinghumans)andredalder.However,ofthesesources,onsitesepticsystemsareclearlyacontributortonitrateingroundwaterbecausetheyaredesignedtodeliversolublenitrogenbelowthesoilsurfacetobedilutedintothelocalgroundwatersystembeforereachingastreamorthemarineshoreline.Anonsitesepticsystemdoesnotneedtofailinordertodischargeinorganicnitrogentogroundwaterandultimatelytoreceivingwaters.Upgradingconventionalsepticsystems,particularlysystemsalongtheshorelinelimitedbyareaandsoilquality,wouldbecostly.Developmentoflocaldecentralizedsystemsorconnectiontotheexistingcentralizedwastewatertreatmentsystemontheislandisnotanewideaandwasevaluatedasrecentlyas2008(KingCounty2008).Thereremainsagreatdealofuncertaintyregardingthehumancontribution,particularlyhumanactivityonVashon‐MauryIsland,tonitrogenandotherfactorsthatmaycauselowdissolvedoxygenconcentrationsandharmfulalgalbloomsinQuartermasterHarbor.ThecurrentbestestimatesoftherelativecontributionofnitrogensourcestotheharbordevelopedaspartofthisstudyandinformationgeneratedinotherrelatedstudiesofPugetSoundsuggestthatonlyaportionoftheobservedlowdissolvedoxygeninlatesummerisduetohumaninfluence.ThisisconsistentwithotherstudiesinPugetSound.However,thestateanti‐degradationstandardfordissolvedoxygenisbasedonadeterminationofanexpliciteffectofnomorethan0.2mg/Ldeclineinoxygenduetohumaninfluence.DeterminationofwhetherornotthisthresholdhasbeenexceededhasbeenachallengethroughoutPugetSound,particularlyforworkconductedonthisissueinHoodCanal(CopeandRoberts2013).Theapproachthatistypicallytakentodeterminethehumancontributiontotheobservedlowoxygenlevels,andonethatwasoriginallyintendedforthisproject,istodevelopandcalibrateanumericaleutrophicationmodelandcomparecurrentconditionandnatural



conditionmodelscenariostoassesscompliancewiththeanti‐degradationstandardfordissolvedoxygen(nomorethan0.2mg/Ldeclineduetohumaninfluence).Thisapproachischallengingforanumberofreasons,especiallyconsideringtheoccurrenceofspeciesofmotile,potentiallyharmfulalgaeandcomplicatedinteractionswithsedimentandweatherconditions.Managingwaterqualityunderthislevelofuncertaintypresentschallengesthatshouldbeacknowledgedandaddressed(Cloern2001,Harrison2007,Allenetal.2011).AdditionalscientificinformationthatcouldhelpaddresssomeofthesechallengesinQuartermasterHarborincludesthefollowing:

Reviewcurrentfreshandmarinemonitoringprogramsandrecommendchangestoensurethatsamplingdesignsarerobusttodetectingchange,particularlywithrespecttoseparatingnaturalvariabilityfromanthropogeniceffects

Investigatethecausesoffishkills,includinganalysesofkeywaterqualityandplanktonicvariablesandanalysisoffishtissuesbypathologists

Standardizeandperformtrendanalysisofparalyticshellfishpoison(PSP)monitoringdatacollectedbytheWashingtonStateDepartmentofHealth

Estimateflushingandnutrientfluxratesinpotentiallynutrientsensitiveareas

UsetheexistingEcologyPugetSound/GeorgiaBasinmodeltosupplyboundaryconditionstothecurrentQuartermasterHarborhydrodynamic/waterqualitymodelorincreasetheresolutionofthePugetSound/GeorgiaBasinmodelwithinQuartermasterHarbor

Collectandanalyzesedimentcorestoattempttobetteridentifythehistoryofcarbon,nutrientsandphytoplankton(andlevelsofanoxia)sincebeforeextensiveinhabitationanddevelopment

Conductastudythatattemptstoseparatetherelativecontributionofalder,OSS,fertilizeranddomesticanimalwastetoharbornitrogenloading

Developgroundwatersusceptibility/vulnerabilitymapsbasedonavailablenitratedataandlandcharacteristicsspecifictoVashon‐MauryIsland



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KingCounty A‐1 January2014

Appendix A

Outreach Activity Summary and Change Incorporated into the 2012 King County

Comprehensive Plan



OutreachActivitySummary‐Phase1January2009toDecember2009Awebpagedescribingtheproject’sgoals,objectivesandapproachwascreatedandpostedonKingCounty’swebsitein200919.Noticeofthewebsiteavailabilitywascommunicatedtothecommunityviapressrelease20andemailstointerestedparties.LettersofintroductionweresenttothePuyallupTribalCouncilShellfishSection,theNorthwestIndianFisheriesCommission,PugetSoundPartnershipandPugetSoundRestorationFund.Thelettersentviaemailbrieflydescribedtheprojectandincludedanoffertopresenttheproject’sgoals,objectivesandapproachatappropriatemeetings21.Projectstaffdidnotreceiveinquiriestotheinitialcommunicationssentin2009.Theproject’sgoals,objectivesandapproachwerecommunicatedtoKingCounty’sInter‐departmentalPolicyGroupandtothecounty’sPugetSoundTeam22.ThesegroupsconsistofrepresentativeofDepartmentDirectorsandDivisionManagers,whoseoperationsareaffectedby,orinfluence,environmentalregulationsandpracticesand/ortherecoveryofPugetSound.Thedepartmentsinclude:NaturalResourcesandParks,DevelopmentandEnvironmentalServices,Transportation,andSeattleKingCountyPublicHealth(SKCPH).StafffromtheKingCountyExecutive’sofficeparticipatesonbothgroupsandstafffromtheKingCountyCouncilsatonthePugetSoundTeam.TheKingCountyExecutiveisamemberofthePugetSoundEcosystemCoordinationBoard.Apublicpresentationoftheproject’sgoals,objectivesandapproachwasmadetoVashoncommunity23withnoticeofthepresentationprovidedtotheVashon‐MauryIslandCommunityCouncil,itsSepticSolutionssubcommittee,andVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteeandpressreleasetonotifyforresidentsofthestudyarea.Apressreleasedescribingtheproject’sgoals,objectivesandapproachandscheduleforthepublicmeetingonVashonwasmadetotheVashonBeachcomber,VashonLoop,SeattleTimesandSeattlePostIntelligencernewspapers24.Thewebsitedevelopedfortheprojectsupportedtheoutreachbyprovidingexpandedinformation.Outreachtoresidentsinthestudyareawasprovidedviathefollowingactivities:

TheannualVashonLowTideFestivalonMay25,2009‐Projectoverviewposterandwithstafftointerpret25;

ThePublicHealthSeattle‐KingCountyMarineRecoveryArea(MRA)‐Projectoverviewposter26andstafftointerpretatSludgeFesteventinApril2009,MRA

19Websiteaddresshttp://www.kingcounty.gov/qmhnitrogenstudy20Seepressreleaseissued09_10_2821Seeprojectintroductionemailssentbetween09_11_20and09_12_2222SeecommunicationtoKingCounty’sInter‐departmentalPolicyGroup09_10_14and09_12_22andPugetSoundTeam09_10_1423Seepresentationoftheproject’sgoals,objectivesandapproach09_11_1924Seepressreleaseissued09_10_2825VashonLowTideFestival09_05_25participationrequest



publicmeetingsinJune2009anddoortocommunicationswithMRAresidentsinthefallof2009;

TheVashonIslandBackboneCampaign‐Projectoverviewposterandstafftointerpretatthe2009GreenJobsforum27;

NewspaperarticleandeditorialonprojectintheVashonBeachcombernewspaper28;

PresentationofaprojectposterattheSouthSoundSymposiumonMay6,200929;

Presentation(s)attheKingCountyWaterandLandResourcesScienceFairin200930;and,

RegularmeetingsoftheSepticSolutionssubcommitteeoftheVashon‐MauryIslandCommunityCouncilandVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommittee‐Projectintroductionoverviewandroutineprogressupdates.

TheNitrogenLoadingStudyplanwassharedwitheachgroupincludingtheproposaltomonitortheperformanceofindividualOn‐SiteSewage(OSS)systemsintheQuartermasterHarborportionoftheMarineRecoveryArea.Note:AfterevaluatingtheavailableliteratureandassessingthepotentialscopetomonitorindividualOSSthestudyteamdeterminedthatmonitoringtheperformanceofindividualOn‐SiteSewagesystemswasnotnecessaryasdataonsystemperformancecollectedinstudiesofHoodCanalnitrogenloadingcouldbeusedtoinformtheQuartermasterHarborstudysoitwasunnecessarytosolicitmonitoringsitevolunteers.OutputsInitiationofpublicoutreachandcommunicationeffortincluding: EmailstotribalcommunityviaNWIFCandPuyallupTribe InformationtoKingCountypolicymanagersviaInterdepartmentalandPSPteams Presentationtocommunity,pressreleaseissuedandrespondedtoinquiries InputsecuredonOSSmonitoringplanfromcontactedgroups Webpagecreated,updatedandnoticeofupdateprovidedtoallgroupscontacted

(http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/watersheds/central‐puget‐sound/vashon‐maury‐island/quartermaster‐nitrogen‐study.aspx)

26QHNProjectoverviewposterforPublicHealthSeattle‐KingCountyMarineRecoveryArea(MRA)SludgeFesteventonApril18,2009andprojectoverviewposter(linktomostrecentupdateonprojectwebpage)27VashonBackboneCampaignGreenJobsforumnotes09_10_2228ScientiststostudynitrogenlevelsinQuartermasterHarborhttp://www.pnwlocalnews.com/vashon/vib/news/67795062.htmlandWemustbegoodstewardsofourharborhttp://www.pnwlocalnews.com/vashon/vib/opinion/70298537.html29PosterpresentedatSouthSoundSymposiumonMay6,200930Presentation(s)attheKingCountyWaterandLandResourcesScienceFaironOctober28,2009



OutreachActivitySummary‐Phase2January2010toDecember2011StudyprogresswasconveyedtopartnersandinterestedpartiesthroughongoingeducationandoutreachprogramonVashon‐MauryIslandasfollows:ProjectupdatesweresenttothePuyallupTribalCouncilShellfishSection,theNorthwestIndianFisheriesCommissionandKingCounty’sInter‐departmentalPolicyGroup31.Theupdateincludedanoffertopresenttheproject’sgoals,objectivesandapproachatappropriatemeetingsandapresentationwasmadetothePuyallupTribeShellfishBiologistalongwiththePugetSoundRestorationTeamonFebruary8,201132.Thecounty’sPugetSoundTeamwasdissolvedin2010sonoteamupdatewasprovidedhowevertheKingCountyExecutivewhoservesonthePugetSoundPartnershipEcosystemCoordinationBoardrepresentingtheSouthCentralPugetSoundwasprovidedwithasummaryoftheprojectinpreparationforhisvisittotheVashoncommunityinApril2010anupdateontheprojectpresentationmadetotheVashoncommunityinOctober201033.PressreleaseswerepreparedandprovidedtotheVashonBeachcombernewspaperin2010and2011.34ThewebpagewasupdatedtoincorporatePhase2work(seefootnote1).TheinitialnutrientloadingreportfindingsalongwithsuccessivewaterqualitymonitoringresultsandnitrogenmanagementpolicyoptionswerepresentedtothecommunityinpublicmeetingswithsponsorshipbyaVashonHighSchoolScienceteacherin2010and2011.35Theinitialnutrientloadingreportfindingsalongwithsuccessivewaterqualitymonitoringresultsandnitrogenmanagementpolicyoptionswerepresentedtothecommunityinotherpublicmeetingsincluding:

TheVashonLowTideFestivalonMay5,2010and2011;36

AmeetingconcerningShellfishHarvestandtheVashon‐MauryIslandMarineRecoveryAreaheldonAugust25,2010;37

AtalkwiththeVashonKiwanisheldonNovember16,2010;38

31ProjectupdatesweresenttothePuyallupTribalCouncilShellfishSection,theNorthwestIndianFisheriesCommissionandKingCounty’sInter‐departmentalPolicyGrouponDecember22,2010.32PresentationtothePuyallupTribeShellfishBiologistandPugetSoundRestorationFundteamonFebruary8,2011.33ProjectsummaryinApril2010andupdateontheprojectpresentationmadetotheVashoncommunityinOctober2010providedtoKingCountyExecutivewhoservesonthePugetSoundPartnershipEcosystemCoordinationBoardrepresentingtheSouthCentralPugetSound.34PressreleasesprovidedtotheVashonBeachcombernewspaperin2010and2011.35PresentationstotheVashoncommunityinpublicmeetingsheldinOctober2010and2011.http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/watersheds/central‐puget‐sound/vashon‐maury‐island/quartermaster‐nitrogen‐study/QMH‐documents.aspx36PresentationmaterialsforVashonLowTideFestivalonMay5,2010and201137PublicmeetingconcerningShellfishHarvestandtheVashon‐MauryIslandMarineRecoveryAreaheldonAugust25,2010



AdisplayintheVashonPublicLibraryregardingtheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenLoadingStudyfromNovember16,2010thruFebruary23,2011;39

AVashonBeachcombernewsstoryregardingtheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenLoadingStudypublishedSeptember27,2010;40

AnoutreachlettersenttopropertyownersintheMiletaCreekdrainageadvisingthemofthehighnitrogenlevelsfoundinthecreekaspartofthestudyQuartermasterHarborNitrogenLoadingStudyandseekingpermissiontoaccesstheirpropertytofurthersamplethestream;41and,

ArelatedVashonBeachcombernewsstoryregardingtheUniversityofWashington‐TacomaworktostudytheQuartermasterHarbor'sparalyticshellfishpoisoningproblem.42

OutputsOngoingpublicoutreachandcommunicationeffortasfollows: ProjectupdatepresentationandprovidedtoallgroupscontactedinPhase1as

requested ProjectupdatepressreleaseissuedtoallnewspaperscontactedinPhase1 WebpageupdatedtoincorporatePhase2work

38TalkwiththeVashonKiwanisheldonNovember16,201039DisplayintheVashonPublicLibraryregardingtheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenLoadingStudybeginningNovember16,201040StreamsappeartobethelargestsourceofnitrogeninQuartermasterHarbor,studyshowshttp://www.pnwlocalnews.com/vashon/vib/news/103885399.html41OutreachlettertopropertyownersintheMiletaCreekdrainageadvisingthemofthehighnitrogenlevelsfoundinthecreekandseekingpermissiontoaccesstheirpropertytofurthersamplethestreamsentin2010.42OceanographerstudiesQuartermasterHarbor'sparalyticshellfishpoisoningproblemhttp://www.pnwlocalnews.com/vashon/vib/news/82717117.html



OutreachActivitySummary‐Phase3January2011toDecember2013AnaudiencesurveywasconductedatthecommunityworkshopmeetingheldonOctober12,2011tohelpinformtheagenciesperformingQuartermasterNitrogenLoadingStudyandotherstakeholders.ThesurveyaskedmeetingparticipantsaseriesofquestionstodeterminetheirinterestinandknowledgeaboutQuartermasterHarbor.Twentyfivesurveyswerereturnedandshowedthefollowing:

Themajorityofrespondents(23)wereresidentsofVMIandhalfresidedintheQHwatershed.

MeetingorexceedingwaterqualitystandardsinQuartermasterHarborwasveryimportantformostrespondents.

MostrespondentsparticipatedinactivitiesinoraroundQuartermasterHarborthattheyratedasveryimportalthoughmanyactivitieswerepursuedwitharelativelylowannualfrequency.

SurveyparticipantsfeltthegreatestrisktoQuartermasterHarborwaterqualitycamefromon‐sitesewagefollowedbyfertilizerthenboaterwaste,animalwaste,othernitrogensourcesandwastewatertreatmentplants.

MostrespondentswerenotfamiliarwiththerangeofprogramsbeingconductedtomonitorormangetheenvironmentinoraroundQuartermasterHarbor.

AmajorityofrespondentsagreeditwasimportanttoaddresslowdissolvedoxygenlevelsandworktoopenshellfishharvestandinQuartermasterHarbor.

AmajorityofrespondentsadvisedtheywouldbewillingtomakechangestothewaystheyuseormanagetheirpropertyifitwouldimprovewaterqualityinQuartermasterHarbor.

TherewerefewerrespondentsinagreementaboutpayingfornewordifferentgoodsorservicesiftheywouldimprovewaterqualityinQuartermasterHarbor.

SurveyparticipantsfeltKingCountycouldacttoimprovewaterqualityinthefollowingpriority:controllingboatersewage,reducingfertilizeruse,inspectingon‐sitesewagesystems,controllinganimalwaste,requiringnitrogenreductiontechnologyfornewon‐sitesewagesystemsandpromotingplantingofconiferoustrees.

AfewrespondentsexpressedareasofparticularwaterqualityconcernincludingtheJensenPointneighborhood,boatsandtwomarinas(DocktonandYachtClub),andtwocreeks(JuddandMileta).

Respondentsadvisedtheywantedtoreceiveadditionalinformationvianewspapers,emailorthewebandmeetings.

OtherthingsrespondentswantedtoknowincludedtrendsintheQuartermasterHarborwaterqualityovertime(onestatedthewaterhaswarmed)andwouldthewaterqualityimproveiftheportagelandbridgewereremoved.



SuggestionsincludedemphasismonitoringaroundinnerharboraroundtheholidayswhentheboatscongregateandQuartermasterHarborisa“jewel”–peopleifexcitedmightbegalvanizedtocleanitup.

Sevenrespondentsprovidedtheircontactinformationtoreceiveadditionalinformation.

TheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommittee43andtheKingCountydepartmentofPublicHealth44wereworkedwithtodevelopnutrientmanagementpoliciesforQuartermasterHarbor.Nitrogenmanagementpoliciesweredraftedanddocketedforadoptioninthe2012updatetotheKingCountyComprehensivePlan.45ThestudyfindingswerewrittenandpresentedtopartnersandinterestedpartiesonVashonMauryIsland.ConveystudyresultstopartnersandinterestedpartiesthroughongoingeducationandoutreachprogramonVashon‐MauryIsland.

PrepareprojectfindingpresentationandprovidetoallgroupscontactedinPhase1asrequested

IssueprojectfindingpressreleasetoallnewspaperscontactedinPhase1

UpdatewebpagetoincorporatePhase3workPlanelementsandsendnoticeofavailabilitytoallgroupscontacted.

Prepareasummaryofstudyfindingsplusproposedpolicy,regulationandBMP’sfornutrientmanagementonVMI.Distributetopublicresidinginthestudyarea,posttowebsiteandreviewinpublicagencymeetingonVMI.

Outputs Recommendationsforchangestopolicyandregulationfornutrientmanagementof

nitrogensources Ongoingpublicoutreachandcommunicationefforts

43PresentationonQuartermasterHarborNitrogenLoadingStudymadetotheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteeonJuly27,2012alongwithsubcommitteereportonnitrogenmanagementpolicyrecommendationstobeincludedinthe2012amendmenttotheKingCountyComprehensivePlan.Vashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteehomepageforaccesstomeetingnotesandagendashttp://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/groundwater/management‐areas/vashon‐maury‐island‐gwma/committee.aspx44MeetingwithLarryFayfromSeattleandKingCountyPublicHealthtoreviewproposed2012CompPlanupdatepoliciesforVashon‐MauryIsland.45ExcerptcontainingnitrogenmanagementpolicyrecommendationsforVashon‐MauryIslandincludedintheExecutivesRecommended2012amendmenttotheKingCountyComprehensivePlanatrequestoftheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteeandKingCountyDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandParks,WaterandLandResourcesDivision.FulldraftoftheKingCountyExecutivesrecommended2012amendmenttotheKingCountyComprehensivePlanavailableathttp://www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits/codes/growth/CompPlan/2012_ExecRec.aspx



o ProjectfindingpresentationprovidedtoallgroupscontactedinPhase1asrequested

o ProjectfindingpressreleaseissuedtoallnewspaperscontactedinPhase1o WebpageupdatedtoincorporatePhase3workPlanelementsandnoticeof

availabilitysenttoallgroupscontactedo Summaryofstudyfindings,recommendednitrogenloadingtargetsfor

QuartermasterHarborplusproposedpolicy,regulationandBMP’sfornutrientmanagementonVMIprepared,distributedtopublicresidinginthestudyarea,postedtowebsiteandreviewedinpublicagencymeetingsonVMI.

PartneringTheWorkPlanincludedpartneringwithseveralagenciesandstakeholders.Thefollowingisalistofpartnersandshortsummaryofactivity:

TheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommittee(VMIGWPC).Estimatedin‐kindmatchapproximately$2,900.46TheVMIGWPCfacilitatedpublicoutreachonVMIandassistedindevelopingnitrogenmanagementpolicyrecommendationsforinclusioninthe2012updatetotheKingCountyComprehensivePlan.

Thenon‐profitVashon‐MauryIslandCommunityCouncil(VMICC)47.Thisorganizationmonitoredprogressonthestudyandprovidedinputtoshapepolicyrecommendationsrelatedtomanagementofon‐sitesewagesystemsthrutheirSepticSolutionsSubcommitteeupuntiltheirmassresignationinJuly2010andsubsequentlybythereconstitutedLand‐UseandNaturalResourcescommitteebeginninginJuly2011.

Thenon‐profitPreserveOurIslandsorganizationonVashon‐MauryIsland48wasconsultedandresolvedtheywillalsobeprovidingoversightandadvocacytoboththelow‐dissolvedoxygenissuesinQuartermasterHarboraswellastheworkbeingdonetoaddresspotentiallyfailingsepticsystemsalongtheharborsshoreline.

TheVashonBeachWatchers,49agroupofprivatecitizenswhomonitorthewaterqualityinQuartermasterHarborincoordinationwiththeSoundToxinsorganizationwerecontactedroutinelytoparticipateincommunitymeetingsandworkshops.

TheVashonLowTideFestival50(andseefootnotes7and18)organizerswerecontactedandcoordinatedwithtocommunicatethenitrogenmanagementstudyto

46ThetenmemberVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteereceivedwrittenandorverbalquarterlyupdatesontheQuartermasterHarborNitrogenLoadingstudyforthedurationoftheprojectoverthecourseofsixteenregularmeetingsfrom2009thru2012inadditiontotheirpolicyworkdocumentedinPhase3.47Vashon‐MauryIslandCommunityCouncilhttp://www.vmicc.org/48PreserveOurIslandsorganizationonVashon‐MauryIslandhttp://www.preserveourislands.org/our‐work/49TheVashonBeachWatchershttp://www.soundtoxins.org/partners‐beachwatchers.html50LowTideCelebration2012atPointRobinsonParkArticleJune20,2012ByErinDurretthttp://www.vashonloop.com/article/low‐tide‐celebration‐2012‐point‐robinson‐park



thepublicparticipatingintheirannualpublicoutreacheventfocusingonmarinefloraandfaunaonVashon‐MauryIsland.

ThePuyallupTribeShellfishSectionwhowerecontactedandprovidedcommentsonthestudyduringapresentationonthestudymadetothemin2011(seefootnote14).

ThePugetSoundRestorationFundOrganization51werecontactedinrelationtotheirnutrientmitigationmusselraftwaterqualityimprovementexperimentconductedinQuartermasterHarborin201152andprovidedcommentsonthestudyduringpresentationsmadeonthestudy(alsoseefootnote14).

PublicHealthSeattleandKingCounty,EnvironmentalHealthSection53werecontactedinrelationtodevelopmentofnitrogenmanagementpoliciesforthe2012updatetotheKingCountyComprehensivePlan(seefootnotes25‐27)andcoordinationwiththeimplantationoftheVashon‐MauryIslandMarineRecoveryAreaforcorrectionoffailingon‐sitesewagesystemslocatedinpartontheshoreofQuartermasterHarbor.54

Outputs:Thepartneringeffortsincreasedunderstandingofthemarinereceivingwaterenvironment,yieldedassistancewithdevelopmentofpolicyandmanagementrecommendations,andpublicoutreachactivities.ProjectOutcomesOverallenvironmentaloutcomesfromthisprojectincludereductioninthevulnerabilityofVashon‐MauryIslandgroundwaterresourcestocontamination,maintenance/improvementofreceivingwaterconditionsandprotectionoflocalaquaticresources.Additionalshort,interim,andlongtermscience,policy,andpublicawarenessoutcomesinclude:ShortTerm:ResidentseducatedonsourcesofnitrogenenteringQuartermasterHarbor,thesensitivityofmarinewaterqualityandhabitattonitrogenloadingimpactsoflanduse.PublicHealthSeattleandKingCounty,EnvironmentalHealthSectionengagedtodevelopandimplementpoliciestoreducenutrientandbacterialloadingtoimprovewaterqualityinQuartermasterHarbor.

51ThePugetSoundRestorationFundOrganizationhttp://www.restorationfund.org/52ThePugetSoundRestorationFundOrganizationnutrientmitigationmusselraftwaterqualityimprovementexperimentconductedinQuartermasterHarborin2011http://www.restorationfund.org/projects/mitigation53PublicHealthSeattleandKingCounty,EnvironmentalHealthSectionhttp://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs.aspx54PublicHealthSeattleandKingCountyVashon‐MauryIslandMarineRecoveryAreahttp://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/ehs/wastewater/mra.aspx



Interim:IncreasedenvironmentalawarenesswithincommunityandscientificunderstandingofthenitrogencycleinQuartermasterHarbor.Changingpropertyowner’sbehaviorconcerningtheacquisition,operationandmaintenanceoftheiron‐sitesewagesystems.Longterm:ReducednitrogenloadingandincreasedissolvedoxygenlevelsinQuartermasterHarborthrough,ongoingeducation,outreachandparticipationinplanningandregulatoryefforts.WhatwelearnedfromtheoutreachResidentsandcommunityleadersareconcernedaboutthewaterqualityinQuartermasterHarbor.Thereisageneralinterestintakingactiontoprotectthewaterqualitybutlessagreementonthenatureoftheproblemandbestcourse(s)ofactiontocorrecttheproblem(s)includingthebestmethod(s)topayforsolutions.Conclusionofthestudyshouldhelptobringclaritytothecausesandpotentialstrategiestocorrecttheproblem.Identifyingthebestwaytopayfornitrogenreductionwillbecomeclearerastheexactnatureoftheproblemisdetermined.ConnectionofQuartermasterHarbortoTrampHarbortoflushtheharborwasroutinelyraisedasapotentialsolutiontothewaterqualityproblems.ThisviabilityofthissuggestionneedstobeaddressedintheprocessofdeterminingafinalcourseofactiontomanagewaterqualityinQuartermasterHarbor.RecommendationsforfutureoutreachworkFutureoutreachopportunitiesshouldbecenteredonimplementingnutrientreductionstrategiesfocusedontheQuartermasterHarbordrainageincoordinationwiththepathogenreductionandisland‐widegroundwaterprotection/stewardshipeffortsalreadyunderway.TimingforfutureoutreachworkshouldbecoordinatedwiththeconclusionoftheQuartermasterHarborstudy,adoptionofthe2012KingCountyComprehensivePlanamendmentsandimplementationofthePollutionIdentificationandCorrectiongrantworkprogrambeginningin2012.ThenitrogenmanagementstrategiesdevelopedforQuartermasterHarborandshouldbecoordinatedwithnitrogenmanagementeffortsfortheSouthPugetSoundandHoodCanal.Outreachshouldbeconductedonastewardshipbasiswhenpossibletogivepeoplehighlevelofpersonalizedattentionandsupport.AhelpfultooltocomplimentstewardshipactivitieswouldbetodevelopanitrogenimpactcalculatorandmanagementstrategyrecommendationswebsitesimilartotheKingCountyLocalHazardousWasteProgramwebsite55.

55KingCountyLocalHazardousWasteProgramwebsite



Fundingforfutureoutreachworkcancomefromavarietyofsources.Policiesproposedinthe2012KingCountycomprehensiveplancallforcountyagencies(WaterandLandResourcesalongwithPublicHealth)tofocustheirprogramresourcesonimplementingmeasuretoreducenutrientandpathogenloadinginthewatershed.StaffinthewaterqualitysectionofthenorthwestregionalofficeofEcologyhavemonitoredtheprogressoftheQuartermasterHarbornitrogenloadingstudyandexpressedinterestinworkingwiththecountytodevelopanEcologygrantfundingapplicationforaprojecttoreducenutrientandpathogenloadingtoaverttheneedfordevelopingaTotalMaximumDailyLoadingplaninthefuture.StaffinthePuyallupTribeshellfishsectionexpressedinterestinworkingwithQuartermasterHarborpropertyownerstoassistthemiftheywanttocultivateshellfishontheirtidelands.PreserveOurIslands,alocalnonprofitorganizationhasexpressedtheirinterestinsupportingeffortstoimprovewaterqualityinQuartermasterHarbortofurthertheirbroadergoalofprotecting/restoringtheMauryIslandAquaticReserve56areadesignatedbytheDepartmentofNaturalResources.TheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteealongwiththeLandUseandNaturalResourcessubcommitteeoftheVashon‐MauryIslandCommunityCouncilhavealsobeenactivelyinvolvedinactivitiesrelatedtoQuartermasterHarbortodateandcouldprovideguidanceinthefuture.RelatedActivities:GroundwaterProtectionKingCountyhasbeenworkingwithislandresidents,stateandfederalagenciesasapplicabletoprotectthegroundwateronVashonMaurysince1982.BeginningwiththepreparationoftheCarrReportonislandgroundwaterresourcesin198357thecountysubsequentlydown‐zonedlargeareasoftheislandtoprotectgroundwaterrechargeareasin1986.In1989thecountystarteda10yeargroundwaterprotectionplanningprocessthatsupporteddesignationoftheislandasanEPAsolesourceaquiferin199458,completionofEcologyapprovedGroundwaterProtectionPlanin199859andformationofaGroundwaterProtectionCommitteein200160.TheGroundwaterProtectionCommitteeworkingwithKingCountysupportundertookaWaterResourcesEvaluationprojectstartingin200461,preparedaWatershedPlanin200562anddevelopedasetofwatershedsustainabilityindicatorsin201263

56DNRMauryIslandAquaticReserve57CarrReportonVashon‐Mauryislandgroundwaterresourcescompletedin198358Vashon‐MauryIslandEPAsolesourceaquiferdesignationin199459EcologyapprovedGroundwaterProtectionPlanforVashon‐MauryIslandcompletedin199860FormationoftheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteein200161Vashon‐MauryIslandWaterResourcesEvaluationprojectstartingin200462Vashon‐MauryIslandWatershedPlanpreparedin200563Vashon‐MauryIslandwatershedsustainabilityindicatorspreparedin2012



PathogenReductionPublicHealthSeattle‐KingCountyhasbeencloselyinvolvedintheongoingworktoprotectgroundwaterandwatershedresourcesonVashon‐MauryIsland.Theagencyledtheinitialefforttopreparethe1998GroundwaterProtectionPlanandin2008adoptedanOn‐SiteSepticSystemManagementPlan64outliningacomprehensivestrategytoidentifyandmaintainon‐sitesepticsystemsinKingCounty.TheplanalsodesignatedaMarineRecoveryAreaonportionsofVashon‐MauryIslandincludingthewestsideouterQuartermasterHarbor65whereon‐SitesepticsystemsmustbeinspectedannuallyandrepairedorreplacedifnecessarybyJuly2012.BeginninginJuly2012PublicHealthSeattle‐KingCountyworkingwithKingCountyWaterandLandResourcehavereceivedatwoyeargranttodevelopaPollutionIdentificationandCorrection(PIC)ProgramtoreducepathogenandnutrientloadingtothewatersheddrainingintothewestsideouterQuartermasterHarbor.ThePICprogramwillalsodeveloprecommendationstoimplementasustainablefundingsourcetomaintainthewaterqualityimprovementsaccomplishedundertheprogram.NutrientManagementPolicyRecommendations–KingCountyComprehensivePlanTheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommittee66andtheKingCountydepartmentofPublicHealth67wereworkedwithtodevelopnutrientmanagementpoliciesforQuartermasterHarbor.Nitrogenmanagementpoliciesweredraftedanddocketedforadoptioninthe2012updatetotheKingCountyComprehensivePlan.68ThepolicyrecommendationspertainingdirectlytoQuartermasterHarborwaterqualityandmanagementofon‐sitesepticsystemsarelocatedintheCommunityPlansectionforVashonfoundinChapter10andlistedinunderlinebelow.In June 2011 the Vashon Maury Island Groundwater Protection Planning Committee recommended new

policies to be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan to further the objectives of the Vashon-Maury 64PublicHealthSeattle‐KingCountyOn‐SiteSepticSystemManagementPlanadoptedin200865MarineRecoveryAreaonportionsofVashon‐MauryIslandincludingouterQuartermasterHarbor66PresentationonQuartermasterHarborNitrogenLoadingStudymadetotheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteeonJuly27,2012alongwithsubcommitteereportonnitrogenmanagementpolicyrecommendationstobeincludedinthe2012amendmenttotheKingCountyComprehensivePlan.Vashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteehomepageforaccesstomeetingnotesandagendashttp://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/groundwater/management‐areas/vashon‐maury‐island‐gwma/committee.aspx67MeetingwithLarryFayfromSeattleandKingCountyPublicHealthtoreviewproposed2012CompPlanupdatepoliciesforVashon‐MauryIsland.68ExcerptcontainingnitrogenmanagementpolicyrecommendationsforVashon‐MauryIslandincludedintheExecutivesRecommended2012amendmenttotheKingCountyComprehensivePlanatrequestoftheVashon‐MauryIslandGroundwaterProtectionCommitteeandKingCountyDepartmentofNaturalResourcesandParks,WaterandLandResourcesDivision.FulldraftoftheKingCountyExecutivesrecommended2012amendmenttotheKingCountyComprehensivePlanavailableathttp://www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits/codes/growth/CompPlan/2012_ExecRec.aspx



Island Watershed Plan and Vashon-Maury Island Groundwater Protection Plan concerning sustainability

of the islands groundwater, streams and marine waters.

CP-1228b The Vashon-Maury Island Groundwater Protection Committee, along with

King County support:,

a. should complete and implement measures for the sustainability of

water quality, water quantity and ecosystem health on Vashon-Maury

Island;

b: report the findings to the community; and

c. evaluate the results to help guide ongoing watershed management

activities.

Seasonal dissolved oxygen levels within inner Quartermaster Harbor have fallen well below the

Washington State marine water quality standard of seven mg per liter over the last four years of monthly

monitoring by King County. Quartermaster Harbor is a regionally significant natural resource area that

provides rearing and spawning habitat for herring, surf smelt, sand lance, salmon (i.e., Chinook, Coho,

chum, and cutthroat) plus shellfish resources, including geoduck clams. Based on the value of the

harbor’s natural resources and to protect and restore shellfish harvest opportunities, Quatermaster

Harbor was included in the Maury Island Marine Reserve designated by the Department of Natural

Resources and the Marine Recovery Area designated by Public Health Seattle King County.

Excess nutrients, nitrogen compounds in particular, can lead to excessive phytoplankton and algae

growth that can then deplete oxygen concentrations when the algae die. Nitrogen and phosphorus are

essential nutrients for marine plants and phytoplankton, particularly nitrate as phytoplankton preferentially

take up nitrate and other nitrogen compounds. Potential sources of nitrogen loading include on-site

sewage systems, animal manure, fertilizer and other less direct sources like nitrogen-fixing vegetation

including alder trees and atmospheric deposition.

In 2009, King County in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Ecology and University of

Washington-Tacoma, started a four year study to identify and quantify the sources of nitrogen loading in

Quartermaster Harbor. The draft 2010 Washington Water Quality Assessment under review by Ecology

proposes to upgrade the Quartermaster Harbor dissolved oxygen listing to “Category 5” based on

Ecology ambient monitoring station QMH002 (#10178). Designation as a Category 5 polluted water body

means that Ecology has data showing that the water quality standards have been violated for one or

more pollutants and there is no Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollution control plan. TMDLs are

required for the water bodies in category 5 to bring water quality up to standards.



Education and incentives to implement best management practices to reduce nutrient and bacteria

loading can improve water quality. Routine on-site sewage system inspection and maintenance can help

to control nutrient loading from existing on-site sewage systems. When new on-site sewage systems are

installed, using a system rated to provide nitrogen reduction could limit total nitrogen loading on average

~ 50% or more depending on system loading and site conditions.

CP- 1228c King County should focus outreach education and incentives to implement

best management practices designed to reduce excessive nutrient and

bacterial contaminate loading within the Quartermaster Harbor drainage

area. The Vashon-Maury Island Groundwater Protection Committee, together

with King County support, should seek grants to enhance existing outreach

education and incentives when funding opportunities occur.

CP- 1228d King County should revise regulations to require new on-site sewage

systems within the Quartermaster Harbor drainage area to meet the nitrogen

reduction treatment standard established by the Washington State

Department of Health, where feasible, If the final Quartermaster Harbor

Nitrogen loading study demonstrates it would significantly reduce future

nitrogen loading in the harbor.

CP- 1228e King County should request Ecology assistance to develop a Total Maximum

Daily Load water quality improvement plan to reduce point and nonpoint

pollution sources to Quartermaster Harbor if the harbor water quality is

listed as a Category 5 polluted water body on the 2010 Washington State

Water Quality Assessment.

Island wide there are approximately 5,000 on-site sewage systems used to treat the wastewater for

residences, businesses and public facilities not served by the Vashon Sewer District. Failing on-site

sewage systems can contaminate surface, ground and marine waters with hazardous bacteria and

excessive nutrient loading (nitrogen and phosphorus). Regular inspection and maintenance of on-site

sewage systems can ensure system performance, extend system life and identify failing systems so they

can be repaired when needed.

CP- 1228f The Vashon-Maury Island Groundwater Protection Committee, with King

County support, should evaluate need and potential sources of funding for

an enhanced management program for existing on-site sewage systems on



Vashon-Maury Island to ensure they receive routine inspection, maintenance

and repair if necessary to protect water quality.

quartermaster harbor nitrogen management...

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