Water Quality old pages
Protecting and improving water quality is important for the Birch Bay watershed. Good water quality means it's safe for people to play at the beach or in creeks, shellfish can be harvested from Birch Bay, and fish and wildlife habitat is enhanced. BBWARM works with Whatcom County Public Works Natural Resources, the Whatcom County Marine Resources Committee, the Whatcom Conservation District, and the Birch Bay Shellfish Protection District in a comprehensive water quality monitoring program for the Birch Bay Watershed. Monitoring data are compared to state health standards and used to plan projects and programs designed to improve water quality in priority drainages.
Visit Whatcom County's water quality program website to learn more.
Water Quality Information
Water quality monitoring reports
- Whatcom County 2013 Water Quality Report
- WA State Dept. of Health 2013 Annual Growing Area Review
- NSEA Upper Terrell Creek Monitoring Project 2012-2013
- Whatcom County 2012 Water Quality Report
- Birch Bay/Terrell Cr Report June 2012
- Birch Bay/Terrell Cr Report December 2011
- Birch Bay/Terrell Cr Report June 2011
- Birch Bay/Terrell Cr December 2010
- Birch Bay/Terrell Creek Report June 2010
- NSEA Terrell Creek Monitoring Report 2004-2009
Current water quality monitoring plan (QAPP)
Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Program
Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Standards
What kind of water quality monitoring is happening? How is the water quality in Birch Bay? Why focus on fecal coliform bacteria? Who does the water quality monitoring? How can we keep the water clean? Click here to learn more.
Click here to access maps showing water quality monitoring locations, status, and monitoring results. Monitoring results are updated twice a year.
Click here for maps and information on shellfish harvesting closures and public health advisories.