2014

Photo by Eric Erler, Capitol Land Trust

In 2014, Capitol Land Trust (CLT) and partners

completed acquisition of the 74-acre Bayshore

Preserve at the mouth of Johns Creek on Oakland

Bay. The former Bayshore Golf Course property

and adjoining saltmarsh were identified as having

among the highest habitat values in the South

Puget Sound with more than 4,000 feet of marine

shoreline and 27 acres of intact saltmarsh habitat.

The project also protects the lower 2,000 feet of

Johns Creek and 47 acres of its delta. The proper-

ty has a deep history in Squaxin Island Tribe cul-

ture as well as early Shelton settlement.

CLT has removed and recycled 600 tons of con-

crete and 200 tons of asphalt from the old golf

course. Current work involves removing a 1,400

ft. tidal dike and excavating historic channels or

sloughs that will accommodate new tides that the

dike had blocked and also provide more habitat for

fish and wildlife. The restoration also incorporates

naturalizing Johns Creek, including placement of

large trees and root wads along its banks to slow the

movement of water and to enhance salmon spawning

grounds. CLT has set up monitoring transects to

monitor tides, water quality/temperature, and fish and

shellfish use over time. Once heavy construction is

done CLT will re-open the site for public access. At

first, access will be more controlled through tours and

outings. As the trail is rebuilt and the site improved,

more public access for walking, birding, and nature

viewing will be allowed.

The Bayshore project builds on the successful part-

nership between Capitol Land Trust, the Squaxin

Island Tribe, WA State Dept. of Ecology, US Fish &

Wildlife Service, the Salmon Recovery Funding

Board, Taylor Shellfish Farms, Mason Conservation

District, Mason County, The Trust for Public Land,

and others that have already conserved more than 250

acres of Oakland Bay estuarine and coastal habitat on

three sites in the immediate vicinity of the Johns

Creek Estuary.

In 2014, Capitol Land Trust received a $110,000

grant award from the Salmon Recovery Funding

Board to complete the second phase of the Rose

property acquisition. This project would protect

2,400 feet of Goldsborough Creek shoreline and its

tributaries and 13 acres of scrub shrub wetlands,

adding to the network of Capitol Land Trust con-

served lands in the Goldsborough Creek watershed

encompassing 2 miles of mainstem Goldsborough

Creek and 245 acres of priority habitat. As a signifi-

cant Oakland Bay drainage, protection and restora-

tion of Goldsborough Creek has been a long-term,

community priority that includes many partners, such

as the Squaxin Island Tribe, WA Recreation and

Conservation Office, South Puget Sound Salmon

Enhancement Group, US EPA, Green Diamond

Resources, and Mason Conservation District.

Onsite sewage issues continue to be a focus of water

quality improvement efforts in Oakland Bay. Failing

septic systems are a major water quality concern as

improperly operating septic or sewer systems can lead

to increased levels of fecal coliform bacteria and

nitrogen in the water.

WSU Mason County Extension and Mason County

Public Health partnered to offer four homeowner

septic system workshops to local residents. Forty-six

participants learned about how to properly manage

and maintain their septic system, how to determine if

their system is failing, ways to inspect their system,

and the resources available to help them. Additional

outreach was provided regarding onsite sewage sys-

tems and shoreline issues at May on Oakland Bay,

OysterFest, Mason Area Fair, shellfish seed sales,

Tahuya Day, and the KMAS Morning Show.

Craft3 is the County’s non-profit lending partner

offering clean water loans to help property owners

repair or replace failing septic systems. The loans

can cover up to 100% of the costs of designing,

permitting, installing, and maintaining the septic

system.

In 2014, Craft3 made 10 loans in Mason County for

a total of $187,700. These loans led to the improved

treatment of 1.2 million gallons of wastewater.

Through the life of the program in Mason County

they have made 82 loans, totaling $1.73 million and

leading to treatment of 9.8 million gallons of

wastewater per year. Sixty percent of these loans

have helped low income families. During the first

three months of 2015 Craft3 has already completed

six loans for $109,608.

Repair and Replacement

Lending Program

Onsite Sewage Systems

Habitat Conservation

Maintenance, Operation, and Education

2014 Oakland Bay Progress Report Page 4

Photo by Toni Droscher

Ways You Can Help

Stormwater can collect into

ponds, erode topsoil, flood

buildings or animal enclo-

sures, and wash contami-

nants from your property

into nearby surface waters. There are three easy meth-

ods to manage stormwater at home: capture, collect,

or disperse.

Capture the rain with plants that use the rain or

slow its travel to the soil.

Collect rain with rain barrels and reuse that

rainwater later for irrigation.

Disperse stormwater by directing it to sites

where it can safely flow over or soak into the

ground. Ways to disperse stormwater include

creating buffers between animals and water,

replacing or minimizing impervious surfaces

like pavement, and adding rain gardens, pervi-

ous pavement, and bog gardens.

Contact the Mason Conservation District to learn

about managing stormwater on your property.

Stormwater Management Livestock Management

Livestock waste contains fecal coliform and other

bacteria that can get carried into nearby water by

stormwater runoff. Livestock owners can take measures

to reduce their impact on water quality.

For information, technical assistance, and financial

assistance in developing healthy farming practices

contact the Mason Conservation District at 360-427-

9436.

Improperly operating septic or sewer systems can lead to

increased levels of fecal coliform bacteria and nitrogen

in the water.

If a property is served by a septic system, the best pro-

tection for that investment and for water quality is regu-

lar inspections and proper maintenance. Visit http://

www.co.mason.wa.us/health/environmental/onsite/ to

learn about resources for maintaining and repairing

septic systems.. WSU Extension and Mason County

Public Health offer free homeowner septic system work-

shops. Visit mason.wsu.edu/water-resources/septic-

system-education for workshop information.

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-00J32601 to Washington Department of Health. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Pet Waste

Pet waste contains disease-causing organisms that can

be transmitted to people, pets, and wildlife. Fecal

coliform, bacteria, salmonella, roundworms, and

giardia can remain in your yard for weeks or months

if not cleaned up. They can get tracked into your

house or mix with stormwater runoff and get carried

into nearby surface water.

Landfills are designed to safely handle pet waste but

yards and septic systems are not. To keep harmful

bacteria out of the water and out of your house

scoop dog poop, bag it, and put it in the trash.

Septic System Maintenance

Progress Report Oakland Bay

Mason Conservation District continues work on a

variety of projects in the Oakland Bay Watershed.

The Conservation District is in the second year of

surveying riparian conditions in Johns Creek for

large woody debris (LWD) and restoration projects.

Through this RCO grant an identified project will

begin construction this summer. Project partners

include Mason County PUD 3 and Green Diamond.

The Mason Conservation District has been working

with several landowners with the Riparian Assess-

ment and Restoration in WRIA 14 grant. Two of

these landowners are enrolled in the Conservation

Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and two

others are in the application stage. Nearly 5,000

The Squaxin Island Tribe continues to sample

ten to eleven streams where they drain into

Oakland Bay. Some now have a record of

fecal coliform samples dating back ten

years. Except for one seasonal tributary that

crosses Highway 3, most streams met state

water quality standards in 2014. Also, most

had similar or slightly lower bacterial counts

than in previous years, except for Uncle Johns

Creek. Oakland Bay is sensitive to bacterial

pollution, which can pop up repeatedly in

different watersheds as human and animal

populations change. The Tribe works with the

MCPH and the City of Shelton to improve

management of human and animal waste to

keep bacterial pollution as low as possible.

Squaxin Island Tribe

Monitoring Program

Habitat Restoration and Stewardship

Education and Outreach

plants were installed this planting season creating

vegetated buffers along salmon- bearing streams.

Through a grant from WA Dept. of Fish and Wild-

life, the Shore Friendly Mason program has connect-

ed with landowners to evaluate hard armoring along

marine shorelines. Educational materials are being

developed and targeted mailings are planned for

distribution in the summer of 2015. Some properties

with high erosion risk potential have received site

visits with a contracted geological engineer to pro-

vide educational support to District staff.

Mason Conservation District has worked with Mason

County Parks, WSU Extension, and Shelton High

School students to remove invasive plants and install

1,935 native plants at Mason County’s new Sunset

Bluff Park. The District has provided technical assis-

tance and engineering services to an additional twen-

ty landowners including the former Bayshore Golf

Course.

In 2014, Capitol Land Trust spent significant time

with volunteers restoring the salt marsh and riparian

habitat at the Twin Rivers Ranch Preserve at the

Oakland Bay’s overall water quality fluctuates from year to year and season to season. During

2014, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) reported no change in the classification

of the shellfish growing areas in Oakland Bay.

The goal of Mason County Public Health’s

(MCPH) sampling plan in Oakland Bay is to

survey one third of the Oakland Bay Clean Water

District shoreline each year and to sample all

culverts, bulkhead drains, natural drainages, and

rapidly flowing seeps in the survey area. Each

site is sampled at least twice; once in wet weather

and once in dry weather. In 2014, the northern-

most section of Oakland bay was sampled and

surveys of the sites with high results were imple-

mented at the beginning of the year. A total of

132 sites were sampled with 331 samples collect-

ed. The sites with high results are surveyed for

water quality problems and issues addressed ei-

ther through education or dye traces if necessary.

Another focus area for sampling is Chapman

Cove where work began in October 2012. Six-

teen sites in this area were sampled a total of 81

times. As a result of sampling from 2013, Mason

Conservation District is working with two of the

farms in the area to create farm plans and addi-

tional contacts will be made.

Water Quality Standards

The Oakland Bay Onsite Marine Recovery

Area Quality Assurance Project Plan set a

lower fecal coliform level to be applied to

shoreline surveys than required by the Wash-

ington State Department of Ecology surface

water quality standards. The lower level trig-

gers additional sampling and/or investigation

when exceeded.

High levels of fecal coliform bacteria have

been correlated with the presence of viruses or

other pathogens that can affect human health.

When areas of concern are found they are

followed up with an owner-approved survey to

look for possible contamination sources such

as pet and livestock wastes or septic problems.

Emphasis is placed on working with landown-

ers to achieve solutions.

Mason County Publ ic Health Monitor ing Program

Water Quality Monitoring

2014 Oakland Bay Progress Report 2014 Oakland Bay Progress Report Page 2 Page 3

Oakland Bay Clean Water District Partners Include: Mason County, Squaxin Island Tribe, WSU Mason County Extension, Washington Sea Grant, Mason Conserva-

tion District, Taylor Shellfish, WA Department of Ecology, WA Department of Transportation, WA Department of Health, Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association,

South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, Craft3, Simpson Lumber, City of Shelton, Port of Shelton, Capitol Land Trust, Green Diamond Resources Company,

Seattle Shellfish, Puget Sound Partnership, volunteers, and watershed residents.

head of Oakland Bay. The 125-acre property in-

cludes 3200 acres of marine shoreline and is bounded

by two productive salmon streams as they enter

Oakland Bay (Cranberry Creek on the west, Deer

Creek on the east). Restoration efforts focused on

planting buffers along these creeks. A Washington

Conservation Corps crew prepared the ground for

future plantings, and volunteers maintained existing

plantings and put in new plants along Cranberry and

Deer Creeks. Over 90 volunteers donated more than

300 hours to this effort.

In 2015, Capitol Land Trust working with Mason

Conservation District and the Squaxin Island

Tribe will begin major restoration projects activities

at the Bayshore Preserve including removal of the

1,400-foot supratidal dike, ground grading, sloping,

and excavation of blocked tidal channels. This effort

will reconnect the waters of Oakland Bay to the

former golf course for the first time in 75

years. Work will also include naturalizing the banks

of Johns Creek. These projects will improve salmon

and forage fish habitat. The land trust continues to

work with volunteers to remove invasive plants and

plant native species during restoration at the site.

featuring beach walks, service projects, and camp

events. Adult engagement occurred through KMAS

radio programs, septic system workshops, shellfish

seed sales, community events, and Shore Stewards

newsletters.

Mason ECO Net organized May on Oakland Bay, a

community event held at Flying Dog Farm, with

approximately 200 attendees. The farm location

highlighted the connection between all parts of the

watershed to health of Oakland Bay. Highlights of

the event included farm tour and conservation talks,

a bird walk, shellfish cooking demonstrations, live

music, educational displays and activities with local

resource agencies and community groups, and a

trivia scavenger hunt for children. Many ECO Net

members also participated in family-friendly com-

munity events including the Mason Area Fair and

OysterFest.

Capitol Land Trust hosted 5 community events on

Oakland Bay in 2014 including a kayak tour of

Oakland Bay, celebrations and tours at Bayshore,

birding at Oakland Bay Historic Park, and a barge

tour sponsored by Taylor Shellfish Farms. The land

trust also hosted 11 volunteer work days at the

Oakland Bay preserves, including a work day with a

Squaxin Island Tribe youth crew.

Connecting residents with local natural resources

enhances and supports efforts to improve water

quality and in habitat conservation and restoration.

In 2014, a variety of local organizations engaged

students, adults, and families in exploring and learn-

ing about the natural resources in Oakland Bay and

Mason County.

The Mason Education, Communication, and Out-

reach Network (ECO Net) serves as the coordinat-

ing and collaborative network of local environmen-

tal education, communication, and outreach efforts.

Youth audiences were engaged by ECO Net mem-

bers from organizations including Mason Conserva-

tion District, South Puget Sound Salmon Enhance-

ment Group, Taylor Shellfish, WSU Extension, and

Washington Sea Grant. Activities featured class-

room presentations and field trip based programs