Deer Harbor (original) (raw)

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PART 2: SAN JUAN COUNTY CHARACTERIZATION REPORT

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CHAPTER 6: DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL PRIORITY WATERSHEDS

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East Sound | Friday Harbor | Westcott/Garrison Bays | Fisherman Bay | Roche Harbor | Mud/Hunter Bays | West Sound | Deer Harbor | False Bay

Deer Harbor

Beneficial Uses

The Deer Harbor watershed was ranked eighth in the 1988 San Juan County Watershed Ranking Report. The depth of the harbor is reported to be 30 to 45 feet deep. It is known as an important habitat for the Pacific Loon. There are eel grass beds and kelp beds and several of the outer islands in the harbor are used by seals as haulouts.

There are no shellfish habitat areas and recreational and commercial fishing is minimal in Deer Harbor. Historically the area has supported a large crab population, which was commercially harvested.

The Spring Point community of 54 homes is served by a surface water supply. There are a few unique wetlands including the Deer Harbor Lagoon and the Frank Richardson wildlife preserve. The Frank Richardson Preserve is a marsh area of about 20 acres which drains to Deer Harbor. Most of the Deer Harbor Lagoon is under conservation easement with the San Juan County Land Bank.

The Ring-necked Duck is reported to nest in this wetland, one of the rare places in the San Juans this species is found. A second stream drainage flows from two tributaries at the head of Deer Harbor Lagoon creating a unique estuary where freshwater enters this tidally influenced lagoon.

About 50 acres of cliffs and rocky soils along the west side of Deer Harbor support an understory of native grasses and mosses and an uncommon native plant called False Boxwood (Pachistima myrsinites). These cliffs are unusual habitat and provide protected resting areas for birds.

Deer Harbor is a popular recreation site for boaters and other vacationers, as well as residents.

Watershed Condition

Land use in the Deer Harbor watershed is primarily residential with some agriculture, and includes the resort development at the village of Deer Harbor. Forests dominate the land cover (60 percent of watershed). Grasslands cover about 22 percent of the watershed. Of these lands between 10 and 15 percent are in active agriculture and primarily used for grazing and haying. Animals observed were primarily cattle and horses and at densities of less than five animals per acre. Deer Harbor has two marinas and a boat repair facility. Both marinas provide permanent moorage and some liveaboards. Deer Harbor resort provides transient moorage, fuel service and pumpout facilities. There are currently six liveaboards in Deer Harbor. There are about 6.5 miles of major county road in this watershed. There are several acres of impervious areas associated with commercial establishments and related parking areas, mostly located near the shoreline areas. Fuel service is available at Deer Harbor Resort. No treatment of stormwater runoff occurs from these areas.

A large part of the watershed and all of the shoreline has high erosion potential. Road damage due to erosion occurred in the watershed between Deer Harbor Resort and Pole Pass in 1998. There are no soils suitable for septic disposal in the watershed.

The Deer Harbor watershed is expected to develop significantly more than its current densities. It is designated as a Hamlet under the county's adopted comprehensive plan. The shoreline, as in all parts of the county is designated for one residence per one-half acre but much of the area just inland of the shoreline surrounding Deer Harbor and the lagoon is also one-half acre density and most of the western watershed has the potential to be developed into two acre parcels.

Streams in the Deer Harbor watershed were sampled in five locations as part of the initial water quality survey performed in the May of 1997. All samples were within acceptable water quality ranges with the exception of one fecal bacteria sample taken at Site O4 and a temperature reading that was 0.2° C over the state threshold at Site O17. Neither condition is extreme.

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