Fisherman Bay (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

Fisherman Bay

Beneficial Uses

The Fisherman Bay watershed was ranked seventh in the 1988 San Juan County Watershed Ranking Report. The bay consists of a narrow inlet with a mud flat barrier built up by wave action and widens to about one-half mile, forming a long, shallow, low-flushing bay between six and 24 feet deep. The west shore of the bay consists of a rocky island, which has been joined to the mainland of Lopez by a barrier beach formed through the process of accretion.

Fisherman Bay has substantial eel grass beds around the shore perimeter. The bay is no longer used for recreational hard-shell claming but historically was a local resource for shellfish. The bay has a large intertidal area which is highly valued by marine birds.

There are no fishery resources within the bay, but historically fin fish were harvested at the mouth of the bay. There are three documented eagle nests in the watershed and the bay is frequently used by eagles for hunting. Week's Wetland, purchased by the San Juan County Land Bank in 1993, lies adjacent to Lopez Village. This wetland is composed of two adjacent areas of high-salinity salt marsh. There is a channel between Fisherman Bay and the salt marsh which carries tidal waters into the wetlands producing an unusual and interesting plant community. The south end of the bay consists of a large area of tidal wetlands, shallow mudflats, and salt marsh with extensive shore- and seabird communities.

Fisherman Bay has many wetlands within its watershed which provide important wildlife habitat for wintering populations of waterfowl as well as migratory species of shorebirds. Some wetlands areas are used for agriculture.

There are two streams that connect wetlands that empty into San Juan Channel near the mouth of the bay. One other significant stream empties directly to Fisherman Bay, and there are two small drainages at the south end of the bay. This watershed overlays one of the few, large glacial aquifers in the county.

Watershed Condition

Fisherman Bay has two marinas, two boat ramps, and is used extensively as a rendezvous location for boaters. The two marinas, Islander Lopez and Island Marine Center, are both located toward the center and on the east side of the bay.

Island Marine Center is a full service marina with 96 slips. Transient moorage is available, consisting of thirteen slips and 700 feet of breakwater. Liveaboards are permitted at the marina and there are pumpout facilities. Motor repair, fiberglass repair and bottom scrubbing are available. Boats up to 15 tons can be hauled out with two travel lifts. A boat ramp is located at the marina.

The Islander Lopez Resort is adjacent to Island Marine Center and provides 50-permanent and transient moorage spaces. Fuel is available, but there is no pumpout facility.

The community of Lopez Village is near the center of the watershed. It has mostly commercial uses and adjacent housing. Impervious areas within the watershed are associated with the commercial uses in the village, the marinas, and a few businesses located along Fisherman Bay Road. Some off street parking is provided, and many, particularly the businesses located in the village, use street side parking.

Fisherman Bay has approximately 7.9 miles of major county roads. The volume of traffic within Lopez Village is the highest in the area but other highly traveled roads include Fisherman Bay Road and Hummel Lake Road. Two vehicle service stations on Lopez are located within the watershed.

About 56% of the watershed is forested with harvestable timber and about 36 percent is grass cover. Much of this land is located in the northern watershed and is in agricultural uses. Most of the fields are hayed but some are grazed at low densities (1 to 5 animals per acre).

The Fisherman Bay watershed has very low erosion potential among the watersheds in the county, and moderate runoff. Much of the watershed has soils that have severe limitations for septic suitability. The Lopez Village core has sewer service as does some of the shoreline to the north and south of the village.

Residential development of the upland areas is increasing, with suburban-type densities in much of the watershed. The Lopez Village area has been designated as an activity center under the county's Comprehensive Plan. A large area to the east and south of the village has significantly more development capacity. The inland portions of the Fisherman Bay watershed are designated at 10 and 15 acres per unit. Currently, many large parcels remain larger than 100 acres.

Water Quality

Three of the streams entering Fisherman Bay were sampled in early May of 1997. Water quality was good for all samples. A second sampling of the tributary to the main stream flowing direct to Fisherman Bay was sampled for bacteria in June of 1997 and, at that time, it exceeded 50 colonies/100 mL. This site and one other site, located at the south end of Lopez Sound, in saltwater, were monitored again on six occasions from November 1997 until February of 1998. Fecal coliforms standards for saltwater were exceeded once among the six samples taken of the salt water site. Fecal coliform standards for fresh water were exceeded five out of eight samples for the tributary to the creek draining to Fisherman Bay. All other parameters were in acceptable ranges.

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