Mud Hunter (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

Mud Bay and Hunter Bay (including Lopez Sound)

Beneficial Uses

The Mud-Hunter watershed was ranked sixth in the 1988 San Juan County Watershed Ranking Report. It includes a stretch of small drainages that feed directly into Lopez Sound. Mud Bay opens on the north to Lopez Sound. The bay is about one mile long and is quite shallow, with a depth at center of 12 to 14 feet.

Freshwater wetlands comprise a little over 3% of the watershed. There are a few inland wetlands, but many marine and intertidal wetland areas including salt marshes. The extensive salt marsh and mudflats of Mud Bay are rich with many species of birds, including Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Kingfisher, Kildeer, as well as a large number of migratory and wintering shorebirds and waterfowl.

Mud and Hunter Bays have critical habitat for Pacific Herring. Substantial eel grass beds are located around the perimeter of Mud Bay, and the entire bay is a rich area for crabs, hard shell clams and herring. There is a state-certified mussel farm in the Hunter Bay portion of the receiving watershed and identified recreational clamming areas in Mud Bay. The shoreline bordering Lopez Sound up to Spencer Spit contains eel grass and kelp beds. Much of Lopez Sound has abundant shrimp and has been a popular salmon fishing area.

The Washington State Department of Wildlife notes several Bald Eagle nests and has identified the entire area around Sperry Peninsula (privately owned) as a critical area for the Long-legged Bat. A wide diversity of plant community types are supported in the 380 acre area, including a few specimens of the Prickly Pear Cactus. The Nature Conservancy identified the area to be of national significance. Sperry Peninsula also includes the privately owned Henderson Lake, which is about 4 acres in size.

Spencer Spit State Park is located at the north end of the watershed. It is 130 acres with 45 camping units, 7,840 feet of shoreline and 16 boat mooring spots. The park provides recreational shellfish harvesting, crabbing, shrimping, fishing, swimming, and other water recreation.

There are five drainages to Mud and Hunter Bays total. The northernmost stream is the largest. Two tributaries feed one small creek terminating in Hunter Bay. Two very small drainages feed Mud Bay and another creek comes off of the west side of Sperry Peninsula. Several small drainages feed the shoreline north of Mud and Hunter bays, including one 2,000 foot stream.

Watershed Condition

The watershed is primarily forested (63 percent) the majority of which is harvestable timber. Fields and grasslands comprise 20 percent most of which is mowed, hayed, or pastured fields. The large agricultural areas are primarily in the upper watershed although there are some smaller operators closer to the shoreline. Residential uses dominate the shoreline.

Several of the drainages begin in the agricultural areas. Grazing was observed in the upper watershed but not near the shore. Cattle dominated but horses were also observed. Animal densities ranged from 2 to 5 animals per acre. Pasture condition was good to fair in most fields but some areas were very poor. The County has a closed landfill in the watershed that was closed in the early 1980s and is not being monitored. A septage lagoon is located at this site and is currently over its capacity.

A majority of the watershed area has a minimum residential density of five or ten acres per unit, except along the shoreline where it is two to one-half acre per unit, and portions in the north which are 20 and 40 acres per unit. The area of Sperry Peninsula is under one ownership and has conservation easements that limit the development potential.

The majority of the inland watershed has soils that have low erosion potential except for the shoreline areas and steep slopes surrounding Hunter Bay and the south end of Mud Bay. The majority of area with steeper slopes is currently covered by forest land. Septic suitability is poor throughout the watershed.

Waterquality samples were taken in three locations at the south end of Lopez Island in May of 1997. These included the outlets of the northern stream leading to Hunter Bay (L13), and streams in Jasper Bay (L30) and Hughes Bay (L10). All parameters were within acceptable ranges.

From November 1997 until February of 1998, water quality was tested on six occasions at the outlet of streams entering Mud Bay (L33) and Hunter Bay (L32). Fecal coliform counts right at the outlet in Mud Bay (mixed saltwater and freshwater) exceeded 50 colonies/100 mL in four out of six samples. The outlet to Hunter Bay (freshwater) also exceeded thresholds for fecal coliforms in three out of the six samples. All other parameters measured were within acceptable ranges. (See Chapter 5, Water Quality, for more information about these samples.)

Hunter Bay is monitored for fecal coliform counts by Washington State as part of its shellfish certification program and is well within standards for shellfish areas.

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