Drayton Harbor
Drayton Harbor Background
There are 129 miles of streams in the
Drayton Harbor watershed, 247 acres of wetlands, and 12.5 miles of
marine shoreline. The harbor
itself covers 1600 acres, and is quite shallow, with 60% of the bottom
explosed during low tides. The watershed provides habitat for a
variety of marine and freshwater fishes. The harbor is also a
significant stopover point for migratory and resident birds, including
loons, scoters,
herons, and many duck species. In addition, there
are two areas within the bay where harbor seals "haul out" to rest,
avoid predators, and give birth.
Beginning in the 1990s, portions of Drayton Harbor were closed to
harvest because the water over the shellfish beds was being polluted by
human and animal waste, at levels that made eating the shellfish a
human health risk. By 1999, harvest was prohibited throughout
the habor. After a concerted effort to clean up bacterial
contamination by local citizens and public agencies, portions of the
bay were conditionally opened to shellfish harvest in 2004.
However, much of the bay remains closed to harvest still today.
The majority of Semiahmoo Spit is closed to recreational harvest due to a sewer treament outfall on the west side of the spit and due to the proximity to the Semiahmoo Marina on the east side of the spit. A small area along the west side is seasonally open to recreational harvest. See the Department of Health and WDFW for current closure status.
explosed during low tides. The watershed provides habitat for a
variety of marine and freshwater fishes. The harbor is also a
significant stopover point for migratory and resident birds, including
loons, scoters,
herons, and many duck species. In addition, there
are two areas within the bay where harbor seals "haul out" to rest,
avoid predators, and give birth. Shellfish Harvest
Drayton Harbor's shallow water and sandy/gravelly substrate proivde ideal growing conditions for oysters and clams. Commercial shellfish gowing began in Drayton Harbor in 1905 when the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company seeded 500 acres in the southern portion of Drayton Harbor. The Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe hold cermonial and subsistence rights to shellfish harvest in the harbor, and historically 10% to 20% of Lummi's annual harvest took place at Semiahmoo Spit and the western side of Drayton Harbor. Hardshell clams, butter clams, and Dungeness crab are harvested recreationally.
Beginning in the 1990s, portions of Drayton Harbor were closed to
harvest because the water over the shellfish beds was being polluted by
human and animal waste, at levels that made eating the shellfish a
human health risk. By 1999, harvest was prohibited throughout
the habor. After a concerted effort to clean up bacterial
contamination by local citizens and public agencies, portions of the
bay were conditionally opened to shellfish harvest in 2004.
However, much of the bay remains closed to harvest still today.The majority of Semiahmoo Spit is closed to recreational harvest due to a sewer treament outfall on the west side of the spit and due to the proximity to the Semiahmoo Marina on the east side of the spit. A small area along the west side is seasonally open to recreational harvest. See the Department of Health and WDFW for current closure status.
Drayton Harbor Water Quality Monitoring
The Whatcom MRC has been involved in monitoring the fecal coliform levels of five freshwater inputs to Drayton Harbor since 2006. Sites are located along Drayton Harbor Rd. California Creek and Dakota Creek water quality is monitored by Whatcom County Public Works, among other agencies.
