Submitted by Dawn Foxcroft, Uu-a-thluk Outreach Coordinator
and Mike Jacobs, Uu-a-thluk Regional Biologist
March 15, 2006
Ucluelet - A Bacterial Source
Tracking project began March 7th
in the Ucluelet area, with help from Uu-a-thluk Fisheries, the Ucluelet
First Nation and Health Canada.
This project will help to identify point sources of fecal bacteria in and around Ucluelet Harbour, and help direct cleanup efforts for community health purposes.
Shellfish harvesting within Ucluelet Inlet has been closed since 1972, due to fecal contamination and other sources of pollution. Former testing by Environment Canada (EC) identified the streams at the head of Ucluelet Inlet as major sources of fecal coliform bacteria. However, EC staff believe that the head of the inlet is the most likely place for successful remediation and mitigation for reopening the beaches to shellfish harvest, especially if human sources of raw sewage can be addressed.
The study will use new bacterial source tracking techniques, available at the Pacific Environmental Science Centre in North Vancouver, to determine whether the fecal contaminants originate from human or other less controllable "hinterland" sources (e.g. deer).
Samples will be collected from selected areas around Ucluelet Harbour. If the source of fecal contamination is of human origin, the analysis will direct clean-up efforts and focus public awareness campaigns in appropriate areas, with the hope of eventually resuming shellfish harvesting activities in Ucluelet Harbour.
The initial goal of the Ucluelet First Nations is to work toward changing the "prohibited" EC designation to a "closed" status. This would then allow the Ucluelet First Nation to harvest and depurate (purify) shellfish for home use and/or commercial purposes. The long-term goal is to have a permanent "opened" designation. Samples from drainage in the Millstream area in 1998 showed fecal coliform counts more than 600 times the acceptable level.
If you have any questions
regarding the Bacterial Source Tracking Project or information about posible
sources of sewage entering Ucluelet Harbour or area streams, please contact
the Uu-a-thluk Fisheries Office in Ucluelet at (250) 726-2455.
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