Natural Resource Planning - Shellfish Protection

Henderson-Nisqually Shellfish Protection District

Most Recent Activities

The proposed changes to Thurston County Sanitary Code and the Nisqually Reach Shellfish Protection District were adopted by the Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Health on February 14, 2012.
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Starting in 2012 the Shellfish Protection Districts' Stakeholder Committee will begin working on developing an "adaptive management work plan". Since many of the actions contained in the Henderson Inlet / Nisqually Reach Implementation Plan have been or are in the process of being executed it's time to revisit what's working, what's not working, and what else needs to be done.

History

In December 2001, the Board of Thurston County Commissioners approved two ordinances creating the Henderson Inlet and the Nisqually Reach shellfish protection districts.

On March 26, 2002, the commissioners appointed a stakeholder group for each shellfish protection district. The groups were asked to craft recommendations on how to restore the quality of water in Henderson Inlet and Nisqually Reach to shellfishing standards. The stakeholder groups met regularly and submitted their water-quality cleanup plans to commissioners in 2003.

Each group consisted of eleven (11) stakeholders who reside or work within the district's boundaries. The stakeholders represent the following interests: commercial agriculture, shellfish growers, builders/developers, representatives of cities, city residents, and county residents.

The two district stakeholder groups have subsequently combined into one and continue to meet every other month, beginning in January, on the third Tuesday, starting at 7:00 PM at the Thurston County Public Health Building at 412 Lilly Road NE. Click here for driving directions.

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