Setting

hydrograph

USGS data

well profiles

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EPA Region 10 received a petition from the Marrowstone Island Community Association on August 27, 1991, which requested EPA to designate Marrowstone Island as a Sole Source Aquifer. The population of the Island varies by season, from about 600 in the winter, to about 1,300 during a peak summer weekend.

EPA's review of the petition and other data determined that:

• The Marrowstone Island Aquifer System supplies approximately 98 percent of the drinking water to persons living on the island;

• As the area's principal source of drinking water, contamination of the aquifer system would create a significant hazard to public health;

• The boundary encompasses the entire island and includes all potable water-bearing geologic units underlying the Island;

• There are no feasible alternative source(s) of drinking water which could replace the aquifer system, should it become contaminated.

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The Weapons Support Facility, Seal Beach, Detachment Port Hadlock (Port Hadlock) is on Indian Island in Jefferson County, Washington.

In 1939, the Navy purchased Indian Island to use as a storage site for explosives, seaplanes, and antisubmarine cable nets. Currently, the site is used to receive, store, segregate, maintain, and issue Naval ordnance. A variety of hazardous materials have been handled, stored, and disposed at Port Hadlock, resulting in soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, and shellfish contamination. Seventeen sites with potential contamination have been identified by the Navy.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted a site visit in 1994 because the site was on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Priorities List (NPL). During the site visit, Port Hadlock's North End Landfill (Site 10) and Central Island disposal site (Site 21) were identified as areas that could be associated with potential health hazards. ATSDR also identified community concerns, which are addressed in this document. One of the community concerns--consumption of contaminated shellfish along the north-northwestern shores of Marrowstone Island--was identified as a potential health hazard.

Consumption of Groundwater Potentially Impacted by Site 21

The only production wells in the vicinity of Site 21 are backup water supply wells No. 1 (located 1,500 feet north of Site 21) and No. 2 (located 100 feet south of Site 21). The wells were installed in 1941 and may have been used from 1941 to 1945; however, data are not available to address possible exposures to groundwater contamination during this 4-year period. Because these wells are not currently in use, they do not pose a current public health hazard. Moreover, it is highly unlikely that future consumption of groundwater in the vicinity of Site 21 will pose a public health hazard. The Washington Department of Ecology, EPA, and the Navy are analyzing groundwater reports that are associated with the area. If these agencies decide that contaminant concentrations pose a public health hazard, then backup water supply wells Nos. 1 and 2 will be abandoned and deed restrictions will be implemented to prevent the installation of future wells.

Excerpted from Assessments for Ground Water Contamination Potential: Fort Flagler and Sequim Bay State Park

"The potential for ground water contamination at Fort Flagler State Park is high. Shallow ground water underlies the discharge areas. Ground water monitoring is recommended."

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As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 837 people, 395 households, and 263 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 51.1/km² (132.4/mi²). There were 528 housing units at an average density of 32.3/km² (83.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.89% White, 0.36% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

There were 395 households out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.54.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 15.2% under the age of 18, 2.4% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 36.2% from 45 to 64, and 28.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,182, and the median income for a family was $41,607. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $26,607 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,028. None of the families and 4.0% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 12.6% of those over 64.

[edit] Polar Bear Dip

At noon on every January 1 since 1994, residents and visitors have gathered on the dock in front of the Nordland General Store for the Polar Bear Dip, organized by store owner Tom Rose. The Nordland General Store sells commemorative shirts and hats each year. Water temperatures are in the forties (Fahrenheit) and air temperatures are about the same.[1] On more than one occasion, there has been standing ice on the water in the days prior to the Polar Bear Dip.

[edit] Strawberry Festival

For approximately 100 years, Marrowstone has held its annual Strawberry Festival in June. Residents and visitors enjoy strawberry shortcake at Fort Flagler.

Strawberries were once grown all over Marrowstone and can be found growing wild on the island.

[edit] Tractor Days Parade

Every Memorial Day weekend, island residents bring their tractors to parade them in front of the Nordland General Store.

[edit] Marrowstone Island Community Association

The Marrowstone Island Community Association hosts the Strawberry Festival each year. It meets about 6 times throughout the year at the Nordland Garden Club Building.

[edit] Early Home of Marrowstone Music Festival

The Seattle Youth Symphony's Marrowstone Music Festival, now called Marrowstone Summer Music and held on the campus of Western Washington University, in Bellingham, Washington, was held at Fort Flagler on the northern end of Marrowstone Island from 1952 until 1989. [2]

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In 1942, remains of a human were removed from Scow Bay and in 1976 they were transferred to the Burke Museum

Based on anthropological and historical records, Marrowstone Island has been identified as the traditional territory of the Chemakum. By
the 1850s, the Chemakum were living with the S'Klallam, and were associated with the S'Klallam in the records of the period.Marine Environment

Shellfishing along the shores of Indian Island is limited to Native American tribal members and Naval employees, all of whom must have state licenses (EFA Northwest 1997a). Shellfish harvesting is currently allowed along certain parts of Indian Island, the northern end of Marrowstone Island (e.g., Fort Flagler State Park), the northwestern end of Marrowstone Island, and between Marrowstone and Indian Island (e.g., Mystery Bay State Park).

According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the shellfish beds near Site 10 are some of the most productive in the state (URS 1995b). Prior to 1988, Port Hadlock employees collected shellfish from beaches immediately adjacent to Site 10 (beach 19-see Figure 3) and along Boggy Spit (beaches 1 and 2-see Figure 3) on a recreational basis (Marconi 1998). According to one site representative, community members (including native American tribal representatives) may have harvested shellfish from the beaches on a sporadic basis in the past, but they could not have used the area for subsistence fishing because strict security measures prevented regular access (Marconi 1998).

According to site reports, materials from Site 10 have been released into the marine environment via erosion, surface water runoff, and groundwater discharge (Navy 1996; URS 1995b). The releases from Site 10 prompted the Navy, with the concurrence of the Washington State Department of Health (WDOH), to place a ban on shellfishing activities at beaches 1, 2, and 19 (WDOH 1991, 1996; EFA Northwest 1996a). The ban has been in place since 1988 as a precautionary measure and will remain in place until the shellfish are considered safe to eat (Marconi 1998). Signs are posted to inform people of the bans in these areas (EFA Northwest 1997a).

Before the ban was installed, Native American tribes had initiated an effort to gain access to beaches 1, 2, and 19. They were granted access one year after the shellfish ban was installed. Therefore, the tribes have not been able to harvest along the beaches since they gained access to the area (Marconi 1998). There is significant public and tribal interest in reopening beaches 1, 2, and 19 for shellfish harvesting (EFA Northwest 1995; Foster Wheeler 1996a).

Google Earth hack that loads tons of historical detail to Fort Flagler overly on 2007 Europa Technologies Imagery.

(This site may require registration (free) to access the file, and to view it will require that you have installed the (free) Google Earth client.)

Title: Seawater Intrusion Areas

Wording: To help prevent seawater from intruding landward into underground aquifers, all new development activity on Marrowstone Island, Indian Island and within 1/4 mile of any marine shoreline shall be required to infiltrate all stormwater runoff onsite.

Title: Coastal & At Risk SIPZ-Water Con

Wording: VOLUNTARY MEASURES OF COASTAL & AT RISK SIPZ: Water conservation measures: 1. Roof and other intercepted precipitation shall be routed to on-site detention ponds and/or other approved means and allowed to be released to the soil slowly. 2. Water collected from Storm water and roof catchments may be used for watering lawns and gardens. Unless catchment water has been treated to meet drinking water standards, there shall be no cross connections allowed between the potable supply and impounded water. 3. Water withdrawn from wells on each property shall not be used for watering of lawns and/or gardens. 4. Ground water withdrawn from each property shall be restricted to a rate of three (3) gallons per minute. 5. Installation of water conserving fixtures such as low flow toilets, faucets and shower restrictors and other water saving plumbing fixtures. 6. Landscaping plan (xeriscaping, native vegetation with minimal amounts of irrigation). Please NOTE that the above listed measures are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather is intended to be illustrative of the types of water conservation measures.

MANDATORY MEASURES FOR COASTAL SIPZ: 1. For proof of potable water on a building permit application, applicant must utilize DOH-approved public water system if available. 2. If public water is unavailable, a qualifying lternative system may be used as proof of potable water or an individual well may be used as proof of potable water subject to the following requirement: a. Chloride oncentration of a laboratory-certified well water sample submitted with building permit application. 3. If public water is unavailable, a qualifying alternative system may be used as proof of potable water.

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Challenges

Opportunities