Whatcom
County MRC Projects -
Whatcom County Clam
Surveys
During the
summers of 2004 and 2005 over eighty volunteers joined us on the tideflats
to survey clams. The volunteers found at least ten different kinds of clams
in various shapes and sizes.
*photo - Surveyors at Semiahmoo Spit
- Why Survey Clams
- Survey Specifics
- 2004 Surveys
- 2005 Surveys
- Marine Park (Bellingham)
- Birch Point
- Point Whitehorn/Cherry Point
- 2006 Surveys
- Marine Park (Blaine)
- Lummi Island
- Point Roberts
In
many Whatcom County shoreline areas, native clams may serve as indicator
species and help us gain an understanding of the health of the shellfish
resource, water quality impacts, and harvesting impacts. The goals of
this project are to gain a greater understanding of the populations of
native and introduced shellfish in Whatcom County and to involve members
of the community in protecting their shellfish. In 2004, clam surveys
were conducted in Birch Bay, Drayton Harbor/Semiahmoo Spit, and northern
Chuckanut Bay (Mud Bay). In 2005, surveys were conducted at Marine Park,
Point Whitehorn/Cherry Point and Birch Point.
Birch Bay is one of the largest recreational shellfish harvesting areas in Whatcom County. Birch Bay is currently on the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) shellfish area watch list as "threatened". A threatened status indicates that the DOH has noticed a downward trend in water quality at least one of their regular sampling sites in the bay.
Drayton
Harbor/ Semiahmoo Spit has also historically provided tribal, commercial,
and recreational shellfish harvesting opportunities. Portions of Drayton
Harbor were closed to shellfish harvesting due to poor water quality
in 1995. In 1999, the entire harbor was closed. Efforts to improve
water quality have been underway for several years and levels of fecal
coliform bacteria have been decreasing in many areas of the watershed
and harbor. Due to these efforts and improvements in water quality,
in 2004 a portion of Drayton Harbor was upgraded to a conditionally
approved status. See also Drayton
Harbor Shellfish Protection District.
Areas of Chuckanut Bay were closed to shellfish harvest in 1994 after tests showed high counts of fecal coliform bacteria. Improvements have been made to protect water quality, such as surveying and upgrading septic systems, but there is still more work to be done to protect water quality and the shellfish resources.
*photo - Surveying Mud Bay
The
clam surveys were conducted along multiple transects, lines running from
the
shoreline to the water’s edge at low tide. Volunteers dug sample
holes every 40 or 100 feet along each transect. The substrate (mud, sand,
gravel, and cobble) was sorted to find the clams living in each hole.
The clams were sorted by type and size, counted, and then returned to
the survey hole.
The methods for this survey were based upon Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) protocols described in Procedures to determine intertidal populations of Protothaca staminea, Tapes philippinarum, and Crassostrea gigas in Hood Canal and Puget Sound, Washington (1996). Some adaptations were made to accommodate the large survey size, to return the clams to the sample holes, and to use community volunteers. Minor adaptations were also made between surveys to improve our efficiency and accuracy in the field and to adjust to the size of the survey areas.
*photo - Transect marker
Field
Data Sheet
King
County Shellfish Key
Birch
Bay Survey
The Birch Bay clam survey was conducted on June 6th, 2004. Twenty-five people participated in the Birch Bay clam survey, with over half of the volunteers joining us from the Birch Bay Community. Twelve transects were surveyed with sample holes every 100 feet. There were a range of six to forty-nine holes per transect. The types of clams found in Birch Bay included varnish, manila, native littleneck, macoma, butter, eastern softshell, and horse clams.
*photo - Birch Bay Survey
Birch
Bay Survey Fact Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey Results
Semiahmoo
Spit Survey
The Semiahmoo Spit clam survey was a coordinated effort of the MRC and Drayton Harbor Community Oyster Farm. It was conducted on July 16th and 17th, 2004. Twenty-four people participated in the Semiahmoo Spit clam survey. Our volunteers were diverse with some even coming from Michigan and Florida! Fourteen transects were surveyed with sample holes every forty feet. There were a range of two to forty-three holes per transect. The types of clams found along Semiahmoo Spit included varnish, manila, native littleneck, macoma, butter, eastern softshell, and horse clams.
*photo - Semiahmoo Spit
Semiahmoo
Spit Survey Fact Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey
Results
Chuckanut
Bay (Mud Bay) Survey
The Mud Bay clam survey was conducted on August 24th, 2004. Nine people participated in the Mud Bay clam survey which covered a much smaller area. Six transects were surveyed with sample holes every forty feet. There were a range of eleven to thirty holes per transect. The types of clams found in Mud Bay included varnish, manila, native littleneck, macoma, butter, eastern softshell, and horse clams.
*photo - Mud Bay
Chuckanut
Bay Survey Fact Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey
Results
Marine Park
The
Marine Park survey was conducted on May 26, 2005. Fourteen people participated
in this survey. Thirteen transects with sample holes located every forty
feet were surveyed. The transects at Marine Park were fairly short in
comparison to other survey sites with the number of sample holes ranging
from two to eight. The types of clams found at Marine Park included
native littleneck, butter, horse, macoma, manila, eastern softshell,
cockle, and varnish clams.
*photo - Learning about clams
Marine Park Survey Fact Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey Results
Birch
Point
The Birch Point survey was conducted on June 23, 2005. Seventeen people participated in this survey. Ten transects were surveyed with sample holes located every forty feet. The transects at Birch Point had a range of three to thirty-three sample holes. The types of clams found along Birch Point included native littleneck, macoma, butter, horse, manila, eastern softshell, cockle, and varnish clams.
*photo - Variety of clam sizes
Birch Point Survey Fact Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey Results
Point Whitehorn/Cherry Point
The Point Whitehorn/Cherry Point survey was conducted on July 23, 2005. Twenty-eight people participated in this survey. Fourteen transects were surveyed with sample holes located every forty feet. The transects at this survey site had a range of two to eleven sample holes. The types of clams found along this stretch of shoreline included native littleneck, macoma, butter, varnish, horse, eastern softshell, cockle, and manila clams.
*photo - Survey Volunteer
Point Whitehorn/ Cherry Point Survey Fact
Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey Results
Marine Park Blaine
The Marine Park Blaine survey was conducted on June 24, 2006. Fourteen people assisted with the survey covering 6 transects over the vast tideflat. Clams were sampled every 100 feet along each transect and the amount of sample holes ranged from 8 to 38. The surveyors found horse, varnish, manila, macoma, eastern softshell and few native littleneck, cockle and butter clams at this survey site.
*photo
Marine Park Blaine Survey Fact Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey Results
Lummi Island
The clam survey on Lummi Island was conducted on July 10, 2006. Fourteen people assisted with the survey over 9 transects. Clams were sampled every 40 feet along each transect with sample holes ranging from 4 to 19 along the transects. Clams found along the Lummi Island shoreline include horse, varnish, manila, native littleneck, macoma, cockle, butter, and eastern softshell.
*photo
Lummi Island Survey Fact Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey Results
Point Roberts
The clam survey at Point Roberts was conducted on August 8, 2006. Sixteen people assisted with the survey, which took place on two very different beaches in Point Roberts. At Maple Beach clams were sampled every 100 feet along three transects with 20 to 30 sample holes. Surveyors found an astounding amount of varnish clams at this location, while a few manila, macoma, cockle, and eastern softshell clams were also found. At Lighthouse Marine Park clams were sampled every 40 feet along 10 short transects which were evenly distributed from the north to the south shoreline of the park. Sample holes at Lighthouse Marine Park ranged from three to five per transect. Types of clams found at this survey site include low numbers of horse, varnish, native littleneck, and butter clams.
*photo
Point Roberts Survey Fact Sheet
Survey Protocols
Survey Results
NEXT
STEPS
These surveys will provide baseline information about the types, numbers and sizes of clams found in Birch Bay, Semiahmoo Spit, Mud Bay, Marine Park, Birch Point, Point Whitehorn/Cherry Point, Marine Park Blaine, Lummi Island, and Point Roberts. While there is general data describing where shellfish are found in Whatcom County, there has been limited species-specific data available.
The Whatcom MRC will use the information generated through these surveys to:
- Describe the clams that are found in Whatcom County to the community, local agencies, and visitors.
- Work with the community to provide more information to residents and visitors about how to protect this valuable resource.
- Help identify potential sites for clam enhancement.
