Ambient Water Quality Monitoring - Toxics Monitoring
PURPOSE: The WRP conducts bi-annual trend monitoring for toxic pollutants within the regulated waters of the Swinomish Reservation to determine if toxics in marine sediments may cause a health risk to those utilizing the tidelands and/or tideland resources.
BACKGROUND: The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (Tribe) is conducting trend monitoring for toxic pollutants within the regulated waters of the Swinomish Indian Reservation on a yearly basis. The Swinomish Toxics Monitoring Program will comprise the first comprehensive sampling plan and analyses of potential toxic pollutants in sediment located on Reservation tidelands.
Most toxics, once released into the water, bind with clay particles and settle to the bottom, where they remain bio-available for long periods of time. While toxics in waters may quickly dissipate, toxic breakdown components will remain in the sediment, eventually progressing up the food chain and biomagnifying; this process can occur before any contamination is detected in the water column. Therefore, sampling sediments is a more viable method of tracking the quantifiable amount of toxics accumulating over the long term within the water. If a significant increasing trend in toxics is discovered, or if toxics levels are found to exceed sediment quality standards, the Tribe can initiate a more comprehensive and detailed investigation.
GOAL: Determine if there are significant trends in toxics concentrations; or if toxics levels are found to exceed sediment quality standards, more comprehensive and detailed investigations can be initiated.
METHODS: The Toxics Monitoring is a comprehensive sampling plan and analysis of potential toxic pollutants in sediment on Reservation tidelands. Sampling sediments is a viable method of tracking the measurable amount of toxics accumulating in the water over time. Sediments at selected sites (about 10) will be sampled once every 2 years from the Research Vessel or by walking the beaches. Chemicals analyzed include: polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn), tributyltin (TBT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy oils.
RESULTS: Sediments have been sampled in 2002 and 2004 and will be compared when the lab results are in.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is federally recognized and operates under Constitution and Bylaws adopted in 1936 pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.
The Swinomish Tribe is committed to improving the lives and well being of the tribal members through social and cultural programs, education, economic development, and resource protection.
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community is located on Fidalgo Island (gateway to the San Juan Islands) in Skagit County of Washington State about 70 miles north of Seattle. The Planning Office is located across the Swinomish Channel from the town of LaConner.