Grant for Portage Bay Partnership Pt 1

I'm Bob Larson. The Portage Bay Partnership, made between the Lummi Nation and Whatcom County Dairy Farmers to improve shellfish beds, has secured a $150,000 grant and identified the first two farm to participate in Water Quality Improvement Plans.

Dairy farmer Rich Appel says the Washington State Dairy Federation tipped them in to the available funds ...

RICH APPEL ... "So, we asked if that money could be used for shellfish bed enhancement where they actually seed rock out in the shellfish growing areas out in the bay here. And, it was determined that was a practice that would be acceptable. And, so then we encouraged Lummi to request directly to the CD and we supported them in that."

And, Appel says part of the agreement was coming up with the water quality plans ...

RICH APPEL ... "So, they picked two farms to develop these water quality plans. And, we'll have mutually-agreed experts, one from Lummi and one from the farmers, that will come and walk our places. And, if there's things that they want to add to our dairy nutrient management plan, which we're already state-mandated to have, and also the CAFO has come out and there's going to be some additional regulations and requirements there. If there are things above and beyond that, then they would be added into this plan which would become our water quality plan for our farm."

Tomorrow, we'll hear more about the water quality plans and those first two dairies involved.