Murden Cove Watershed
Nutrient and Bacteria Reduction Project
Project Participants
City of Bainbridge Island
Kitsap Public Health District
Kitsap Conservation District
Bainbridge Island Watershed Council
Sonoji Sakai Intermediate School
The Watershed
The Murden Cove Watershed is located on the central eastern side of Bainbridge Island in mid
Puget Sound (Figure 1- next page). At a size of 2,041 acres, the Murden Cove Watershed is one
of the largest watersheds on the Island. The primary stream in the watershed, Murden Creek, is
one of the Island’s eight combined stream networks, comprised of a mainstem and two
significant tributaries (Woodward Creek and Meig’s Creek) totaling 3.7 miles. Along with
several smaller drainages directly to the shoreline, Murden Creek delivers drainage to Murden
Cove which encompasses the entire 3.3-mile shoreline of the watershed.
Land use within this basin consists of various densities of residential, commercial, light
industrial, schools, and a portion of the Rolling Bay Neighborhood Service Center. The
watershed encompasses 2.2 miles of State Highway 305 and 146 acres of park. There are
agriculture and livestock farms spread throughout the basin, and, while sanitary sewer services
are provided for a small portion of the basin, most land uses in this basin utilize onsite sewage
systems.
Murden Creek and Murden Cove provide critical habitat for numerous species that include
shellfish and salmonids, specifically coho, chum, and cutthroat.
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Figure 1. Murden Cove Watershed
The Problem
Murden Cove’s aquatic habitat has been listed impaired by the Department of Ecology since
2004 due to low levels of dissolved oxygen. Ecology’s 2008 Water Quality Assessment stated
that “Frankenstein, 2000. show the continuous cover of ulvoid macroalgae are impairing aquatic
life from identified human causes at Murden Cove.” Ecology’s draft 2010 assessment further
listed Murden Cove’s water quality impaired by fecal coliform bacteria as well.
The City of Bainbridge Island’s status and trends monitoring in Murden Cove nearshore and
Murden Creek (Figure 1) indicates chronic high levels of bacteria and nutrients and low oxygen
levels since WY2007. In addition, the cove periodically exceeds pH criteria and frequently fails
to meet temperature criteria. Targeted storm event monitoring in both water bodies in WY2009
revealed increased nutrient levels in both the creek and the cove during heavy rain events, as
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well as ammonia concentrations exceeding chronic criteria (the creek) and acute criteria (the
cove).
Lastly, results from the City’s annual benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring in Murden Creek
(Figure 1) show increasing stress from pollution and low oxygen. In addition to a decrease in the
pollution intolerant populations from 22% in WY2008 to 5% in WY2011, the percentage of
pollution tolerant species, such as Chironomidae increased from 1% to 2%, and supertolerant
species increased from 11% to 15%.
Project Approach
Given the water quality and habitat conditions observed through the work of the Department of
Ecology, Department of Health, Kitsap Public Health District, and the City of Bainbridge Island,
it is clear that defining nutrient and bacteria loading throughout the Murden Cove Watershed,
investigating and resolving nutrient and bacteria sources, and providing educational outreach and
technical assistance to watershed residents would require a comprehensive multi-agency and
community investment.
Shortly after the City released the recent State of the Island’s Waters report (July, 2012) which
highlighted the specific water and habitat quality challenges in the Murden Cove Watershed,
each project participant individually approached the City with a desire to restore water quality
and aquatic habitat in the Murden Cove Watershed. The City recognized an opportunity to bring
each parties’ specific expertise, skills, and funding to bear in a watershed that is an equally high
priority for the City.
The City will serve as the project hub by providing monitoring training and oversight,
coordination among the participants, data compilation and analysis, data sharing, project
effectiveness assessment, and project reporting (exception: grant reports or other deliverables
will be prepared and submitted by the individual grant holders). This will allow participants to
work under their respective grants or other funding sources while, at the same time, contribute to
the larger comprehensive watershed project.
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This multi-agency and community advocacy group approach will collectively provide the
following:
Monitoring (before, during, and after):
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Water quality monitoring for nutrients, bacteria, macroinvertebrates and
physiochemistry (using both monthly multi-parameter field probe measurements
and continuous temperature and dissolved oxygen dataloggers)
Flow monitoring
Aquatic habitat surveys (wadable stream survey)
Outfall/drain point surveys and monitoring for nutrients, bacteria,
physiochemistry, and flow
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination:
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Source tracking
Technical assistance
Nutrient and Bacteria-Specific Educational Outreach:
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Common sources (residential fertilizers, septic systems, yard waste, food waste,
detergents, stormwater drainage, ect.)
Environmentally-friendly alternatives and BMPs
Technical assistance and community resources (loans, grants, etc.)
Project Assessment and Reporting:
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Pre-project monitoring and data assessment
o Compilation and analysis of pre-project data
o Pre-project survey of watershed residents’ understanding and behaviors
Concurrent-project monitoring
Post-project monitoring and data assessment
o Survey of watershed residents’ understanding and behaviors
o Compilation and analysis of post-project data
o Project effectiveness measurement and reporting
Participant Profiles and Project Contributions
Sonoji Sakai Intermediate School
Sonoji Sakai Intermediate School (Sakai) sits adjacent to Woodward Creek, one of two primary
tributaries in the Murden Creek drainage basin. Administration, faculty, and students of Sakai
have long valued salmon and the quality of salmon habitat in Woodward Creek. They are selfappointed guardians of the stream, and signs of the high regard they hold for this connection to
their environment and their aquatic neighbors are prevalent through dedicated curriculum,
student projects, and the art work and architecture of the school itself.
For many years, Sakai students have studied and measured the water quality of Woodward Creek
and release chum salmon fry every year.
Upon learning of the status of the downstream water quality and aquatic habitat in Murden Creek
and Murden Cove, the school proactively committed to the effort to identify the sources of
pollutants causing the impairment and being an active part of the solution.
In late 2012, Sakai, in conjunction with IslandWood (an environmental institute on the Island),
was awarded a 3M Eco Grant to conduct watershed monitoring and educational outreach in the
Murden Cove Watershed. Under the guidance of the City’s Water Quality and Flow Monitoring
Program and the faculty and graduate students of IslandWood, Sakai students and faculty will
monitor water quality and quantity, assess aquatic habitat, and look for sources and signs of
pollutant discharges throughout the watershed. Students will use “real-world” monitoring and
assessment tools, assuring a high level of data quality, usability, and transferability.
Further, Sakai students and faculty will provide nutrient and bacteria focused educational
outreach throughout the Murden Cove Watershed and survey watershed residents’ understanding
and behaviors.
Bainbridge Island Watershed Council
The Bainbridge Island Watershed Council (BIWC) is an all-volunteer group of citizens
committed to protecting Island watersheds and educating the community about the importance of
watershed protection and restoration. The council’s mission is to actively pursue projects and
actions that will protect and improve the condition of Bainbridge Island’s watersheds, shorelines,
and related wildlife habitats through volunteer stewardship, educational outreach, and advising
the City government on key issues.
BIWC’s membership is strengthened by engineers, fish biologists, freshwater and marine water
ecologists, and other environmental professionals as well as enthusiastic and caring citizens. The
council has been conducting habitat surveys, fish counts, and watershed educational outreach
projects for several years. Most notably, BIWC recently completed a successful salmon
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supplementation project in an Island stream in conjunction with the City and the Suquamish
Tribe.
In addition to coordinating their regular stream walk and habitat assessments with the Kitsap
Public Health District’s streamside outfall/drain point survey in Murden Creek, BIWC will
provide habitat assessment training to Sakai students and faculty as well as coordinate targeted
nutrient and bacteria educational outreach efforts in the Murden Cove Watershed.
Kitsap Public Health District
The Kitsap Public Health District’s (KPHD’s) Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC)
program has demonstrated its capability for identifying and correcting nonpoint sources of
pollution since 1996. The PIC program has been recognized as a leader in water quality
restoration and protection.
As Murden Cove provides critical shellfish habitat and provides waterfront access for Island
residents, KPHD applied for a state National Estuary Program (NEP) Toxics and Nutrients Grant
in late 2012 to specifically address nutrient sources (and, by default, bacteria sources) in the
Murden Cove Watershed that may be contributing to the observed chronic impairment.
If awarded the NEP Grant, KPHD will implement PIC methodology to reduce nutrient loading
and improve water quality in the Murden Cove Watershed. KPDH efforts include an assessment
of residential sources of nutrient pollution by routine water quality monitoring, an evaluation of
land use practices including inspections of onsite septic systems and the use of fertilizers, and the
dissemination of information and resources to the public.
KPHD will coordinate these efforts with all project participants. An example would be
outfall/drain point assessment in conjunction with BIWC in-stream habitat surveys whereby
KPHD will map, sample, and assess all flowing outfall/drain points along Murden Creek for
bacteria, nutrients, physiochemistry, and flow. All elevated levels will be investigated in
conjunction with City and Kitsap Conservation District staff. Educational outreach efforts will
be coordinated with BIWC and Sakai.
Kitsap Conservation District
The Kitsap Conservation District (KCD) is a non-regulatory agency that provides expert
technical assistance in agricultural and livestock management. KCD also provides expert
assistance and guidance in residential backyard management and rain gardens. KCD provides
these services to Island landowners via an Interlocal Agreement with the City.
KCD has built a strong relationship with Island farmers and livestock owners, and will be the
lead agency for addressing identified farm or livestock sources of nutrient and/or bacteria in the
watershed. They will also provide rain garden and agricultural-related educational outreach
materials to augment Sakai, BIWC, and KPHD’s efforts.
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City of Bainbridge Island
The City’s Water Quality and Flow Monitoring Program’s (WQFMP’s) primary mission is to
protect and restore the beneficial and designated uses of the Island’s water resources. The
WQFMP has been assessing the Island’s surface water conditions since WY2007. In addition,
the WQFMP provides support to the City’s Stormwater Management Program, particularly in
meeting its NPDES Municipal Stormwater Discharge Permit requirements in the areas of
receiving water prioritization, IDDE, TMDLs, and program/BMP effectiveness monitoring.
The City will not only provide training on the calibration and use of “real world” monitoring
instruments and equipment, provide monitoring equipment, and coordinate monitoring efforts,
but the City will also serve as the project hub by providing data compilation and analysis, data
sharing, project effectiveness assessment, and project reporting (exception: grant reports and
other deliverables will be prepared and submitted by the individual grant holders). This will
allow participants to work under their respective grants while, at the same time, contribute to the
larger comprehensive watershed project.
The City will continue status and trends monitoring (including flow) in the Murden Cove
Watershed, as necessary, to better describe the extent and nature of nutrient loading in the
watershed, identify and eliminate sources through the City’s IDDE program, and assess project
outcomes.
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