The shellfish beds in Samish Bay remain under a voluntary closure until 8 a.m. Tuesday after a large amount of fecal coliform bacteria was detected in the Samish River on Thursday.
Officials from the state Department of Health opted on Friday to extend the voluntary closure rather than make it mandatory. The shellfish beds in Samish Bay have been under two mandatory and two voluntary closures since May 2 — all due to high levels of fecal coliform after heavy rains.
Not only were “extremely high” levels of bacteria found Thursday in the Samish, but the amount of water carrying the bacteria increased dramatically overnight, according to state Public Health Advisor Lawrence Sullivan.
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