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Marine Recovery Area
A Marine Recovery Area (MRA) was established to protect especially sensitive marine waters from pollution from poorly functioning or failing on-site sewage systems.
A 2006 state law (RCW 70.118A) required Puget Sound counties (including King County) to designate MRAs where shellfish growing areas are closed due to bacterial pollution (or if closure is likely) or where bacteria or nitrogen are seriously affecting water quality.
Why an MRA formed
The MRA in King County was established because parts of Vashon-Maury Island are currently closed for commercial and recreational shellfish gathering. Human waste, most likely from poorly functioning or failing on-site sewage systems, contributes to the closure of shellfish areas, according to Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Program sanitary surveys.
The MRA encompasses sections of Quartermaster Harbor, Klahanie, Dolphin Point, Glen Acres, Hawthorne, and Summerhurst.
Marine Recovery Area Maps
The following maps show individual parcels within each section of the Marine Recovery Area. Each map is color coded to show the level of information available in the Public Health — Seattle & King County records. This color coding is done for each on-site sewage system. View the map legend for details.
Vashon-Maury Island Marine Recovery Area: island-wide index map (254 KB)
Quartermaster Harbor Maps from north to south
- Governor's Lane, Section A (290 KB)
- Governor's Lane, Section B (321 KB)
- Shawnee-Magnolia Beach (438 KB)
- Harbor Heights, Section A (409 KB)
- Harbor Heights, Section B (334 KB)
- Tahlequah 125th PL SW areas (314 KB)
East Passage maps from north to south
How living in the MRA affects you
On-Site Sewage System owners in the MRA must have annual operation and maintenance (O&M) inspections performed by King County licensed On-Site System Maintainers (407 KB).
Learn what to expect during an inspection
The annual O&M inspection differs from having your on-site sewage system tank pumped. Pumping a sewage tank is removal of liquid and waste done by King County certified liquid waste pumper/haulers (57 KB).