The first of the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife information and public input meetings brought some great information into public view. The Chinook Observer reports:

What to expect for the 2008-09 season:

• Clam population: 3.5 million, a slight decrease from last season
• Harvest quota: 1,052,000 or 30 percent of the clam population
• 19 digging days
• Clams this season will be slightly smaller on average – 4.2 inches – compared to 4.8 inches last season
• The first clam tide will be mid-October and will surely be a “dark tide,” meaning diggers will be seeking clams in the dark. Possible dig dates (by no means official): Oct. 17 and 18, Nov. 14 and 15, Dec. 12 and 13.

The best news is that the clams on the Long Beach Peninsula are the largest sampled on the Washington coast this year. Most of the clams surveyed this test were found either at Beard’s Hollow or above Ocean Park. Ayers said the probable cause for this is that the waters flowing out of the Columbia River (with a northern current) have a lower salinity level and loop around Beard’s Hollow and move onto the beach. The northern end of the Peninsula is bathed by the rich waters that flow in and out of Willapa Bay, much favored by the clam population.

In a recently completed growth survey, in which many clams are marked and recounted, it was found that local clams grew 4 inches the first year, then leveled off for the remainder of their lives of generally four to five years.  [read the full story]