Reducing Pollution in Woodland
Creek and Henderson Inlet
A
March 2006 study by the Department of Ecology
revealed serious fecal coliform bacteria pollution in Woodland Creek
downstream of Martin Way. Within the same area, shallow groundwater is
also contaminated with nitrates at amounts over the drinking water limit
in some places. Fecal coliform bacteria and nitrate contamination
indicate that human sewage, animal waste, and other pollutants such as
fertilizer are seeping into the groundwater and flowing into the creek.
(Please note: The city water supply is safe.)
The contamination
in Woodland Creek ultimately ends up in Henderson Inlet, because the
creek is the inlet's largest tributary and it drains approximately
19,000 acres of land. The Department of Ecology, through the "TMDL"
process, has mandated the cleanup up both Woodland Creek and Henderson
Inlet.
The
Woodland Creek Pollutant Load Reduction Project
In 2006, Thurston
County, the City of Lacey, and the LOTT Wastewater Alliance hired a
consulting
partnership (Pacific Groundwater Group and Brown & Caldwell), to
estimate the amount of fecal coliform bacteria and nitrate pollution
coming from various sources in a 5,885-acre area along Woodland Creek,
and to identify feasible options for reducing the pollution. Click the
thumbnail to see the study area.
The consultants
then provided a list of feasible actions that could be taken to
reduce pollution, and grouped them into "low," "medium" and "high"
categories. The names referred to both the expected level of effort
required to implement the options, and the expected reduction in
pollution. After a series of public meetings, the consultants
recommended the "medium" option. Thurston County is now pursuing those
recommendations -- specifically in the Tanglewilde and Woodland
Creek/Covington Place neighborhoods.
Questions? Call
Barb Wood 754-3355 ext. 6809 or Roger Giebelhaus at 754-3355 ext.
7809 or route an e-mail message through
wwm-webmaster@co.thurston.wa.us
Last updated:
10/07/09 01:36 PM
