It has been a very dry year, perhaps a record. We lost a lot of aquatic creatures to dry creeks. There is a week of rain coming, that rain will move salmon up the river and creeks. So get out your raingear and your fishing poles.

From Al Schmauder, noted Clover Creek walking steward:

My dear water lovers,

Yesterday, there was no flow in Clover Creek from the springs in Frederickson which is the source to the mouth of the creek at Steilacoom Lake, about 13 miles.  I think our rainfall is 20-30% below normal.  

Except for areas where there is some standing water and maybe behind some beaver dams. all aquatic life has vanished.  This condition is not likely to change for months until the heavy rains start.

Photos show the situation:  McChord and Morey Pond, tiny flow out of Spanaway Lake, dry springs at start of Clover Creek, dry stream in Lakewood at Gravelly Lake Dr.  Of course, the fish ladders in Lakewood are dry.

We don’t know if water withdrawals from the watershed are also causing Clover Creek to dry up. In the summer withdrawals peak because of irrigations uses for yards and lawns.

Al, Water Steward,
Chambers-Clover Watershed

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And from Kris Kauffman, and other water steward:

All,

There is a good chance that Gravelly Lake will reach a low low lake level of record next month.  My LL gage is now <1’ with a record low at 0.1’ on my gage (=207.67’ MSL) that occurred on Oct. 26, 1994!  I note that Gravelly Lake has an historic range of 11.61’ and has stayed on my 12’ gage for the 50+ years I’ve lived on the Lake.

Our precip is best reflected on the McChord rainfall gage (NOT SEATAC) and our normal calendar year precip through Monday (9/18/23) was 23.42”; however, this year we are at 12.20” or 52% of normal (48% BELOW normal).

So much for a few facts….
Kris

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And event from Pierce County Planning:

Groundwater Monitoring Season Reminder

The rainy season is just around the corner, which means it is time to start thinking about monitoring groundwater elevations on your site. The monitoring window is Dec. 1 through April 30, and missing it could delay your project by as much as a year.

Test pits, test holes and monitoring wells may be necessary depending on the location of your site, your project type and how you plan to meet the requirements of the Stormwater Management and Site Development Manual.

For more information, please open our Stormwater Manual and search for “wet season” or “monitoring,” or contact Mitch Brells at mitch.brells@piercecountywa.gov.