By Marianne Lincoln

On January 4, a group of advocates and landowners along Clover Creek met at the Parkland Spanaway Library to talk about how to improve the creek and stop hurting it. Much work is yet to be done as far as setting up a solid organization to move forward, but the list produced that evening is interesting, so here it is.

Clover Creek Meeting Notes – January 4, 6-8pm, Parkland Spanaway Library
               Clover Creek Restoration Ecosystem Workforce (CCREW)

The meeting began with introductions. In that process, many of the residents along the creek had their own story to tell and we allowed for that opportunity during the introduction process.

Following, Sean Arent put up not paper on the board and Renee took over writing the ideas of the group. Notes include: Problems, Goals, Strategies and listing allies, opposition and neutral parties.

In a month, another meeting will be held. Within a couple weeks, a sub-committee will meet to define mission and vision to present to the larger group. Marianne Lincoln set up Library room schedule, Feb. 1, first Thursday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Problems

• Significant issues from the headwaters to Pacific Avenue
• Small lakes and wetlands removed for McChord Field, now culverts
• Chemicals, PFAS, 6PPD
• Asphalt lining in Parkland relocated segment
• Houseless people in desperation living in creek bed when dry
• Sewer & septic contamination creating algae in lake flowing to creek
• Monitoring, restoration, and stewardship needed
• Dams created by railroad, roads and gravel road crossings, putting creek into culverts
• Brookdale Golf Course development diversions, dike, beavers
• Ground water extraction and wells going dry (Washington Water, Spanaway Water, Parkland Water, Lakewood Water, Mountain Mist, Niagara is on Tacoma Water(?)
• Reed canary grass and invasive species in riparian areas
• Code enforcement of flow obstructions
• Pierce County needs a natural resources department
• Lack of water flow

Goals

• Healthy flowing creek resembling historic flows
• Presence of fish, insects, larvae
• Historic salmon runs return
• Staffing and funding for habitat stewardship
• Establish a list of creek property owners to provide education, to them and local citizens, and
• Establish tribal relationships
• Examine other jurisdictions and how they protect their creeks (other counties)
• Grants, state funding, county funding and other support for creek priorities
• Support from partners, organizations and businesses
• County comprehensive action plan to restore the creek’s ecology
• Riparian buffers and land conservation
• Developers pay toward preservation

Advocacy Strategies

• Create sub-committees, build base of supporters
• Organize our voice with petitions and platforms
• Tribal involvement to remove dams and other obstacles downstream in a systematic approach (i.e. RR at Naches Preserve)
• Get Pierce County to do the right thing for neighbors and stream flows
• County staff to work with land owners
• Zoning issues, designations and descriptions
• Create a working group to develop a platform to present to the larger group (Sean, Rikki, Diedre, Marianne, Bob, Ward)
• Kim to talk to hydrologist she knows
• Home owners collect and test water samples
• Next meeting Feb. 1, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Marianne to send out message to attendees with notes from this meeting, and contact list
• Help Bob, with beavers, HOA association, direct actions
• Create a path to actually prosecute people who damage the creek

Spectrum of Allies

Opposed to goals                 Neutral                                                                 Allies    

Developers                            Unaware, unaffected community             Most homeowners on creek

Some land owners                Public officials                                           Environmental Sci. Educators

HOA’s                                    Tribes                                                         WDFW

Water Extractors                                                                           DNR

Beavers                                                                                                     EPA

City of Lakewood                                                                                      Ecology

JBLM                                                                                                          USGS – ground water

Amazon                                                                                                     TPCHD

Planning & Pub Works                                                                              Pierce Conservation Dist.

                                                                                                                  Nisqually Land Trust

                                                                                                                  Forterra