Watershed Roundup Nov 18

Pierce County has four state designated watersheds. The Chambers Clover Watershed (WRIA12) includes Lakewood, University Place, most of Tacoma, Dupont, Spanaway, Parkland, Frederickson, Midland, Elk Plain, and the northwest part of Graham. This watershed is dependent on rain. For the past three years, the area has been under drought conditions. In October, it was at…

Watershed Festival looking for participants

Cities, Environmental organizations, water companies, anyone with a connection to water and environment is welcome to come to the first Chambers Clover Watershed Festival on Saturday, October 11. Of course, the public is also invited to see all the resources designed to use and protect our water supply. The festival will begin with a work…

The spring at Camp Montgomery

By Marianne Lincoln It is a hidden place on private property now, but when the Naches Trail hosted wagons from Eastern to Western Washington in the 1850’s, the spring near the Trail’s end was a valuable resource. Officially, the Naches Trail ended at the Mahon Farm. Most of that farm later became the Brookdale Golf…

Learning to be drought aware

By Marianne Lincoln How much water do you use when you wash your hands? How much when you brush your teeth? Laundry, showers, and flushing the commode all take water too. The average person uses 80 to 100 gallons a day. Multiply that by the houses in your neighborhood and the houses in your community….

Is There Enough Water for 48,000 More Residents Moving to Spanaway this Decade?

By Kirk Kirkland and Al Schmauder Will Pierce County be able to meet future demand for clean drinking water required by increasing population and development in the Chambers-Clover watershed? Two years ago, Pierce County altered zoning along Pacific Avenue, 112th Street, Meridian, and 176th Street to allow up to 5 story buildings within one quarter…

Our Watershed, “WRIA 12” January 15

It is called a Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) by the Department of Ecology. The Chambers Clover Watershed includes Parkland, Spanaway, Midland, Collins, Frederickson, part of South Hill and NW Graham as well as Lakewood, McChord Field, Fircrest, Steilacoom, Dupont, and University Place, Below is a map of the WRIA’s in Washington State. Look for 12….

When the faucet is dry…

By Marianne Lincoln Where did the water go? That is a question a lot of us have been asking for years. It is the end of November. Clover Creek is still dry in From Brookdale Golf Course to Midland and Spanaway Loop Road. The Chambers Clover Creek Watershed is based on a Sole Source Aquifer….

Watershed Issues Forum Nov. 20

The Chambers Clover Creek Watershed Council will be presenting their annual Issues Forum on November 20 at Sprinker Recreation Center. The event will begin with an optional field trip at 1:15 p.m. and followed by the presentations in the Rainier Room upstairs starting at 2:30 p.m. Registration is required, link provided below. Theme: UrbanizationSchedule1:15pm Optional…

Fluoridation loses in Federal Court

By Marianne Lincoln I will admit, up front, I am celebrating. I am an individual that will vomit after a glass of fluoridated water. I was given a PET scan after cancer treatment. Some doctor didn’t look at my chart first, and did not tell me there was fluoride in the radioactive tracer injection for…

Pierce County expands its Water Utility

Starting Sept. 1, 2024, Pierce County expanded the Water Utility to strengthen its ability to promote public health and responsible stewardship of water supplies. Pierce County Ordinance No. O2024-532, which codifies the expansion, was passed by the Pierce County Council on Aug. 6 and signed by Executive Bruce Dammeier on Aug. 13. Pierce County is…

County needs to rethink sewer system

OPINION Potable water, drinking water to you and me, is critical to all life on earth. In Pierce County, that water comes from glacier melt or rain. It is taken from rivers, lakes, and aquifers underground. In Washington State there is currently not anyone desalinizing sea water for use, although Florida, Texas, and California do….