Title
Woodard Creek Basin Study
Recommended Action
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive information on the Study and provide input as needed.
Report
Issue:
Determining the impact changing land use and restoring habitat has on water quality in Woodard Creek.
Staff Contact:
Todd Stamm, Senior Planner, 360.753.8597
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, 360.570.3795
Presenter(s):
Allison Osterberg, Thurston County
Andy Haub, City of Olympia
Background and Analysis:
Using computer analysis to estimate changes in streamflow, nutrient and bacteria concentrations, water temperature, and insect populations, Thurston County and Thurston Regional Planning Commission studied how urban growth can affect local streams. The project, known as the Guiding Growth - Healthy Watersheds Project, will be used to recommend changes in land use zoning, development regulations, and environmental restoration. The Woodard Creek basin, which originates in east Olympia, near Boulevard Road and 18th Avenue, and flows north to Henderson Inlet, is included in the analysis (see attached map).
The project looks at past, current and future land use in the Woodard basin. The analysis also studied the effects of; changing land use zoning, using low impact development for stormwater management, constructing stormwater retrofits, and planting streamside vegetation.
A key question of the work was whether or not changing land use zoning in the City's Urban Growth Area (UGA) would affect the creek. The study also looked at the potential water quality changes in the creek resulting from development with septic systems or city sanitary sewer systems.
In general, the analysis indicates that changes in land use zoning would not result in major changes in future creek conditions. However, more work on retrofit existing stormwater systems for water quality treatment and revegetating the creek's shoreline is helpful.
County staff hosted a neighborhood meeting in December 2014 to discuss the results of the study. The work was completed with financial support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
N/A
Options:
None at this time.
Financial Impact:
None.
Attachment(s):
Woodard Basin Map
Woodard Creek Basin Fact Sheet