Stormwater: A People Problem
Reducing stormwater pollution is essential to saving Puget Sound, officials say, and local studies may point the way. You can help, too.
Strolling along Clear Creek Trail in Silverdale, water quality inspector Mindy Fohn lingered in a shady area where the stream flows through a culvert under Ridgetop Boulevard.
Somewhere around here, she said, the creek absorbs a slug of pollution so heavy that health officials have posted a caution sign: "Warning. Stream polluted. Stay out of stream."
Three nearby pipes are known to release polluted stormwater into Clear Creek.
Stormwater, which begins as rainfall, picks up contaminants as it crosses lawns, streets and parking lots. The "hot spot" in Clear Creek is laden with bacteria, especially after heavy rains. Although other sources are possible, the prime suspect is stormwater flowing off Silverdale’s vast network of streets and parking lots, said Fohn, who is leading a pollution investigation for the Kitsap County Health District.
Silverdale’s stormwater is just one example of the contaminated flows steadily overtaking Puget Sound. As industrial pollution comes under control, more and more stormwater — which coincides with population growth — is releasing bacteria and toxic chemicals into streams and bays throughout the region, according to recent studies.
In some cases, the effects on salmon have been catastrophic. Killer whales and other animals are picking up man-made contaminants they’ve never known. And species diversity is declining in affected streams and inlets.
Stormwater has become one of the hottest topics for the Puget Sound Partnership, a high-level committee formed by the governor to reverse the decline of Puget Sound. Government officials at all levels are struggling to find a solution to stormwater pollution without bankrupting the region.
"It is a never-ending battle, especially as these watersheds become more developed," noted Bruce Wulkan, stormwater leader for the Puget Sound Action Team.
The source of stormwater pollution is so widespread (literally) that one cannot point a finger of blame -- unless it is pointed at everyone who lives and works here.
Continue reading this article from the Kitsap Sun:
Stormwater: A People Problem
