water quality monitoring at little mcallister creek

Water Quality Monitoring at Little McAllister CreekMeadows ElementaryMarch 21, 2013

13

Monitoring Site Summary• Located off Mallard Drive SE, near

Meadows Elementary, on land co-

managed by Thurston County and

Alpine Meadows Homeowners

association.

• The headwaters (source) of the Little

McAllister Creek is McAllister Springs

Lake.

• The mouth of Little McAllister Creek

is located near Old Pacific Hwy and

Reservation Rd. where it joins the

main stem of McAllister Creek.

Monitoring Site Description

• The place we go to monitor Little McAllister Creek is in our school neighborhood, in the Alpine Meadows sub-division. We can walk there, but we have to get someone to unlock the gate for us. On our walk, we pass many houses, yards, a small playground, some green open space, and several stormwater retention ponds.

Brief watershed Overview

• Important features of

the watershed include:

• Forests of cedar, fir, alder

and maple trees;

• Habitats for insects, animals,

fish, birds and humans;

• Current issues in the

watershed include:

• dog waste, fertilizer, cans

and bottles, soap from car

washing and oil leaks from

cars.

• Some areas prone to flooding

• Failing septic systems

Water Quality Data

Water Quality

Dissolved Oxygen 8.6 and 77 % in Oct. and

11.7 and 105 % in Feb

Temperature 10 c in October and 11 c in February

pH6.75 IN OCTOBER,

AND “7.0” IN FEBRUARY

Fecal Coliform NA

Turbidity 5.8 jtu in Oct.

and 5 jtu in Feb.

Nitrates 4 mg/L in Oct.

and 4 mg/L in Feb.

Data Interpretation We think dog waste may be causing

a higher level of nitrates. Fertilizer from lawns might be another cause.

Our ideas to improve water quality at our site include:

• Encourage pet owners to pick up after their dogs, keep dogs from running loose, and walk dogs on a leash

• Encourage people to use less fertilizer, or practice organic methods of gardening.