Water Quality Monitoring at Little McAllister CreekMeadows ElementaryMarch 21, 2013

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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.