Environmental Studies Program

Clover Creek Watershed Project

Over the past few years, students in the Environmental Methods of Investigation class have conducted a study of the health of the Clover Creek watershed. One result of this study is to identify indicators that reflect the environmental health of Clover Creek watershed. Working from the goals of the stakeholders in the watershed, the students identified aspects that could be monitored that would allow the community to evaluate its progress toward these goals. They gathered data to characterize the entire watershed, including characteristics of the creek (with chemical, biological and physical measurements) as well as information about the human activity in the watershed (land use, population, economic activity). This information was presented to community members as the end of each semester.

What is an indicator?

An indicator is a set of data that allows us to monitor the conditions of the larger system, the watershed. An indicator is used to quantify issues and to make complicated information simple. An effective indicator is:

• Available at low cost
• Measurable
• Credible
• Easily interpreted
• Significant
• Unambiguous

Some examples of indicators that have been developed for various environmental applications, including watershed health, can be found at the following web sites:

• Sustainable Measures: Indicators of Sustainability
• EPA Index of Watershed Indicators
• Pacific Research Center: Index of Leading Environmental Indicators
• Sustainable Seattle
• Department of Energy Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development
• Puget Sound's Health 2002

The students indentified the stakeholders in the watershed. From documents produced by each of the stakeholders, goals for the watershed were identified. The stakeholders and their goals are:

• Pierce County
• Encourage urban area development
• Reduce sprawl
• Encourage economic development
• Encourage retention of open space and recreational opportunities
• Protect the environment
• City of Lakewood
• Connectivity and movement
• Urban ecology is important
• New development must contribute
• City must contribute infrastructure
• McChord Air Force Base
• Protect public health and preserve environmental quality
• Chamber-Clover Watershed Management Committee
• Identify, correct and prevent nonpoint pollution and protect beneficial uses of water
• Clover Creek Council
• Restore and preserve Clover Creek and other natural systems in the watershed

Results

The results for the Clover Creek watershed indicator study:

The results for previous indicator studies in the Sequalitchew Creek watershed: