Digital Postcards

Dear Residents and Landowners of Clover Creek Watershed,

You can make a difference in the health of our watershed. I urge you to consider native plants as your first choice in landscaping your property. By doing so, you will be contributing to the larger effort to restore the watershed’s riparian areas. Restoration is key to building a healthy ecosystem for both the human and non-human residents of Clover Creek Watershed, the benefits of which are too numerous to count. Thank you for your contribution!

Best,
Bethany

Dear Residents and Landowners of Clover Creek Watershed,

Everyone in the community has the power to make Clover Creek a healthier watershed. During our experience at Clover Creek, it has been impossible for anyone to ignore the overwhelming amount of trash in and around the stream. This pollutes the environment, resulting in an unhealthy habitat for all of the organisms within the ecosystem. As a community, we need to ensure that we are disposing of our trash properly, and genuinely caring for the environment. This includes recycling whenever possible, making sure trash can lids fit tightly, and never littering. Collectively doing our part will go a long way toward restoring and maintaining our local ecosystems.

Best,
Cooper

To the Chambers-Clover Creek watershed Residents,

The Chambers-Clover Creek watershed is a water system of lakes, creeks, and streams in your area. If you are a Parkland, WA resident, you live near a branch of the watershed. For example, Parkland Prairie is a stream located just a few minutes’ walk from Pacific Lutheran University. During my time there I saw the beautiful blue green ducks swimming in the water as I collected data. I also saw the area littered with waste. Such as the white material wrapped around the tree stump, or the tarp and countless other objects on the banks pictured here. Stream

health is an important part of the entire community’s health, to human and non-human residents alike. From the big green trees to the smallest mayfly larva or the rocks embedded in the substrate, each plays a role in stream health.

You can help take care of these ecosystems that serve the community. Take a positive, active role in stream health. It is as simple as going for a walk and taking out the trash. Please, go on a walk here, take a bag and some gardening gloves to pick up trash. See the beauty and the local plants among the trash laden vegetation.

– Dannie Vashchenko

Dear Pierce County Council,

It is expected that as time goes on, the population within the Clover Creek Watershed will continue to increase, bringing not only more urbanization but more impervious surfaces and trash. Already within the watershed, in particular Parkland Prairie, there is a trash problem, with trash lining the edges and being present within the stream bed. I believe that a system should be employed to reduce this problem, such as planned weekly cleanups alongside water sources in the watershed, so that more trash can be removed to reduce the pollution that comes from it. In addition, impervious surfaces allow for toxic pollutants to get into the watershed and our water sources through runoff so I believe that in the future, Pierce County should try to incorporate more pervious surfaces as urbanized development continues. Should less pervious surfaces and more trash become present in this watershed, there will be greater observed impacts on water quality that could be detrimental and we must act before it is too late.

Dear fellow Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed residents,

Some of you may not know that you are living in the middle of a watershed that once supported a diverse population of plant and animal life. This watershed used to provide a space where salmon could spawn their eggs during the summer months, and bring new life into the world. Now, however, the water levels in the creek are drastically reduced. Salmon are now struggling to find a place to lay their eggs and, as such, their population is dropping. I am not telling you this to guilt you into finding a home for the salmon. I am telling you this because I want you to be aware of the state of our watershed. I want you to consider how our actions may have impacted the lives of other creatures that also call this place home. I hope that if we are able to do that, then we may be able to bring back what the salmon have lost, and restore our environment.

Sincerely,
Jonny Maier

Dear Clover Creek Watershed residents,

Through my time as an ENVT 350 student at PLU, I conducted multiple experiments in this watershed. Each experiment I noticed more and more trash around me. Our local Parkland Prairie was developed as public park space and has slowly become a place for garbage to collect and it harms the biodiversity there. We, as residents, need to have more care for our local watershed. I’m asking visitors of Parkland Prairie to stop littering and show more respect for our park space. I’m also asking the Pierce County Council to allocate funds in their Garbage and Recycling and their Sustainability programs for better maintenance of this area; that maintenance should include waste management and more intentional restoration efforts of native plants and creek systems.

To the residents near and around the Clover Creek watershed,

As an Eastern Washington native, I am not well versed with the dilemmas present in this area, specifically those across Pierce county. However, over time, these lands started to become my second home due to my studies at Pacific Lutheran University and that was when these injustices became bright as day. It was not until this year that I witnessed and experienced these ecological injustices first hand at Parkland Prairie. My courses, ENVT 350 included, had us walk to the prairie and undergo experiments based on various aspects of the environment. The overall gist of all of these trips was to record and observe the living organisms that call this watershed home. It is clear to see that trash and pollution flows seamlessly throughout the watershed and while that may be discouraging, the water itself is not of terrible quality. Given that it is not ideal on the levels of pH and phosphate, just to name a few, it still provides a well rounded shelter and water source for countless organisms. I write this letter in the hopes that we all become more conscious in our food choices, discarded trash locations, and open mindedness of those we share this earth with. During the Anthropocene, we must not overpower and diminish the lives of other living organisms simply because we deem ourselves as superior. Careful consideration of our lifestyles or even going down to the watershed and picking up a handful of trash does not only improve the life for these aquatic creatures, but for those in the surrounding areas as well.

Your help is greatly appreciated,
Luis Reyes

Dear Residents of Clover Creek Watershed,

It is becoming increasingly evident that pollution is infesting the watershed that our community cares for. Pollution not only affects the wildlife populations that inhabit in and around the watershed but also the overall stream health. If Pierce County residents could start picking up human trash they find and could put in place more volunteer clean up organizations we could restore the watershed to its original beauty and liveliness.

-Mary Lynn McLeod

Dear Pierce County,

Over the last semester in my Environmental Studies 350 course at PLU, I began to truly appreciate the importance and impact of community. In a time of social distancing and virtual classes, the class’ rare physical sessions were a literal and metaphorical breath of fresh air. As we conducted our data collections at the Parkland Prairie, I could not stop thinking about the negative impact that our communities have had on other communities, both human and nonhuman. PLU sits on the traditional lands of the Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin Island, and Steilacoom peoples, and while Indigenous tribes are all different from one another, many share similar concepts of balance and reciprocity with the Earth. Because of this, harm to the watershed directly impacts the Indigenous peoples who still live here. They live in community with the Earth, and this is an important balance from which I think we all can learn a beneficial lesson. The Euro-American ideology has silenced Indigenous voices for far too long, and it is our responsibility to center Indigenous voices in conversations about environmental justice and protection. Thus, as a community we share a duty to come together, respect our Indigenous neighbors, and listen to them as they tell and show us how use the concepts of balance and reciprocity to care for the watershed and for the Earth. Once we begin to listen, we will learn how we can operate as beneficial members of the local watersheds and improve the health and safety of both human and nonhuman communities.

In community,
Ryan Shane

Dear Clover Creek Residents,

Pollution is an issue on many people’s minds right now, and it can seem like a big problem. It is easy to lose sight of how an individual can make a difference; however, it is possible for you to make a difference right here in the watershed. When it rains, runoff is produced. Runoff picks up chemicals from cars, lawns, and more along the way, then takes those chemicals directly into the waterway. This is because paved surfaces and lawns are impermeable surfaces, so rainwater can not get to the soil and be filtered that way. One way to help prevent runoff is to replace your lawn with native plants. The water will be able to go down into the soil, which helps prevent it from having to travel across the surface and decreases the amount of chemicals it can pick up and carry with it. Plus, the native plants can offer a nice pop of color.

Thank you,
Rosey Ireson

To Nearby Clover Creek Residents,

It is with great care and concern that I write to you and others interested in the health of the Clover Creek watershed. As an Environmental Studies major, I can confidently say that I found my vocation through the variety of courses that I have taken at Pacific Lutheran University. Captivated by nature’s indisputable beauty, a pivotal moment in my academic career was through the honorary privilege to extensively learn about the complex watershed that we unconsciously neglect. Although everyone does not have the opportunity to observe the watershed with the lens my peers and I did, this should not be a barrier to one’s awareness of what is in your backyard. Without a doubt, my first interaction with the watershed is one that has reminded me of the importance of considering the natural world as a privilege rather than a right. The message I would like to leave you with, is to consciously live in harmony with the watershed. Nature was once natural. Nature was once respected. Nature was once protected. As stewards of Earth, we must work to make these statements true once again.

Best,
Shalom

Dear Pierce County,

The management of invasive species is a key component when developing restoration sites in an attempt as a means to re-establish the native plant species. From our work in my Environmental 350 course at PLU, we discovered that herbicides are heavily used to diminish the invasive plant population. They are efficient and cost effective. However, the application of herbicides have unintentional environmental risks: they are toxic to applicators and they contribute to surface water pollution and bioaccumulation through exposure or consumption. For these reasons, I am requesting that for future restoration sites in the Chambers-Clover Creek watershed, the application of herbicides be avoided.

Thank you,
Sophia McDonald

You can make a difference in our watershed’s health and resiliency by planting perennial plants. Perennials, unlike annuals, are plants capable of strong, lasting root systems which are incredible for retaining groundwater, adapting to climate change, and sucking up Co2! As residents of the Clover Creek Watershed, you should know all of our water comes from the Watershed’s groundwater. The levels of the groundwater have been steadily declining due to increased urbanization and will be exacerbated by climate change. Part of creating a more resilient ecosystem is focusing on more than the environmental. I am asking for the Chambers Clover Creek Watershed council to form a committee to create a tax exemption of $500 for property owners of the Clover Creek Watershed who plant 5 perennial plants. The costs of creating a decentralized system which saves our groundwater and absorbs C02 will outweigh an ecosystem without a healthy watershed.

Thanks,
Jack

Dear Pierce County Surface Water Management Division,

Imagine if all of Clover Creek looked like this restored area, if all its concrete lining was torn up, its natural curves restored, and its native plants brought back. Native marine plants and wildlife would come back, and perhaps the salmon too one day. In addition, a winding, tree-shrouded creek making its way through the county, would be a reminder to all those that drive and walk past it of Pierce County’s dedication to the environment on which it rapidly develops. It would demonstrate that to the county, development and conservation are two goals that need not clash, but coexist.

Regards,
Brennan LaBrie

Hello Clover-Creek residents,

My name is Chelsea and I am a student at PLU writing to discuss the issues that go on in our own backyards. The water quality that lies in this creek is problematic not only for our use, but for the organisms that consider this lake to be their home. The temperature of the water is not it’s coldest and the bacteria found in the water isn’t safe either. Chemicals found in fertilizers contribute to pollute the water in a bad way. Once the toxins get released into the water, algae can grow which wouldn’t make our lake look appealing to the public. This affects us as well because that means we can’t swim in these waters or be able to see fish that live in the area. In order for this to change, we must switch to only use zero phosphorus fertilizer in our backyards. We will slowly start to notice the appearance and condition of the lake to look the way it’s supposed to stand at. Thank you for reading my postcard and know that we can all make an impact to restore the condition on our local watershed.

Dear Pierce County,

The PLU students in ENVT 350 course are enjoying a picnic after an exciting afternoon of collecting samples at Mayfair Playfield! The plants, stream organisms, and birds also deserve to have an environment where they can enjoy a picnic too. To address this, a committee should be created and funded to remove the asphalt allowing the stream to meander and to restore the substrate with rocks and wood. This would help create a healthy environment for all to enjoy!

Best,
Emma Mickelson

Dear Pierce County,

The county should remove channelization and pavement on the bottom of creeks in the Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed. These modifications were designed to prevent flooding, but they have many adverse effects. Although it would be a substantial financial investment, it would be a benefit to the watershed and local ecosystems. A stream’s curves provide refuge for wildlife, allowing salmon to potentially return. Pavement on the bottom of streams removes drainage processes, and affects wildlife as well. Restoring this watershed would benefit ecosystems and the community who will be here for years to come.

Thank you,
Nathan Buegler

Restoring riparian zones is essential to the health of urban streams. A healthy riparian zone can help reduce in-stream temperature, provide nutrients and energy, and naturally filter water runoff and pollutants. Although funding salmon restoration programs can provide species-specific care, restoration supporting riparian zones supports local ecosystems and provides habitats for both salmonids and other aquatic organisms. Through small changes like the removal of invasive plant species or creating riparian vegetation planting committees we can see large improvements in water quality, therefore, the health of riparian vegetation should be highly prioritized when considering restoration of the watershed.

Dear Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Council,

In our Environmental Studies 350 lab work, we found that nutrients like phosphates are present in Clover Creek at concentrations near the Washington Department of Ecology’s moderate concern level. These nutrients are often introduced to the watershed through the use of fertilizers. Because they can lead to algal blooms, which disturb both wildlife and recreation, it’s important to inform community members about the impacts of fertilizers. It is my hope that your expertise and dedication to this watershed can help motivate community members to limit the use of these chemicals.

Thank you,
Aminda

Dear Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Council Members,

In 1993, the Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Council successfully repaired the substrate content of a channelized portion of Clover Creek by adding gravel, large stones, woody debris and other organic materials. It would be worthwhile for the council to revisit these efforts for the rest of the channelized portions of the creek as part of their next Action Agenda so we can make our urbanized creek function as naturally as possible.

Best,
Elana

Dear Franklin Pierce School District,

PLU’s Environmental Methods course focuses on the significance of Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed in our community. We would love to share some of that information with local high school students to promote awareness of the environment around us. Environmental education is becoming increasingly important as Climate Change becomes a hot topic in political discussions. The opportunity for high school and college students to converse about their local watershed and more broadly, environmental issues, would be a great learning experience for everyone involved.

Sincerely,
Grayson Peet

Hello Pierce County Homeowners!

The Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed that we live in is in danger. Salmon are dying and streams aren’t healthy enough to support the life that thrives there. In order to help our watershed, we need to build rain gardens. Rain gardens collect rainwater and filter it through plants and soil into the groundwater. This provides healthier and more abundant water sources for organisms. This is your opportunity to have a positive impact on the watershed we all depend on.

Thanks for your help!
Ayana Freeman

Dear Pierce County Officials,

As the clouds and cold go away, the lawn chemicals come out to play. To the general public, they are thought of as a means to an end, rather than a harmful chemical such as alcohol and tobacco. If the lawn chemicals are going to be thought of in this way, implementing disclaimer labels of which lawn chemicals do the most amount of damage may help change public perception and encourage more thoughtful buying, without risking the economic impact of eliminating lawn chemicals all together.

-Aaron Pantoja

Action is needed to bring this beautiful part of campus back to life. 53 years ago PLU students were able to fish right on the underside of Hinderle hall until the creek got rerouted in 1967. The PLU Sustainability Committee needs to take part in funding the rerouting of the creek. This is to ensure future generations get to experience this part of campus life as well as bring back the many diverse ecosystems once inhabiting the area.

-Tanner Hendricks

Dear Pierce County Residence,

During recent Summer seasons recreational activity in Spanaway lake has been halted by toxic algae blooms. To make the lake safe again for summer activities we must ensure that we reduce fertilizer runoff into the watershed by properly applying product, choosing a variety that requires one coating a year, or planting hardy native species in your lawn that don’t require fertilizer. It’s up to our community whether or not we want to make our natural assets available to us!

Dear Dr. Ramos,

Environmental education is essential to the health of a watershed, as it promotes lifelong consciousness of human environmental impacts. As an elementary school student, I learned to be aware of my interactions with my watershed and how to promote clean water in my area through an early environmental studies program. As a reputable university program, PLU’s environmental studies department has the resources and responsibility to promote the health of the Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed. An impactful way to do this would be through establishing a program for Environmental Studies majors to educate Franklin-Pierce School District elementary school students and make them aware of their impacts on the watershed. While the development of this program will take some time and effort, it is essential for the health of the watershed and the education of elementary school and university students that we develop this program.

Sincerely,
Dylan Ruggeri

To CCWC:

I found this photo of Clover Creek in the PLU Archives and was amazed at how calm and serene it looks under this canopy of trees! Planting trees along Clover Creek would be such a great way to restore native vegetation, support riparian ecosystems, and attract salmon back up the creek. It would take a lot of time and effort, but think of how many ways a tree-filled riparian area could improve the health of the creek!

Best,
Gretchen Johnson

Dear Faculty Colleagues,

I worked at PLU for five years before I knew we used to have a creek where salmon spawned. Now, I teach all my students something about the history of our campus. What do you teach them about this place and those who used to live here?

Sincerely,
Kevin