Water Quality
We all live downstream
-David Suzuki
The Cutthroats of Carpenter Creek was formed in 1998 as a program of Stillwaters Environmental Education Center. In 2002, they began monitoring Carpenter Creek's water quality and flow.
In August 2004, a water quality monitoring plan was written for the estuary. The goal is to restore ecosystem processes in the Carpenter Creek Estuary/Apple Tree Cove. Data collected in the estuary monitoring program adheres to the marine water monitoring standards of the Department of Ecology. Data is also used to educate the public about the importance of water resources and the health of Puget Sound.
In 2011, the Stillwaters Fish Passage was completed. This was the replacement of a 12 foot culvert under South Kingston Rd to a 70' bridge. This improvement allows greater tidal influence and sediment movement which in turn creates a healthier ecosystem for everyone from invertebrates to humans. Stillwaters has been charged with monitoring the various changes happening in the estuary. It is exciting work!
The volunteers collect information on Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, pH, Fecal Coliform and Salinity. There is also benthic survey work and analysis. As with any scientific endeavor, protocols must be strictly adhered to; these include time, tide and the order in which the tests are done.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our volunteers and staff, we have collected 20 years of stream water quality and flow data, and 15 years of estuary water quality data. This long-term dataset is extremely valuable for understanding our watershed and how it is changing.
In August 2004, a water quality monitoring plan was written for the estuary. The goal is to restore ecosystem processes in the Carpenter Creek Estuary/Apple Tree Cove. Data collected in the estuary monitoring program adheres to the marine water monitoring standards of the Department of Ecology. Data is also used to educate the public about the importance of water resources and the health of Puget Sound.
In 2011, the Stillwaters Fish Passage was completed. This was the replacement of a 12 foot culvert under South Kingston Rd to a 70' bridge. This improvement allows greater tidal influence and sediment movement which in turn creates a healthier ecosystem for everyone from invertebrates to humans. Stillwaters has been charged with monitoring the various changes happening in the estuary. It is exciting work!
The volunteers collect information on Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, pH, Fecal Coliform and Salinity. There is also benthic survey work and analysis. As with any scientific endeavor, protocols must be strictly adhered to; these include time, tide and the order in which the tests are done.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our volunteers and staff, we have collected 20 years of stream water quality and flow data, and 15 years of estuary water quality data. This long-term dataset is extremely valuable for understanding our watershed and how it is changing.
