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Stories for King County

Water Quality stories are grouped according to the Water Quality Program's Five Program Activities.  Some Stories may fall under more than one category, and are referenced accordingly.

1. Prevent Point Source Pollution (excluding water cleanup, stormwater, and financial assistance)
   
    
2. Reduce Nonpoint Source Pollution (excluding water cleanup, stormwater, and financial assistance)
    
   • Cottage Lake: Watershed Education Helps to Protect a Valuable Resource  (also under Control Stormwater Pollution; Provide Financial Assistance; Clean up Polluted Waters)
     Since the early 1970s, King County′s Cottage Lake has experienced algae blooms due to excessive amounts of phosphorus entering the lake. A Cottage Lake Management Plan was created. Data from the plan aided development of the Cottage Lake water quality cleanup plan (formally known as a Total Maximum Daily Load) for phosphorus in 2004, followed by the Cottage Lake Water Quality Implementation Plan in 2007. Once the Cottage Lake Implementation Plan was complete, the Friends of Cottage Lake, a non-profit organization made of of local residents, and King County worked in partnership to develop the Cottage Lake Total Phosphorus Reduction Plan Grant, provided by Ecology′s Centennial Grant Program.
     
3. Control Stormwater Pollution
    
   • City of Issaquah - Rainier Boulevard Street LID Improvement Project
     The Rainier Boulevard Street Improvement Project used low impact development (LID) in a road reconstruction and sidewalk improvement project in Issaquah.  It is one of the largest regional projects to use pervious asphalt on a city arterial street.
   • Cottage Lake: Watershed Education Helps to Protect a Valuable Resource (also under Control Nonpoint Source Pollution; Provide Financial Assistance; Clean up Polluted Waters)
     Since the early 1970s, King County′s Cottage Lake has experienced algae blooms due to excessive amounts of phosphorus entering the lake. A Cottage Lake Management Plan was created. Data from the plan aided development of the Cottage Lake water quality cleanup plan (formally known as a Total Maximum Daily Load) for phosphorus in 2004, followed by the Cottage Lake Water Quality Implementation Plan in 2007. Once the Cottage Lake Implementation Plan was complete, the Friends of Cottage Lake, a non-profit organization made of of local residents, and King County worked in partnership to develop the Cottage Lake Total Phosphorus Reduction Plan Grant, provided by Ecology′s Centennial Grant Program.
   • Low Impact Development Stormwater Grant Program:  King County - Military Road and 272nd Street Intersection Improvement Project
     King County wanted to demonstrate that low impact development (LID) can be cost-effective, in spite of constraints usually encountered in capital projects for arterial roadways. This improvement project, at the intersection of Military Road and 272nd Street in King County, incorporated two LID technologies to meet stormwater management requirements.
   • Low Impact Development Stormwater Grant Program: City of Redmond - Grass Lawn Park Phase III Project
     The city of Redmond undertook the grass Lawn Park Phase III renovation project.  The project incorporated several low impact development (LID) elements as part of the renovation.  The city hopes to reduce stormwater runoff volumes with these improvements.
   • Whither Woodinville Wine Wastes?
     Winery wastes in a Woodinville drainage ditch let to a series of "teachable moments" for the local wineries, and good collaboration between the city, King County, and Ecology.
     
4. Provide Financial Assistance
    
   • Cottage Lake: Watershed Education Helps to Protect a Valuable Resource (also under Reduce Nonpoint Pollution; Control Stormwater Pollution; Clean up Polluted Waters)
     Since the early 1970s, King County′s Cottage Lake has experienced algae blooms due to excessive amounts of phosphorus entering the lake. A Cottage Lake Management Plan was created. Data from the plan aided development of the Cottage Lake water quality cleanup plan (formally known as a Total Maximum Daily Load) for phosphorus in 2004, followed by the Cottage Lake Water Quality Implementation Plan in 2007. Once the Cottage Lake Implementation Plan was complete, the Friends of Cottage Lake, a non-profit organization made of of local residents, and King County worked in partnership to develop the Cottage Lake Total Phosphorus Reduction Plan Grant, provided by Ecology′s Centennial Grant Program.
   • Understanding and Controlling Sea Lettuce in Dumas Bay (also see Other, Water-Quality Related)
     In 2005, residents living along Dumas Bay noticed excessive amounts of sea lettuce and a very strong odor in the air. In 2007, Federal Way began consulting with Ecology about the problem, as well as working with the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources, and Health; Lake Haven Utility District, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and local residents. They developed two separate grants to address sea lettuce in Dumas Bay.
      
5. Cleanup Polluted Waters
    
   • Cottage Lake: Watershed Education Helps to Protect a Valuable Resource (also under Control Nonpoint Source Pollution; Control Stormwater Pollution; Provide Financial Assistance)
     Since the early 1970s, King County′s Cottage Lake has experienced algae blooms due to excessive amounts of phosphorus entering the lake. A Cottage Lake Management Plan was created. Data from the plan aided development of the Cottage Lake water quality cleanup plan (formally known as a Total Maximum Daily Load) for phosphorus in 2004, followed by the Cottage Lake Water Quality Implementation Plan in 2007. Once the Cottage Lake Implementation Plan was complete, the Friends of Cottage Lake, a non-profit organization made of of local residents, and King County worked in partnership to develop the Cottage Lake Total Phosphorus Reduction Plan Grant, provided by Ecology′s Centennial Grant Program.
   • Curiosity Killed the Bacteria
     Ecology's Northwest Region Office staff used inexpensive sampling methods to find a failing septic system, then worked with other governmental agencies to help the owners fix their system.
      
6. Other, Water-Quality Related
    
   • Understanding and Controlling Sea Lettuce in Dumas Bay  (also under Provide Financial Assistance)
     In 2005, residents living along Dumas Bay noticed excessive amounts of sea lettuce and a very strong odor in the air. In 2007, Federal Way began consulting with Ecology about the problem, as well as working with the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources, and Health; Lake Haven Utility District, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and local residents. They developed two separate grants to address sea lettuce in Dumas Bay.
      

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