Water Quality

 

In 1995, Scott and Barbara Reisman started monitoring the water quality in Puget Creek near the foot-bridge, across the stream at the entrance to Puget Gardens. The Pierce County Stream Team used Hach test kits that tested for Ph, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, temperature, and phosphate. Also conducted were tests for flow data, macro-invertebrate counts, and stream walks.

 

In 2003, PCRS started using a water quality meter and probes to conduct these surveys. This newer method, which is far more accurate and less troublesome, tests for Ph, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and conductivity.

 

PCRS also monitors the water quality in Mason, Dry, Garfield, and Buckley Creeks, using six monitoring sites in each creek. We use separate sites for monitoring in order to document the water quality near different pollutant sources, outfalls, etc., which enables us to locate and alleviate potential pollution problems.

 

Other institutions that PCRS has worked with over the years collecting water quality data and fecal coliform counts from Puget Creek include: University of Puget Sound, Pacific Lutheran University, Univeristy of Washington-Tacoma, Clover Park Technical College, City of Tacoma, and others.

 

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