— by Gulliver Rankin —

If you have concerns about the quality of our drinking water and streams, property damage from flooding events or development regulations dealing with stormwater, I want to encourage you to attend the September 16th Public Works Open House at the Eastsound Fire Hall. From 11-1 and again from 4-6, the County Stormwater Utility and Herrera Consultants will be answering questions and gathering input to help develop the Phase 2 Basin Planning Document. This is where our voices can shape the projects we will need to pay for.

Stormwater has two components: content (sediment and pollutants); and volume. The Utility has a Pilot Stormwater Monitoring Plan and just completed its second year of testing. As we would expect our water quality is relatively clean. (To see the report, click HERE.)

The new wetland behind the Village Green treats pollutants from some streets in the Village to protect water quality in Fishing Bay. It is being tested to measure its effectiveness and is designed to take twice the water it currently receives. It was only able to be constructed because 80% of the cost came from grants.

What we have all witnessed is the problem with volume, or flow control. The 2005 Long Range Drainage Plan for Eastsound is our adopted plan for conventionally collecting and piping all stormwater into the sea. Created to comply with Growth Management Act requirements for UGA compliance, it was estimated to cost $6 million to install. This is a chance to update the plan and identify opportunities for low cost, low impact solutions.

Street side rain gardens, set to be installed along Alder, Spruce, and Hemlock this fall, are examples of Low Impact Design treatment and flow control used to offset the stormwater created by chip sealing these streets. The new pervious concrete sidewalks along Mt Baker Rd are another example.

The Basin Plan Phase 1 ( Executive summary and plan) characterizes the county watersheds and gives broad suggestions on how to begin addressing our stormwater.

For our rural roads, wider and shallower grassy ditches are recommended to better capture sediment and aid infiltration. I am asking for a design alternative to create a pervious concrete shoulder/bike lane, where appropriate, to accomplish the same and make the roads safer.

Basin Plan Phase 2, being written with input from this meeting, will identify 20 projects county-wide and bring five to 80% design. Five priority basins, which includes Eastsound, will benefit from these plans but funding for any project is currently nonexistent.

What kind of project does the Village need? I am asking that the sidewalks on Prune Alley and Madrona St. be designed with pervious concrete and pocket rain gardens.

The Eastsound Swale is recommended for study to see if additional stormwater may be treated using what remains of this natural system. I believe that capacity, if quantified, should be used to offset projects with community benefits (additional parking, community structures). This study will need broad public and property owner support.

The need for a municipal approach and investment in our stormwater system is past due. Development is being hamstrung by the lack of infrastructure, requiring on-site solutions not appropriate where we agreed to concentrate commerce. I want the necessary storm drains installed to make the existing system work.

I will be attending this meeting to document your opinion; please come.

Gulliver Rankin is Chair, Citizen Stormwater Advisory Committee, and Eastsound Planning and Review Committee Stormwater Liaison

**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**