Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
In WA State there is no legal mandate to treat polluted runoff from roadway surfaces on bridges. To-date Ellen Southard/Site Story has led outreach and fund development for 12 green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects at 6 bridges to improve water quality and salmon habitat on the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Contaminated stormwater from the 6 bridges on the canal has been discharged untreated for over 80 years, impacting migrating salmon and subsequently impacting resident orcas that depend on those salmon as a primary food source. The project is the first in the country addressing polluted stormwater off public bridges to be treated on private land. The work has emphasized bio engineering solutions such as rain gardens, bioswales and other green stormwater infrastructure solutions (GSI). To date we have built 3 bioswales and studied others including now on the Duwamish River which is the largest superfund site in the country and its residents having a predicted lifespan 11 years less than other communities in Seattle. Since our start we have heard from multiple NGO's and public agencies including dike districts, tribes, conservation districts and NGO's that want help creating their own projects. Two of the priority water bodies would be the Skagit and Nooksack Rivers which are most critical for the endangered Chinook and Sockeye salmon that make up 92% of the Orca whale diet. This presentation will include concept design for 6 new bridge projects, calculations for treatment potential and reflections on discussions with community stakeholders weighing in on their priorities for place making through green infrastructure. To-date all of the stormwater tested from the bridges shows evidence of 6ppd quinone.
Session Title
Poster Session 1: Applied Research & Climate Change
Conference Track
SSE14: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-posters-319
Start Date
26-4-2022 4:00 PM
End Date
26-4-2022 4:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Salmon--Effect of water quality on--Washington (State)--Seattle; Salmon--Effect of water quality on--Washington (State)--Duwamish River; Water--Pollution--Washington (State)--Seattle; Water--Pollution--Washington (State)--Duwamish River; Canals--Washington (State)--Seattle; Bridges--Washington (State)--Seattle; Bridges--Washington (State)--Duwamish River; Bridge deck runoff--Washington (State)--Seattle; Bridge deck runoff--Washington (State)--Duwamish River; Runoff--Washington (State)--Seattle; Runoff--Washington (State)--Duwamish River; Urban runoff--Management--Washington (State)--Seattle; Urban runoff--Management--Washington (State)--Duwamish River
Geographic Coverage
Lake Washington Ship Canal (Seattle, Wash.); Duwamish River (Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons
Two Waterways One Salish Sea
In WA State there is no legal mandate to treat polluted runoff from roadway surfaces on bridges. To-date Ellen Southard/Site Story has led outreach and fund development for 12 green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects at 6 bridges to improve water quality and salmon habitat on the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Contaminated stormwater from the 6 bridges on the canal has been discharged untreated for over 80 years, impacting migrating salmon and subsequently impacting resident orcas that depend on those salmon as a primary food source. The project is the first in the country addressing polluted stormwater off public bridges to be treated on private land. The work has emphasized bio engineering solutions such as rain gardens, bioswales and other green stormwater infrastructure solutions (GSI). To date we have built 3 bioswales and studied others including now on the Duwamish River which is the largest superfund site in the country and its residents having a predicted lifespan 11 years less than other communities in Seattle. Since our start we have heard from multiple NGO's and public agencies including dike districts, tribes, conservation districts and NGO's that want help creating their own projects. Two of the priority water bodies would be the Skagit and Nooksack Rivers which are most critical for the endangered Chinook and Sockeye salmon that make up 92% of the Orca whale diet. This presentation will include concept design for 6 new bridge projects, calculations for treatment potential and reflections on discussions with community stakeholders weighing in on their priorities for place making through green infrastructure. To-date all of the stormwater tested from the bridges shows evidence of 6ppd quinone.
