Tumwater Water Resources & Sustainability Department 

Welcome to the summer edition of One Water, where we bring together insights on stormwater management, wastewater, conservation, stewardship, and future planning. As the seasons change, so do the challenges and opportunities for our water systems. Dive in to discover how we can all play a part in protecting and preserving our most vital resource—water.

WRS has new talent! Meet Urban Forester Brian Caughlan

We’re excited to have added a new member to the Water Resources and Sustainability Team! Meet Brian Caughlan, an ISA Certified Arborist. Brian will lead management of the Tumwater urban and community forest, consistent with the Tumwater Urban Forestry Management Plan. His role includes tree-related permit/development review and inspection; planning and overseeing tree planting and maintenance on city-owned property; assessing tree health and risk on city-owned property; developing citywide urban forestry policies; and engaging with the community to promote environmental stewardship and the benefits of urban trees. Brian will play a key role in enhancing urban livability, mitigating climate impacts, and preserving biodiversity throughout the City of Tumwater. 

“I am very excited to be joining The City of Tumwater and building an Urban Forestry Program," Brian said. "I look forward to learning more about Tumwater and what challenges and opportunities we may be facing together.” 

Brian is shown above in a photo with his daughter. 

Discover Deschutes Valley Park

Come explore Deschutes Valley Park, a community treasure born from the city’s 1996 purchase of the Tumwater Valley Golf Course. Designed with adventure and relaxation in mind, this park offers a fun children’s play area, convenient restrooms, parking, educational interpretive spaces, and a scenic overlook atop the unique reclaimed water tank. Stroll the trails, take in sweeping views of the Tumwater Valley, and learn how innovative water reuse is helping keep our golf course green.

Thanks to a Tumwater Parks & Recreation project in partnership with LOTT Clean Water Alliance, reclaimed water now irrigates the course, supporting a healthier environment while conserving valuable drinking water. Visit Deschutes Valley Park today to experience a beautiful blend of recreation, sustainability, and community pride! 

Deschutes Valley Park

The 2024 Water Quality Report is now available

Ever wonder where your water comes from and just how clean it really is? Good news: the City of Tumwater’s 2024 Water Quality Report has the answers. Whether you're filling a glass, watering your garden, or running through a summer sprinkler, you can feel confident knowing your water is of high quality.

This year’s report is packed with easy-to-read info, important test results, and information about the behind-the-scenes work that keeps our water flowing clean and safe. Dive in and see how we’re working every day to protect your health and our environment and learn a few fun facts along the way. Read the latest Water Quality Report. 

Help the city find out more about our water quality by volunteering for our lead and copper testing

The city is seeking volunteers to collect drinking water samples from their kitchen or bathroom tap. Volunteers preferably have homes built between 1983 and 1987. Sampling will occur during July and August of 2025. Sign up for lead and copper testing online or call 360-754-4140 or email WaterResources@ci.tumwater.wa.us.

Why is testing for lead and copper in drinking water important? 

To get water from the ground and into consumers’ homes, pipes are needed to move it along. A variety of materials have been used historically throughout the world, including wood, cement, clay, plastic, and a variety of metals. Unfortunately, some materials leach chemicals into water that aren’t good for us, like lead and copper. Both lead and copper, in certain quantities, can have negative health effects. Therefore, water systems monitor water quality for lead and copper to make sure it is safe to drink.

Every three years, the City of Tumwater is required to collect water samples from customers’ water taps for lead and copper testing by the Washington Department of Health. If you want to help out, sign up and get your water tested and find out the water quality in your own home.

Energize Thurston

Energize Thurston has been a huge success. Thanks to the Climate Commitment Act grant funding, we were able to install more than $400,000 worth of all-electric heat pump equipment in 27 low-and moderate-income Tumwater households. Stay tuned for this program to open again next year, pending grant funding.

Energize Thurston is a program of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative – a partnership between the cities of Tumwater, Olympia, Lacey and Thurston County. Learn more at www.energizethurston.org.

Where streets drain

Every drop that flows into our storm drains eventually reaches the South Puget Sound, carrying with it anything left on our streets. Unlike wastewater from homes, stormwater is not treated, meaning pollutants like oil, chemicals, and debris go straight into our waterways, harming fish, wildlife, and the overall health of our environment.

We can all help protect the South Puget Sound and contribute to a cleaner, healthier region by ensuring that only rain goes down the drain. If you see a spill or anything unusual entering a storm drain, please report it immediately to help prevent pollution and protect our shared waters.

Help keep our community safe — report spills immediately!

If you see any oil, chemical, or hazardous material spills on streets, sidewalks, parks, or waterways, take action right away. Reporting spills quickly helps prevent environmental damage and protects public health.

📞 Call City of Tumwater Spill Hotline: 360-754-4150
🌐 Report online at City of Tumwater – Report a Public Works Problem

Please include:

• Location of the spill
• Type of material (if known)
• Approximate size or volume of spilled material 
• Any immediate dangers

Your quick report makes a big difference! Together, we can keep our community clean, safe, and healthy for everyone.

Only stormwater down the drain

Everyday activities like washing cars in the driveway, using fertilizers, or letting pet waste linger can all contribute to pollution when rainwater carries these materials into our storm drains and directly into the South Puget Sound. Since stormwater is not treated, it’s up to all of us to protect our environment by making small but important choices. Wash vehicles at commercial car washes that treat and recycle water, sweep driveways instead of hosing them off, properly dispose of unused household chemicals, and pick up after pets. By being mindful of our daily habits, we can each play a vital role in ensuring that only clean stormwater flows into our drains, helping to keep our neighborhoods, waterways, and wildlife healthy.

Keep your stormwater system working for you

Did you know that all stormwater facilities need yearly maintenance? For private systems, like those in neighborhoods, businesses, HOAs, and other organizations, it's up to the property owner to take care of them. 

The City of Tumwater requires all facility owners to complete an annual maintenance report. This helps ensure your system stays in good working order and can even help prevent costly repairs down the road.

Let’s work together to keep our water clean and our communities safe. submit your maintenance report today!

Need some assistance? 

Set up a free site visit with our stormwater inspector by emailing WaterResources@ci.tumwater.wa.us or call 360-754-4140.
Fill out your inspection form by August 31 by visiting our stormwater programs website.

Natural yard care meets habitat at home

The environmental benefits of natural yard care and habitat at home:

As urbanization continues to spread, the role of individual homeowners in environmental conservation has never been more critical. Two increasingly popular approaches: natural yard care and creating habitat at home. Both offer tangible benefits for the environment, especially in reducing stormwater pollution, promoting biodiversity, conserving water, and enhancing habitat connectivity.

Traditional lawns often rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which can wash into storm drains during rainfall and end up polluting rivers, lakes, and oceans. Natural yard care emphasizes organic methods, healthy soil practices, and native plantings that reduce runoff and filter pollutants before they reach waterways. By allowing rain to soak into the ground naturally, these yards act like mini rain gardens that protect aquatic ecosystems.

Replacing lawns with diverse native plantings transforms backyards into thriving habitats for birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. These species rely on specific plants for food and reproduction. Natural yards increase urban biodiversity and help support populations of beneficial insects and wildlife.

Native and drought tolerant plants are adapted to our local climate and require far less water than traditional turf grass. This reduces the need for irrigation and eases pressure on municipal water supplies.

Urban development and suburban sprawl has separated natural habitats, isolating wildlife populations. By converting lawns into ecologically rich spaces, homeowners create critical stepping stones or “wildlife corridors” that connect larger natural areas. This network allows animals to move safely through developed areas, find mates, and adapt to changing environmental conditions.

In summary, natural yard care and creating natural habitat at home are more than gardening trends, they are meaningful conservation tools. If you decide to adopt these practices, we can transform outdoor spaces into functional, beautiful ecosystems that support clean water, rich biodiversity, efficient resource use, and resilient natural connections. One yard at a time can make all the difference.

Habitat at Home workshop coming August 2nd, Hosted by Tumwater Stream Team in partnership with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Spots are limited so make sure to sign up at www.StreamTeam.info. 

Tumwater Stream Team

Restoration at the Sapp Road property - the plan, the future, and why you should participate

The Sapp Road property is one of those places within the city that seems miles apart from the everyday hustle we all experience. This small 12-acre property - a future park, plays a significant role in the overall health of Percival Creek. Because the headwaters are Trosper Lake and a large wetland, sediments drop out of the slow-moving water, allowing Percival Creek to start with clean and clear water. As the banks steepen, the flow speeds up. In a stream system, this increase in velocity means more stream cobbles are exposed, making for healthy living conditions for stream bugs and fish. Percival Creek currently serves as habitat for juvenile salmon, feeding on the bugs within this system. Despite the area's serene setting, the creek needs a lot of habitat restoration to return it to a fully functioning system that not only hosts juvenile salmon but invites returning salmon back to spawn in its riffles.

Restoration work at the Sapp Road property addresses many issues, such as biodiversity, and improves instream conditions throughout the year. The project is currently under restoration through the efforts of Tumwater Stream Team Second Saturday Restoration Events that take place nine months of the year (Feb-Oct). In addition to Stream Team efforts, the Tumwater School District Natural Science Programs have partnered with the city to allow students to learn about stream ecology, water quality, habitat management. Students have participated in many of the restoration activities over the past three years, further advancing the efforts on site and in the classroom. If you are interested in joining the effort, meeting with dedicated volunteers, and learning about the wonders that await for this project, we encourage you to register on the Stream Team website. We look forward to seeing you there.

What do you know about Salmon?

Becoming a salmon steward through Stream Team offers a unique and rewarding opportunity to connect with the natural world around us while educating the public about one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic species - salmon.

As a salmon steward, you'll serve at key locations like Tumwater Falls, the 5th Avenue Dam, and McLane Creek. Volunteers are needed during the late summer through fall and into winter peak times for salmon migration. You'll help visitors witness the awe-inspiring return of salmon as they complete their epic journey from ocean to freshwater, spawn, and prepare the next generation for the cycle to begin again. Through your service, you'll share knowledge, inspire conservation, and deepen community appreciation for these vital fish and the ecosystems that support them.

To become a salmon steward, sign up for the free online training, accessible at the Stream Team website.

Dog Days

Join us for Dog Days on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Pioneer Park in Tumwater - a joyful celebration of our canine companions and the community that cherishes them. Hosted by the City of Tumwater Parks & Recreation Department, this free, family-friendly event features engaging activities like dog-owner look-a-like and costume contests, K9 demonstrations, and the TwinStar Trails 'n' Tails Loop walk, complete with treat stops for your furry friends.

Beyond the fun, Dog Days serves as an educational platform to promote environmental stewardship. Community booths, including Tumwater Water Resources & Sustainability and Stream Team, will provide valuable information on stormwater pollution prevention. A key focus is the importance of picking up pet waste, as it can carry harmful bacteria into local waterways, impacting water quality and aquatic life. 

By participating in Dog Days, you're not only celebrating the bond with your pet but also contributing to the health of our environment. Remember to always scoop the poop, bag it, and dispose of it properly to help keep our community clean and our waterways safe.

For more details, visit the City of Tumwater's Dog Days event page.