USING AN INDICATOR STUDY TO MONITOR THE HEALTH OF AN URBAN WATERSHED

This study was conducted to monitor the health of the Clover Creek watershed, Washington, USA. Clover Creek is a small, rapidly urbanizing, lowland Puget Sound watershed. We identified indicators of health for the watershed, using stakeholders’ goals as well as environmental and economic sustainability of watershed health as a guide. These indicators allow the community to evaluate its progress toward achieving these goals. We characterized the watershed using available socioeconomic data and chemical, biological and physical data gathered during spring 2003. These data were used to evaluate the current health of the watershed. In addition we used data gathered in past years to characterize changes in watershed health through time. Results indicate that with respect to water quality the watershed is generally healthy. However development, salmon habitat quality and accessibility, and water quantity, continue to cause concerns.