fecal coliform | Rosemere Neighborhood Association

Rosemere Neighborhood Association Honored with Public Health Community Award

April 24, 2009 Author: admin

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On April 22, 2009, Clark County’s Board of Health (also known as the Clark County Commissioners) presented community awards to various organizations and individuals that have worked toward improving public health and safety. RNA was awarded a certificate of honorable mention as a “Community organization advocating for health promotion, disease prevention, and social justice through water quality advocacy and monitoring and improving neighborhood livability.” A total of ten community awards were given, including medical and dental caregivers, and health educators.

Click here to view the 2008 Public Health Community Award recipients and RNA’s Health Award Certificate in full view (pdf format). [Read More...]

Raw Sewage Discharged to Burnt Bridge Creek for Years – April 11, 2009

April 13, 2009 Author: admin

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ADDED 5/11/09: This story makes headlines across the country! High Country News reports it here: “Heard around the West: Deja Poo”

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On April 8, City inspections of a local stormdrain system that borders Rosemere found a dangerous cross connection with sewage lines. The problem was identified using specialized remote cameras in the stormdrain system. Unfortunately, the cross connection occurs at the Southwest Regional Office of the Washington State Department of Ecology. This means that raw sewage from a large and heavily staffed state office dedicated to environmental protection has literally been discharging to Burnt Bridge Creek for at least a dozen years.

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State Studies Water Quality Failures on Burnt Bridge Creek – March 11, 2009

April 6, 2009 Author: admin

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On March 11, 2009, The Washington State Department of Ecology convened the technical advisory committee for the Total Maximum Daily Load study currently underway for Burnt Bridge Creek. This creek begins as a spring in East Vancouver, and flows 13 miles westward into Vancouver Lake. Monitoring stations have been established at various locations along the stream path. The study includes tributaries — Cold Creek, Petersen Channel and Burton Channel. Burnt Bridge Creek suffers from failures of various water quality standards, and the purpose of this study is to determine how to remedy the problems and improve water quality. [Read More...]

FISH IN VANCOUVER LAKE ARE CONTAMINATED AND UNSAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION – November 1, 2004

April 2, 2009 Author: admin

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Largemouth Bass

Anglers frequent fishing spots along the Columbia River and Vancouver Lake, and have done so for many years. However, Toxic Monitoring Data from the Washington State Department of Ecology indicates that fish in Vancouver Lake are not safe to eat. This is particularly dangerous for low-income folks who fish in this area out of necessity. [Read More...]

SWIMMING MAY BE DANGEROUS IN LOCAL WATERS – July 14, 2004

April 2, 2009 Author: admin

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According to an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Study finds pollution in coast rivers, hot spots have fecal bacteria that pose a danger to swimmers” (5 Jan 2001), this statement was reported in bold: “Fecal coliform, for instance, can cause hepatitis A, bacterial meningitis and encephalitis.” Fecal coliform is present in dangerous levels in many of the public swimming areas in our local lakes and rivers, meaning that these waterbodies are unsafe for human contact when fecal coliform levels are on the rise. [Read More...]

RNA Advocates for Burnt Bridge Creek Water Quality Improvements – April 23, 2004

March 29, 2009 Author: admin

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The RNA met with Clark County Health Department officials in March to discuss how failing septic systems are contributing to the pollution of Burnt Bridge Creek (which feeds into Vancouver Lake). There are several homes in Rosemere that do not have access to City Sewer Service. Neighbors approached the RNA in 2001 to ask how they could get sewer service where there are no sewer mains. There are cesspools and aging sewer systems in Rosemere (and throughout Vancouver) that are not being properly maintained or inspected. Water quality tests indicate that effluent from failed septic tanks is polluting the creek and is also creating a public health risk. [Read More...]

BEACHES AT RISK – TRACKING DOWN THE CONTAMINATION From KATU News, December 17, 2003

March 24, 2009 Author: admin

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From KATU News, December 17, 2003

COOS BAY – This week, two of the state’s most beautiful sandy stretches near Coos Bay continue under a nearly month long “Health Advisory” from the Office of Public Health.

People who go in the water at Sunset Bay State Park or Bastendorff Beach are at risk from contamination that may make them sick.

Surfers like Dan Marshal and Carmen Conn have experienced that risk first hand. They each became sick after surfing near Sunset Bay. According to Marshal, the symptoms were immediate and striking: [Read More...]

Rosemere Neighborhood Association Water Walk – December 7, 2003

March 24, 2009 Author: admin

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RNA Board Members, Rosemere residents, and concerned environmental activists gather in the rain to hear Thom McConathy explain the terrain and our community's failing stormwater and groundwater facilities.

On December 7, 2003, the RNA Board, accompanied by environmental activists, toured the Burnt Bridge Creek Basin and Vancouver Lake to learn more about the contamination of our waterways. This tour was lead by Thom McConathy, a very active community steward who has passionately fought to save our ground and surface waterbodies for more than 20 years. Mr. McConathy is among our community’s most knowledgeable experts on the subjects of water quality and contamination, and he has been instrumental in helping the RNA address the contamination of Burnt Bridge Creek and Vancouver Lake, as discussed in the RNA’s federal Title 6 complaint.

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CONTAMINATION OF BURNT BRIDGE CREEK AND VANCOUVER LAKE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS

March 24, 2009 Author: admin

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The Rosemere Neighborhood Association acquired a number of official reports from Clark County Health Department that pertain specifically to Burnt Bridge Creek. Within one report it states that the city cannot enforce actions to eliminate septic systems unless the Health Department declares a health emergency. This cannot happen until a current water quality test is performed to quantify the allegation that the creek is contaminated with human waste from septic systems, and that the contamination is 25 times the state warning levels. [Read More...]

RNA UNCOVERS MISSING TEST RESULTS FOR CONTAMINATION OF BURNT BRIDGE CREEK DUE TO FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS – 2003

March 24, 2009 Author: admin

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The Rosemere Neighborhood Association, through a Freedom of Information Act request, has obtained a copy of a test called “Burnt Bridge Creek Microbial Source Tracking; Identification of Sources of Microbial Pollution in Burnt Bridge Creek Watershed,” dated October 1999. The RNA obtained a copy of this report through the Freedom of Information Act.

TO SEE THE FULL REPORT CLICK HERE: Burnt Bridge Creek Microbial Source Tracking – October 1999

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