County to offer free stormwater pond workshop

There are more than 1,000 privately owned stormwater ponds in Thurston County that are maintained by homeowner associations.

Residents can get tips on how to clean a pond, hire a contractor, and fill out maintenance reports required by local jurisdictions during a free stormwater pond maintenance workshop from 9 a.m.-noon April 16 at Tumwater City Hall, 555 Israel Road SW.

The workshop, sponsored by Thurston County’s Stormwater Utility and the cities of Olympia and Tumwater, is open to all Thurston County residents and homeowner associations.

Well-maintained ponds help prevent flooding, reduce erosion and filter out pollution that can end up in runoff after a storm, said Chris Maun, an education and outreach specialist with the county’s Water Resources Program.

“Neglect will lead to overgrowth,” he told The Olympian. “It’s like car maintenance: If you stay on top of it, you’re going to have less problems in the long run.”

The workshop also will include field trips to view ponds that are well maintained, along with ones that need to be cleaned out, Maun said.

Registration is required. For information, call 360-867-2095 or send an email to linnca@co.thurston.wa.us.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 5:56 PM with the headline "County to offer free stormwater pond workshop."