Cooper Pt. and Blacklake Dr.

"Clogged storm drains, poor engineering design of the stormwater basins (i.e. Yauger), and way too much pavement in the area. It won’t be the last time, and it will probably get worse in the future…

They need a pump station to move the water out, if they don’t have one now. Now that most of West Olympia is paved, letting stormwater seep into the ground won’t cut it anymore."

Absolutely correct!

Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 9:10pm.

Even with a lift station, they'd have to have someplace to send the water. The closest thing I can think of is the canal running out of Black Lake and I'd bet there would be too much water for that, also.

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.....or 12

Photo on the move

Submitted by Sarah on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 5:44pm.

oh my gooooodness!

New thought

Submitted by Nicki on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 9:51pm.

Geez! Thank goodness they aren't thinking of putting the new City Hall up on the west side...might get flooded! I guess we are really better off with one downtown after all! At least if worse comes to worse and the sea level actually does rise too high, they can engineer some dikes like in Holland. Why not? They have lived below sea level for hundreds of years and they all get a long just fine. I'm sure they could get some govt. relief for that, or just raise taxes, that should do it.

Yeah! Just like New Orleans!

Submitted by Rob Richards on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 10:05pm.

Unlike Holland, we're not very good at living below sea level. I think we should plan around the water. If you fight the ocean, you'll drown.

Maybe in Holland they are just better engineers?

Submitted by Nicki on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 8:18am.

I've never been to New Orlean's but Holland has it figured out with an elborate and intricate system of berms and water barriers, which seldom fail. But they are a very determined people. It doesn't make for very good for vistas, but it sure has been keeping the water out almost 100 years. They have a saying that says "God created the world, but the Dutch created Holland". Granted it is a much smaller area, but it's doable if we wanted to put energy into such a project. Is the alternative to abandon all low lying buildings and take downtown Olympia to the west side? Would the Capitol be at shoreline? Interesting thought.

Actually

Submitted by Rob Richards on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 11:03am.

The "new" shoreline would simply be the original shoreline. Much of downtown and all of the port property were person-made by bringing in fill. We then built on tip of it, with a nice shiny new waterline. When sea level rise happens (and it will Doug Mah), the water is going to rise back to it's original place.

If you can imagine what the port peninsula looks like then just scoot it inland. The very tip of the new peninsula would be the Washington Center for Performing Arts (much cooler waterfront than we have now, don't you think?). Or check out this fun map.

To be fair,

Submitted by Guglielmo on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 11:52am.

I think your map is based on sea levels considerably higher than predicted. Isn't this probably more like it?

i don't see a difference

Submitted by Rob Richards on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 11:54am.

The maps look the same to me.

The map I posted allows you to select different levels. I picked 7m because that's what we get next year when Greenland slides into the ocean.

Aren't the projection for the south Sound

Submitted by Guglielmo on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 12:04pm.

something like 2.5 feet? There's definately a difference in the 1 meter and 7 meter maps. But even a one meter rise will put a lot of things out of commission. Why do you hate Greenland?

I hate Antarctica equally.

Submitted by Rob Richards on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 1:53pm.

I just think Greenland is closer to falling in the water than Antarctica.

modern landscape is pretty useless

Submitted by chad360 on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 11:26pm.

--just goes to show how little humans think they know about reality.

Humans and other animal life need the sheltering forests >period<

...and to live in the NW without respecting nature, the weather, and the forest is just plain foolish.

--I could use stronger terms to convey my feelings, by that would be rude--

But I so rejoice to see nature throw modern life a monkey-wrench! I don't live in a flood plain and that is a choice I make! >wake up< clear-cut & pay the price.

I swear most folks are short-sighted; don't they realize what is worthwhile vs. BS said/done to make a quick $$$?

I am no guru(just a guy from Puyullup that was lucky enough to be born in the US in 1970), and if most of this stuff makes sense to me, why don't others "get it"?

Anyways, when I was little I used to play in creeks & puddles all the time, so I was out splashing around in the rain; I love the rainfall! bring it on!

Great pics on the 'blog-

Re: solution

Submitted by chad360 on Tue, 12/04/2007 - 9:10pm.

if you could divert storm water (not sewage) to the Black Lake Ditch it would be a start...that or pump it up over the hill to Grass Lake to discharge Mud Bay side, but getting runoff that is not saturated with feces is the key--

In any case the boondoggle know as LOTT is not "technically excellent" my any means, and I really begrudge the money I spend on Storm Water & LOTT.

Everything used to drain to Black Lake and then discharge to Mud Bay or tidal area that is now "FLOD" (Capital Lake; Fetid Lake of Doom).

I hope the Puget Sound Partnership targets the Capital Lake Estuary Restoration project as a "critical item" to remediate--

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