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Resident urges Thurston County to preserve Macalester Springs geologically sensitive area, opposes pesticides in capture zone
Summary
A member of the public asked the Board of Health to defend a 1988 geologically sensitive-area protection around Macalester (Galveston) Springs, arguing any pesticide use in the water-capture zone would violate the county policy and risk drinking water.
At the April 8 Thurston County Board of Health meeting, resident Brett Trowbridge urged the board to uphold an existing county protection for the Macalester (also referenced as Galveston) Springs geologically sensitive area and opposed proposals to apply pesticides in the springs’ water-capture zone.
Trowbridge told the board the protection was established in 1988 and—he said—requires larger lot sizes (five acres) for septic systems in the district and prohibits chemical maintenance methods on county property within the capture zone. “If there really are people who wanna put pesticides into our lake…they're in direct violation of the county's 37‑year policy,” Trowbridge said, reading from materials he distributed to the board.
He urged board members and county officials to review the county’s Macalester Springs geologically sensitive area resource protection report and asked why officials would allow pesticide use near the water supply when mechanical removal methods such as harvesters are available.
Board staff did not record a formal response in the meeting transcript beyond acknowledging Trowbridge’s public comment. The transcript shows Trowbridge submitted written materials to the board and asked that members read the report he referenced.
