Derek Faust, vice chair of the Chambers Clover Creek Watershed Council and an environmental sciences instructor at Clover Park Technical College, presented the council's annual shoreline restoration report to the Planning Commission and outlined water-quality and quantity concerns across the watershed.

Faust told commissioners the council's mission is "to promote the protection, and enhancement of the Chambers Clover Creek Watershed," and that the council convenes agencies, citizens and non‑profits to coordinate restoration and monitoring work. He said the council values information-sharing and volunteer stewardship; the city contributes $10,000 annually to the council's small-grants program, Faust said.

Presentation highlights and concerns included:
- Toxic algae monitoring: regular monitoring support ended in 2018; several lakes historically experienced annual or near-annual algal blooms that can produce toxins. Faust said recent tests "didn't find any toxins" in one lake sample last year but that algal growth remained visible.
- PFAS: the Lakewood Water District has detected PFAS in 13 of its 21 wells; federal funds have been used to drill deeper wells and install treatment, but groundwater contamination persists.
- Emerging contaminants: Faust highlighted 6PPD-quinone (a tire-wear product) as a new stormwater contaminant of concern that affects salmon and trout and is under active study for treatment strategies.
- Low flows and groundwater recharge: Faust and the Watershed Council emphasized that Clover Creek frequently runs dry for much of the year; the creek and lakes are strongly connected to groundwater levels and regional precipitation.

The council described local restoration activity: volunteer planting and invasive-species removal at sites including the college's 80-acre outdoor lab (10,000 square feet restored, 60+ trees planted last year), work with Pierce Conservation District at Wauchau Lake in Fort Steilacoom Park, and blackberry removal and wetland restoration at Edgewater Park and Springbrook Park.

Faust offered recommendations for city action and interjurisdictional collaboration: continue funding the small-grants program; use the new USGS groundwater/streamflow model in collaborative planning with Pierce County and Lakewood Water District; increase staff attendance at watershed council meetings; prioritize infiltration and filtration retrofits; revise critical-areas buffers where appropriate; expand toxic-algae monitoring by Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department; and form a joint city-community advisory board for Wauchau Lake to develop long-term goals and management plans.

Faust concluded: "We are not anti development. We just want to encourage smart development and scientifically supported management practices of our water bodies." Commissioners thanked Faust and several expressed support for a community advisory group and increased cross-jurisdictional collaboration.

Why it matters: The watershed's health affects water supply, recreation and aquatic habitat across Lakewood. PFAS and other contaminants complicate treatment and groundwater management, while low groundwater and precipitation trends affect stream flows and lake levels.

What happens next: The council asked for continued city participation, suggested staff attendance at monthly council meetings when Lakewood-related agenda items appear, and proposed the advisory group for Wauchau Lake; staff and commissioners indicated support for further collaboration and for escalating items to Council where appropriate.