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Resident warns Stone Creek is running dry; city staff say no flow observed inside College Place
Summary
A longtime College Place resident told the council he saw Stone Creek dry for the first time in decades and urged stronger water-conservation measures; city staff said crews found no surface flow inside city limits and will coordinate with Walla Walla officials to investigate.
Stanley Green, a College Place resident and former planning-commission member, told the City Council on Sept. 2 that last week was "the first time I've ever seen Stone Creek without water flowing on the surface in all the years I've lived here." Green said he has tracked the creek for more than 30 years, submitted photos to the city and urged the council to treat water stewardship as a higher priority.
Green said the aquifers the city depends on are diminishing and recommended conservation measures such as tiered pricing that raises the per-unit cost for usage above a basic allotment to discourage overwatering. "I believe that every household should be able to afford the basic amount of water they need, but the rate you pay for units above the basic amount... should go up in steps the more you use to provide an incentive to conserve," he said.
Mayor Norma L. Hernandez thanked Green and reported that city crews investigated the area after receiving his email and photos. "We did have city staff investigate, and no flow could be identified within city limits," the mayor said, adding that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife observed some flow at Plaza Way in the city of Walla Walla. City staff will coordinate with Walla Walla to investigate potential impediments between Plaza Way and Myra Road; the mayor noted sections of Stone Creek are piped under Crosshaven Drive and Myra Road and that recent development and overgrown wetlands could affect surface flow.
Hernandez also said a climate element is being added to the city's comprehensive-plan update under the Growth Management Act mandate and invited Green to join a forthcoming climate technical advisory group. The mayor framed the invitation as an opportunity for residents with expertise to contribute to planning work.
There was no council vote or formal policy change during the workshop. Staff described the matter as an ongoing investigation and signaled a next procedural step of coordinating with neighboring jurisdiction staff to identify potential obstructions and causes of reduced surface flow.
