Lacey water-resources team outlines stormwater, groundwater and multi‑year well projects
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Summary
Water-resources staff briefed the council on stormwater and groundwater systems, described the Chambers Lake regional stormwater facility and a multi-phased Source 6 supplemental-well program, and said deep aquifer testing will continue with a projected long lead time and material capital cost.
City water-resources staff gave a technical briefing at the Dec. 9 work session on Lacey’s water systems, priorities and capital projects, including stormwater controls, groundwater protection and plans to add production capacity.
Vince McGowan, water resources manager, introduced the division’s mission to protect water quality, reduce flooding and deliver drinking water. Staff walked council through the city’s surface-water network—Woodland Creek, Chambers Lake and downstream connections—and noted recent extreme rainfall and seasonal variability.
Doug Christiansen described how impervious surfaces increase runoff and summarized the city’s constructed‑wetland Chambers Lake regional stormwater facility, which protects adjacent lakes and wetlands from polluted runoff. “We get about 50 inches per year and nearly half of that comes during November–January,” Christiansen said, noting the recent heavy rains had stressed the system.
Terry O’Neil reviewed the engineered systems and capital program. Staff described an ongoing multi‑phase supplemental‑well program (Source 6) that includes test wells, property acquisition, a pilot treatment study and a treatment/well house. Staff estimated the Source 6 program could take into reach of $10–12 million and extend into 2030 for start-up of production, with other deep test wells (a TQU well) planned to probe deeper aquifers.
Council members raised culvert upgrades, the late-season flow in Woodland Creek and the need to coordinate work that crosses county and city jurisdictional lines. Staff noted that some culvert work is prioritized by fish-bearing stream status and that other projects require partnering with Thurston County and the Department of Ecology.
Staff also outlined upcoming 2026 items tied to stormwater regulation: a comprehensive plan update, a rate study, a stormwater design manual update and code changes. The presentation closed with a roundup of capital projects and an explanation that the utility collects and invests reserve funds to support long-term infrastructure replacements.
Next steps: staff will proceed with test drilling, pilot treatment studies, ongoing culvert and stormwater capital work and return to council with project timelines and budget needs as design phases advance.
