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Resident urges monitoring as water projects could threaten Oregon spotted frog habitat
Summary
A resident urged Tumwater staff to monitor a private property at 6138 Kersop Road, warning that impervious surfaces, new stormwater ponds and a proposal to pump water from nearby brewery wells could disrupt the water table and make habitat management for the Oregon spotted frog more difficult.
During public comment on May 5, resident Bonnie Blessing raised alarms about potential impacts from nearby development and water‑supply projects on habitat for the Oregon spotted frog on private land at 6138 Kersop Road.
Blessing told council she and the landowner are managing rare‑species habitat that requires narrow water‑table fluctuations and described several proposals that worry them: new impervious surface, new stormwater ponds and a proposal she said could pump large volumes from brewery wells. In the transcript she referenced "as much as 7,000 acre feet" and also said "43 gallons per minute," and noted an old geologic report indicating the property may be hydrologically connected to nearby wells and Trosper Lake.
She asked the city for "massive amounts of monitoring," and council directed Assistant Administrator Kelly Adams and Administrator Simmons to exchange contact information with Blessing to follow up. City staff agreed to connect Blessing with the appropriate staff representatives.
Why it matters: The Oregon spotted frog is a listed species in parts of the region, and changes in groundwater or surface‑water management can affect habitat suitability. Public comment places the concern on the city’s radar for staff follow‑up and potential coordination with county and state agencies.
What’s next: Council asked staff to follow up; staff and the resident exchanged contact information in the lobby after the meeting for further discussion and potential monitoring coordination.
