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Photo by Claire Todd Dear Franklin Pierce School District, PLU’s Environmental Methods course focuses on the significance of Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed in our community. We would love to share some of that information with local high school students to promote awareness of the environment around us. Environmental education is becoming increasingly important as Climate Change becomes a hot topic in political discussions. The opportunity for high school and college students to converse about

STORY & CONTRIBUTORS Over the years, many individuals and organizations have contributed to the scientific research and conservation efforts of Clover Creek Watershed. However, with so many different contributors, it can be difficult to find one collective place for all the research that has been done. As a result, compiling a comprehensive list of contributors has been an ongoing effort. Over the past 25 years, Clover Creek has been the focus of ongoing scientific research and conservation

Dear Residents and Landowners of Clover Creek Watershed Everyone in the community has the power to make Clover Creek a healthier watershed. During our experience at Clover Creek, it has been impossible for anyone to ignore the overwhelming amount of trash in and around the stream. This pollutes the environment, resulting in an unhealthy habitat for all of the organisms within the ecosystem. As a community, we need to ensure that we are disposing of our trash properly, and genuinely caring for

Surface Geology Relationship in the Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed  Danielle Skibiel This research regarding recent water quality analysis collection in collaboration with present surface geologic data was inspired by observations made while doing field work for the Environmental Methods 350 course at Pacific Lutheran. This project is derived from an interest in connecting those surface water qualities to surface geologic units, properties, and aquifers present within our Chambers-Clover Creek

inviting creek that encouraged kayaking, fishing, and playing has beco,e a lazy stream in many parts of Parkland. Thankfully, there are still areas, such as the Mayfair Playfield, where the creek is full and flowing. Unfortunately, even here, the creek shows signs of poor maintenance as two picnic tables sit awkwardly among the rocks and fallen branches in the water. Clover Creek stretches roughly seventy-one square miles and is owned by the Chambers-Clover Watershed Council. The watershed has been

Pacific Lutheran University’s first offered a semester-long study of the Clover Creek Watershed through Environment 350: Environmental Research Methods in 1992. 

human and nonhuman. PLU sits on the traditional lands of the Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin Island, and Steilacoom peoples, and while Indigenous tribes are all different from one another, many share similar concepts of balance and reciprocity with the Earth. Because of this, harm to the watershed directly impacts the Indigenous peoples who still live here. They live in community with the Earth, and this is an important balance from which I think we all can learn a beneficial lesson. The Euro-American

On the other hand, the Chambers-Clover Creek watershed still faced high volumes of pollution and degradation. Featured in the Parkland Ruralite were ways to help maintain healthy streams. 

PLU still offers Environment 350 to Environmental Studies students. Throughout the course, students and faculty spend the semester researching different sites in the watershed through multiple disciplines: Ecology, Chemistry, Geology, English, Indigenous Studies, and more.

and Taylor Lunka 2013-2014Student Projects Emily Bishop, Echoing Thresholds: Poetry and Culture in the UK Shannon Burlingame, Researching APPO Protests of 2006 Seanna Hewitt, Analysis of Water-Related Issues in the Rio Verde-Atoyac Watershed of Oaxaca Saiyare Refaei, Research on the Role of NAFTA on Oaxacan Artist Collectives for Social Justice Karina Sandoval, Researching the Role that Social Development Organizations have on Mixteco-speaking Children Faculty Projects Bradford Andrews, Studying