The Covington Master Drainage Plan

Fenske, Franchot L.; ,

The Covington Master Drainage Plan

by Franchot L. Fenske, R. W. Beck and Associates, Seattle, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Management of Irrigation and Drainage Systems: Integrated Perspectives

Abstract:

Located in the southeastern portion of King County, Washington, the 1,240-acre Covington area had been identified in 1985 as an 'urban activity center,' a place designated for regional concentration of residential and commercial growth. Situated in the Soos Creek Basin, this area straddles the environmentally sensitive gateway to the Little Soos Creek and Jenkins Creek watersheds (see Figure 1). Faced with serious environmental threats as a result of burgeoning urban development, the King County Council took a proactive approach toward protecting the region's critical natural resources before irrevocable damage occurred. Important area resources include the two creeks, both of which have excellent water quality and are used for the spawning and rearing of coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout. In addition, the area contains more than 130 acres of wetlands (illustrated in Figure 1) as well as two groundwater aquifers that are separated by relatively impermeable soil. The lower aquifer is used as a primary water source for a nearby municipality.

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