Al Schmauder is the Water Steward for Chambers and Clover Creek Watershed. For over 25 years he has organized work parties to keep the fish ladders open. This year he also maintained the signs at the Chambers Dam and other places along the creek to educate visitors about the effort to keep salmon runs returning.
After decades of negotiations Schmauder succeeded in opening the fish ladders to the return of a natural run of Chinook Salmon. Here’s Schmauder’s report on the health of the watershed and an the threat of PFAS contamination in some private wells in Lakewood
Read more here about opening the fish ladders for salmon here`
Volunteers repaired the fish ladder at Chambers dam on 17 Aug. A big leak in the metal wall needed to be plugged. see photos. A new sign was installed to inform visitors about the Chinook salmon which will be returning each year to live in Chambers Creek.
A second information sign will be installed at Kobayashi Park near the bridge over Chambers Creek to explain the life of the Chinook salmon that are swimming up the creek to spawn.
Regarding Water Steward activities:
Dept of Ecology data shows there are several hundred wells in Lakewood. The Lakewood Water District found 13 of their 31 wells were contaminated with the harmful PFAS chemical which originated from JBLM firefighting foam. The water district closed 4 wells and is filtering water from other wells.
The question to answer is: How many people in Lakewood with private wells are drinking contaminated water?
People on JBLM have tried to contact some of these well owners.. Technically, the Dept. of Ecology is responsible for the wells. And then there is The Tacoma Pierce County Health Dept who does annual testing, but is not no responsible for private wells, at this time.
This is a very important health issue that needs to be resolved. I plan to keep stirring the pot and gathering more facts. The Lakewood City Council probably will want to learn more and help determine how to ensure their residents have clean drinking water.
Keep doing good things for people and salmon in our watershed.
Al Schmauder is the Water Steward for Chambers and Clover Creek Watershed. For over 25 years he has organized work parties to keep the fish ladders open. In 2025 he negotiated with WDFW and the tribes and reopened the fish ladders for a natural run of Chinook after 25 years of negotiation.
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