Smart Quiet Growth for Our Community and the Community of Our Children
About the Ducks
It is my understanding that some have taken offense to this web page. It was not my intention to offend anyone by such strong language. The expression "duck toilets" was used repeatedly in several seminars that I have attended, and I think clearly explains the nature of the biological activity that occurs within storm ponds.
At the most recent (February 2007) Storm Water conference lead by Law Seminars International, the storm water ponds were referred to as "Duck Toilets".
Why?
Because Ducks use them, and when we have a 100 year rain event (which in hydrology standards means a rain storm with an intensity that occurs 1% of the time) the flood of water comes through the ponds and flushes all the biological material (and heavy metals) that have not been absorbed, and washes them into our streams and Liberty Bay. Last winter we had 3 100 yr storms.
With the proposed development, we will have Duck Toilets all over Poulsbo.
People don't use the Storm Ponds...only Ducks use Storm Ponds.
They are expensive to maintain, expensive to build and un-sightly.
We need to establish regional storm water facilities to have the new developments pipe the storm water to regional infiltration centers that can be parks as well as storm water control.
These regional systems can be established and developed in conjunction with comprehensive sewer systems. Build the infrastructure simultaneously.
As development occurs along the Noll Road Basin, pipe the sewer and storm water south as recommended in the draft sewer plan, and build a regional storm water facility that infiltrates the water back into the soil, controls run off and protects Lemolo creek. This regional center could also function as a park, with walking trails and forests. The passage of the 2005 Department of Ecology Stormwater Manual clearly states the best management practices to control stormwater. With the use of low impact development and regional stormwater facilities, we get the best of both worlds: our aquifers are recharged and we would gain open space for our dense urban neighborhoods.
This comprehensive approach would save money for the developers and the city. And the citizens would have better environmental protection and gain park lands....not more Duck Toilets.
The Duck Toilets of Poulsbo.
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Becky Erickson Noll Road Association 17950 Noll Road Poulsbo, WA 98370
