Chum Salmon are protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. These endangered salmon have been drawn to the warm waters of Josef Creek in Vancouver for thousands of years. The Columbia River once turned silver with the arrival of salmon every year, but now only about a thousand Chum find their way to Josef Creek, which is just east of I-205. The creek, one of the last remaining salmon runs in Southwest Washington, feeds into the Columbia River. [Read More...]
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The Maitland Property — Developer May Harm Endangered Salmon – February 9, 2004
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RNA opposes City’s SEPA application on the proposed Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway project – February 5, 2004
To: Jon Wagner, Development Review Services
From: Rosemere Neighborhood Association
Re: Application: Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway PRJ2003-01122 which includes the following:
ARC2003-00025, CON2003-00087, ENG2003-00164, FLP2003-00003, GEO2003-00002, GRD2003-00088, PSR2003-00044, SEP2003-00058, SHL2003-00005, TRE2003-00195 and WET2003-00006
These comments on the project have been sent prior to the cutoff date of Monday, February 9, 2004, and are to be incorporated into the staff report.
This correspondence serves as written notice that the officers and board of the Rosemere Neighborhood Association oppose this proposed project, and as outlined herein, believe that the project will create probable significant adverse environmental impacts. [Read More...]
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Oregon’s Sewers are Poisoning Vancouver – January 2004
Sewer system managers in Salem say it happens six or seven times every winter — their sewer systems are overwhelmed by heavy rains, and raw sewage has to be diverted directly into the Willamette River. So far this year, not counting this emergency diversion, 72 million gallons of raw sewage have been dumped directly into the Willamette. The most recent occurrence was over two days, January 28 & 29, 2004. Local news stations broadcasted that people should avoid direct contact with the river water since it is full of harmful bacteria (that can cause serious illness). [Read More...]
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Workshop on Septic Tanks and Private Wells – January 21, 2004
Materials collected from workshop on Septic Tanks and Private Wells
Intro:
We attended a special workshop for homeowners on how to properly maintain septic systems and private wells on their property, how to prevent costly repairs, and how to protect drinking water from contamination. This workshop was presentd by the Washington State University Cooperative Extension and Clark County Health Department, and it was sponsored by Clark County Clean Water Program, and Clark Conservation District. [Read More...]
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EPA Plans to Allow Untreated Sewage in Waterways – January 6, 2004
January 6, 2004
The public has until Jan. 9 to comment on a Bush Administration plan to routinely allow sewage that’s been only partially treated to be released into public waterways during storms.
The proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency would exempt sewage treatment plants during heavy rains and snowmelts from having to put sewage through the standard biological treatment process to remove pathogenic organisms and other pollutants. [Read More...]
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The Rosemere Neighborhood Association Pursues Water Quality Issues in Vancouver and Clark County – January 2004
In a Columbian article (January 11, 2004, ‘Rosemere faces off with City Monday’), it says of Victor Erlich (Vancouver City Engineer), “Erlich said Rosemere’s reasoning in applying for the grant based on septic failure ‘is a mystery to us.’ We don’t find any evidence to support the claim that there are environmental health problems stemming from failing septic systems in the neighborhood.” If the City hasn’t found any problems, its because they haven’t been looking! [Read More...]
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BEACHES AT RISK – TRACKING DOWN THE CONTAMINATION From KATU News, December 17, 2003
From KATU News, December 17, 2003
COOS BAY – This week, two of the state’s most beautiful sandy stretches near Coos Bay continue under a nearly month long “Health Advisory” from the Office of Public Health.
People who go in the water at Sunset Bay State Park or Bastendorff Beach are at risk from contamination that may make them sick.
Surfers like Dan Marshal and Carmen Conn have experienced that risk first hand. They each became sick after surfing near Sunset Bay. According to Marshal, the symptoms were immediate and striking: [Read More...]
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RNA files Title VI Complaint – April 19, 2003
Re: Title VI and Environmental Justice Complaints in Vancouver, WA
This document was prepared by the Rosemere Neighborhood Association (RNA), which is staffed entirely by volunteers who reside in the Rosemere Neighborhood. Part of the RNA’s mission, which is in keeping with the filing of this complaint, is to: “Encourage participation of all residents and to prohibit discrimination based on the following: race, religion, color, gender, national origin, marital status, familial status, income level, age, sexual orientation, disability, political ideology, ethnicity, gender identification, literacy, and the ability to speak English;” and to “Promote and encourage environmental awareness and preservation in Rosemere.”
This document is arranged in two parts: I) A General Overview of the Complaint in Relation to 17 Affected Neighborhoods in West Vancouver; II) The Complaint as it Relates Specifically to the Rosemere Neighborhood.
View full Title VI Complaint here.
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Rosemere Neighborhood Association Water Walk – December 7, 2003
RNA Board Members, Rosemere residents, and concerned environmental activists gather in the rain to hear Thom McConathy explain the terrain and our community's failing stormwater and groundwater facilities.
On December 7, 2003, the RNA Board, accompanied by environmental activists, toured the Burnt Bridge Creek Basin and Vancouver Lake to learn more about the contamination of our waterways. This tour was lead by Thom McConathy, a very active community steward who has passionately fought to save our ground and surface waterbodies for more than 20 years. Mr. McConathy is among our community’s most knowledgeable experts on the subjects of water quality and contamination, and he has been instrumental in helping the RNA address the contamination of Burnt Bridge Creek and Vancouver Lake, as discussed in the RNA’s federal Title 6 complaint.
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Test Your Well Water! Monitor Your Septic Tanks! & Human Health Risks from Exposure to Contaminated Water!
Information included in this article was taken from the following sources:
The Rosemere Neighborhood Association, Vancouver, WA; Addy Labs, Vancouver WA;Thom McConathy, Clark County Natural Resource Council, Vancouver, WA; The Chlorine Chemistry Council 12 June 1997; Corpus Christi Times, July 19, 2002; University of Minnesota College of Agriculture, Food & Environmental Services; The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions; Is Our Water Safe to Drink? By J. Gorden Millichap, MD; San Francisco Chronicle Jan 5, 2003; The Water Quality and Health Council; the Clark County Health Department (Formerly the Southwest Washington Health District); The Washington State Department of Health; The Washington State Department of Ecology
Private Wells
Well water quality is just as important as quantity, but easier to overlook. There is rarely a clear signal when microorganisms, nitrates, pesticides or VOG’s (volatile organic compounds) contaminate well water. Yet these contaminates do make their way into private wells. Homeowners who choose the “blinders” approach, assuming that their well water is OK, are taking a gamble with their health. The potential risks are kidney and nervous system damage, intestinal illness, cancer and birth defects. According to a US Geological Survey, many wells in Clark County and Vancouver were tested and found to contain contaminates. [Read More...]
