Pierce County will conduct a one-day dye test in Clarks Creek on Wednesday, May 27th. The red-colored dye will be used to measure and track the movement of water in the creek. The dye is not harmful to public health, fish or the aquatic environment and will dilute as it travels downstream.
Every summer, the City contracts for the removal of elodea from the creek bed. Elodea is an invasive nuisance weed that proliferates if left unchecked. It is detrimental to water quality and can worsen flooding of neighboring properties. The dye test will determine how the annual removal of elodea from Clarks Creek affects its water level and flow velocity.
On May 27th, the dye will be added to the creek west of where 15th Avenue SW intersects with 14th Street. The elodea removal will happen between June 1st and August 1st, after which a second dye test will be performed.
This test is part of a series of ongoing analyses of water quality in Clarks Creek. More information can be found here.