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Thurston County, Washington

The content on the Thurston County website is currently provided in English. We are providing the “Translation” for approximately 10 languages. The goal of the translation is to provide visitors with limited English proficiency to access information on the website in other languages. The translations do not translate all types of documents, and it may not give you an exact translation all the time. The translations are made through an automated process, which may not result in accurate or precise translations, particularly of technical and legal terminology.

Community Planning and Economic Development

Basin plans are in-depth studies that identify water-quality problems in the streams and rivers that drain to a common point, like the Puget Sound.  Plans often include recommendations for projects to resolve the worst of the problems.

  • Studies involve analyzing data about the topography of the land, and the way water moves overland and through the soil.  Studies are often grant-funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates water quality throughout the U.S.
  • Problems in a rainy place like Thurtson County may include flooding, poor water quality due to rainwater runoff that picks up vehicle fluids from roads and soil from exposed construction sites; and the effects of this dirty water on community drinking water aquifers, frogs, fish, shellfish and other water animals.  
  • Solutions focus on specific projects that can minimize the worst of the problems that were found. Thurston's Board of County Commissioners refer to the basin plans when deciding which stormwater utility projects to approve.