Stormwater Awareness Week

Washington State’s Stormwater Awareness Week runs October 5-12, 2025, bringing communities together across the country to highlight the importance of stormwater management and pollution prevention.

The City of Washougal plays a vital role in protecting water quality and managing stormwater to reduce pollution in local waterways, including the Columbia River, Washougal River, Campen Creek, and Gibbons Creek. Through its Stormwater Program, the City maintains stormwater infrastructure, implements best management practices, and ensures compliance with state and federal clean water requirements. Washougal also engages the community through education and outreach, encouraging everyday actions that help keep local rivers and creeks clean and healthy.

Participating in programs like Adopt-a-Drain during this week helps amplify efforts to protect water resources.

Stormwater Facts

Impacts

• Stormwater carries pollutants directly into waterways without treatment, unlike wastewater which is treated at a facility.
• One inch of rainfall on a typical home roof can produce over 600 gallons of runoff.
• Urban areas generate up to 10 times more runoff than natural landscapes because of impervious surfaces like roads, roofs, and parking lots.

Pollution/Ecosystem

• 6PPD-quinone, a chemical from tire wear particles, has been identified as a leading cause of pre-spawn mortality in coho salmon.
• Nutrients in stormwater, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can trigger harmful algal blooms, which deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life.
• Heavy metals (zinc, copper, lead) in runoff can accumulate in fish and shellfish, threatening both ecosystems and human health.

Climate

• • Climate change is intensifying heavy rainfall events, making stormwater management more critical to prevent flooding and pollution.
• • Flood damages in the U.S. cost billions annually, and stormwater runoff is a major contributor when drainage systems are overwhelmed.

Community Solutions

• Installing permeable pavement can reduce runoff by up to 90% compared to conventional pavement.
• A single mature tree can intercept and slow down up to 4,000 gallons of rainwater each year.
• Rain barrels can capture thousands of gallons of water annually, reducing runoff and providing water for landscaping.
• Green roofs can retain 50–80% of annual rainfall, reducing both runoff and urban heat.

How to Get Involved 

• Attend an Event: Visit Washington Stormwater Center’s website (https://www.wastormwatercenter.org/stormwater-awareness-week/) for a full schedule of presentations, workshops, site tours, and volunteer events statewide. 
• Volunteer: Join hands-on stewardship activities on October 11–12 across Washington communities. Visit Washington Stormwater Center’s website (https://www.wastormwatercenter.org/stormwater-awareness-week-volunteer-opportunities/) to learn more.   
• Adopt a storm drain:  Adopt a drain near you and commit to clearing it regularly, especially before and after rain events.  Organize or join a neighborhood cleanup in coordination with Adopt-a-Drain efforts.   Visit adopt-a-drain.org and  Washougal, WA | Official Website to learn more and sign up.
• Make a Change: Change starts with you! Check your vehicles for leaks, install a rain barrel, maintain green spaces, volunteer with a local organization, and dispose of pet and chemical waste responsibly. 

Contact

For more information about how to participate during Stormwater Awareness Week or the Adopt-a-Drain program, contact:
City of Washougal Stormwater
Phone: 360-835-2662 ext. 228
Visit https://adopt-a-drain.org.