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In 2010, Clark County adopted the 78th Street Heritage Farm Master Plan. The master plan outlines goals and objectives for the 79-acre Heritage Farm property. Heritage Farm was added to the Washington Historic Register in 2012 and the National Register of Historic Places and Clark County Historic Register in 2013.

In 2016 Clark County began implementing a master plan objective to “treat all stormwater runoff on site in a functional, educational and artistic way”. The Heritage Farm Parking Lot Low Impact Development Project utilized a variety of techniques to manage stormwater runoff. All of the 0.7-acre parking lot’s stormwater is managed on-site. Concrete pavers, permeable asphalt and concrete, grass, and bioretention units increase stormwater infiltration and retention. This has reduced the amount of stormwater and pollutants reaching Cougar Creek. The wetlands restoration project continues this work to reduce and treat stormwater at the farm.

The project will excavate a shallow floodplain bench, reconnect the stream to its floodplain, reduce stream erosion, and restore the natural headwater wetland area. Approximately two acres of wetlands and establish approximately three acres of vegetated buffer along Cougar Creek’s headwaters on Clark County’s 78th Street Heritage Farm.  Grading will create shallow wetland in the floodplain, restoring the natural stormwater retention and treatment, and the natural groundwater recharge. Reducing stormwater runoff will help reduce stream erosion. The entire project area will be planted with appropriate species. The project’s goal is to restore the headwater wetland to its natural state as much as possible.

Public Works incorporates resident input when feasible. County projects are designed by professional engineers. We balance community input with other considerations to create the best possible final design. Considerations include legal requirements, environmental impacts, budget, and safety. Input among residents, user groups and stakeholders often differ. While we do our best to incorporate resident input, we are not able incorporate all input or requests.

For this project, public involvement has included mailers and an open house to gather community and farm-user input about the project. Input will be used to minimize construction impacts on farm users.