The Engineering Services Division manages surface and stormwater in Lakewood. This includes reviewing City compliance with State and Lakewood Municipal Codes, managing street-cleaning vendors, and issuing permits to work in public areas.
American Lake – Lake Management District
The American Lake – Lake Management District No. 1 Advisory Committee represents the property owners of American Lake (Lake Management District No. 1) and advises the Lakewood City Council on matters involving the lake.
Go to the American Lake Management District page for more information.
Stormwater Management Action Plan
We are currently accepting public comments on the Stormwater Management Action Plan (SMAP). Please click on the drop down below to read the SMAP and use the box to submit any feedback you have.
The City of Lakewood owns and operates a stormwater conveyance system that discharges collected stormwater into bodies of surface water under the terms of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Western Washington Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit. The current iteration of the NPDES permit, issued August 19, 2019, stipulates in special condition S5.C.1.d that each permittee must complete a Stormwater Management Action Plan (SMAP). The SMAP is a planning process that has resulted in the identification of specific actions to address water quality concerns in high-priority watershed within the permittee’s jurisdiction. The SMAP is currently made up of three documents as follows:
- Receiving Water Conditions Assessment
- Receiving Water Prioritization
- Stormwater Management Action Plan
- Stormwater Management Program
Receiving Water Conditions Assessment
This report comprises a complete Receiving Water Conditions Assessment (RWCA) for the City of Lakewood developed using the following steps:
- Delineate Basins and Identify Receiving Waters
- Assess Receiving Water Conditions
- Assess Stormwater Management Influence
- Assess Relative Conditions and Contributions
Receiving Water Conditions Assessment (PDF)
Receiving Water Prioritization
The Receiving Water Prioritization utilizes the delineated City of Lakewood drainage basins and the list of receiving waters that have been identified as potential candidates for further stormwater planning. The document contains three sections:
- Explanation of the prioritization criteria that are used to rank the receiving waters
- Discussion and scoring of the candidate receiving waters
- Conclusions and recommendations
Receiving Water Prioritization (PDF)
Ponce de Leon Creek
The draft Stormwater Management Action Plan for Ponce de Leon Creek expands on the City’s past planning for surface water treatment and management of this basin. This area receives both surface and ground water from Towne Center and storm drainage from Gravelly Lake Drive and surrounding roadways. The linked document is a draft, the final version will be available after 3/31/2023.
Engineering and Development Standards
The City of Lakewood makes these documents available on an “as is” basis. All warranties and representations of any kind are disclaimed, including the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular use. The City of Lakewood does not warrant the documents against deficiencies of any kind.
These files have been converted from AutoCad files (*.dwg). The AutoCad version is available upon request. The City of Lakewood disclaims any errors and has not attempted to ensure that there were no errors in the conversion process. The receiver agrees that the City of Lakewood can not be held responsible for problems arising from converted files.
Revisions of additions to the design file standards may occur at any time. The receiver agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the City of Lakewood, its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims, suits, losses, damages, or costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees, arising from the use of outdated design file standards, and such indemnification shall survive acceptance of said file(s) by the receiver.
The online Standard Plans and Specifications effective November 2, 2009, contain engineering drawings that are used for road, bridge, and municipal construction.
In 2018 the Lakewood City Council approved Resolution 2018-14 authorizing the collection of pavement degradation fees. More information about this fee is listed in the Engineering Standards Manual under Section 6.8.
Development Guidelines
The development review team ensures that development in Lakewood meets all codes and standards. The review team is involved in all steps of the development process. This is through collaboration with developers, contractors, and property owners.
Development guidelines:
- Lakewood Municipal Code: Title 12A (Public Works Code)
- Engineering Standards (PDF)
- Lakewood Comprehensive Plan (level of service standards, page 149) (PDF)
- Lakewood Municipal Code Title 18A: Land Use and Development Code
- Lakewood Municipal Code Title 17: Subdivisions
Surface and Stormwater Management
Engineering Services manages the man-made and natural water systems in Lakewood. This includes the protection of property and wildlife habitats from water-related issues.
Eurasian Watermilfoil (milfoil) was identified as a problem in American Lake. This species of milfoil, which is a state-listed noxious weed, spread to numerous shorelines around the lake, forming dense stands that extended approximately 15 feet deep. Swimming, boating, fishing and other recreational uses are greatly impacted where milfoil is present. The transfer of milfoil to other lakes from boats or other watercraft using American Lake is also a major concern. Milfoil adversely impacts the diversity of native plant communities and native fish and wildlife populations.
Lakewood received a $30,000 grant from the state Department of Ecology to prepare an Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan. The plan identifies the process to reduce the amount of milfoil in American Lake and control its spread. A stakeholder committee formed in 2017 to guide the planning effort. Committee members included property owners on the lake as well as representatives from Camp Murray, American Lake VA Hospital, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, all who have lakefront property.
Lakewood hired Aquatechnex to prepare the management plan. View the plan here (PDF). In July 2019 the City Council approved by resolution the formation of an advisory committee for the American Lake – Lake Management District No. 1.
The City of Lakewood received a grant from the Department of Ecology in 2014 to develop a Lake Management Plan (PDF) for Waughop Lake, located in Ft. Steilacoom Park. The overall goal of the Plan is to develop strategies to protect and improve the lake uses currently impaired by the degraded water quality. The City retained the engineering firm Brown and Caldwell and the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) to help develop the plan.
The plan recommends a phased approach to address the lake water quality. The first phase of the plan recommends treating the whole lake with alum. This will bind up phosphorus, which is the problem nutrient in the lake, and lead to improved water quality. Alum treatment is considered a short-term fix, with improved water quality for up to 10 years. The second phase of the plan recommends dredging the lake. This would remove the phosphorus from the lake bottom sediment and lead to long-term improved water quality.
The lake management plan was adopted by the Lakewood City Council on March 6, 2017. The next steps include securing the park property from the State of Washington, and securing funding and permitting for the proposed remediation actions.
The City hired the engineering firm Tetra Tech in March 2018 to look further into the feasibility of dredging the lake. After review, the firm determined the cost of dredging the lake could range from $7.8 million and $34.5 million.
In September 2018 the City received notice from the Pierce County Flood Control Zone District that it approved the city’s request to access all of the available funds ($300,201.79) for alum treatment of Waughop Lake.
The city received an approved Aquatic Plant and Algae Management general permit from the state Department of Ecology to apply alum to the lake. The city hired HAB Aquatic Solutions to do the first two Alum applications in spring 2020, with a second application followed early summer 2020.
The City monitored the lake and in 2022 the level of phosphorus in the water column increased to a level where cyanobacteria blooms could occur. The City, working with the consulting engineering firm Tetra Tech, selected a single dose treatment at half the strength of what was done previously. The City through a competitive RFP/Bid process selected Solitude Lake Management to treat Waughop Lake in late spring 2023.
As part of this treatment, the City was directed by Washington Department of Ecology (ECY) to do additional testing and monitoring. This was done by the City’s consultant TetraTech using ECY approved laboratories. The testing and monitoring of the lake in 2023 is summarized in the Final 2023 Annual Summary Data Memo (PDF)
The City of Lakewood updated its Stormwater Management Program that will continue to guide efforts to further improve the water quality of our City’s stormwater discharges.
2023 Stormwater Management Program (PDF)
The program is part of the City’s compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit or NPDES, which is a requirement of the federal Clean Water Act. The program establishes the local regulations, maintenance and administrative procedures, and educational and outreach programs that the City will continue to act upon to address and reduce pollution from stormwater discharges. The Washington State Department of Ecology administers the program.
Past Stormwater Management Programs
Stormwater Annual Reports:
In order to protect the health of our citizens and the environment, the City is committed to responding to oil and hazardous material spills. Please report spills to:
O&M Division 24-hour number:
253-267-1628
Fire:
911
Washington Department of Emergency Management:
1-800-OILS-911
U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center:
1-800-424-8802