Streams & Shorelines - Schneider Creek

The historical headwater wetlands of Schneider Creek once extended south close to the present location of the Capital Auto Mall. As west Olympia developed in the 1950's, these upstream portions of the stream were filled and piped. The stream currently surfaces near Bowman Avenue and discharges to Budd Inlet along West Bay Drive. The glacial soils in this area are very shallow and the clay-like layer of earth is found close to the surface. This limits the soil's capacity to store water and consequently produces considerable amounts of stormwater during flows. The high amount of development also contributes to the amount of runoff in this watershed.

Watershed Characteristics

Watershed Area	680 Acres (100% within City Limits)
Forest Area	128 Acres (19%)
Urban Area*	241 Acres (35.4%)
Stream Miles	1.3 miles
Drainage	Budd Inlet
Water Quality	Fish: Poor Condition Swimming: Moderate Risk
*Urban Area is Impervious Surface Area

Aquatic Life:

Coho salmon, steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat historically used this stream, however local residents have not seen these large fish in recent years. Resident cutthroat trout and sculpin are still found in the lower reaches of the stream.

Unique Natural Features:

Schneider Creek endears itself to almost everyone who experiences its grace and seclusion. Located entirely on private property in a deep ravine on Olympia's west side, the stream is unknown to most of us. Given its history, the ability of the creek to maintain its appeal and semblance of natural conditions is a reassuring surprise, as are its beautifully treed stream banks, year-round groundwater springs, and intricate stream traits. Decatur Woods Park in southeast Olympia is where the headwaters of Schneider Creek watershed begins.

Special Considerations:

Schneider Creek is a heavily urbanized area and is now characterized by high stormwater flows in the winter and considerable stream erosion. A specially designed stormwater treatment facility was constructed where the stream surfaces at Giles Street. The facility removes much of the sediment and pollutants during small storms, but the size of the facility limits the treatment at high flows. Property owners and west side residents actively pursue improvements in stream water quality and habitat. Clean-ups and tree planting are underway. The City is working to replace the culvert pipe at the stream mouth to improve access for returning salmon in 2007. The City will conduct fish monitoring to document changes in fish use and will compae numbers before and after the project is complete.

Contact Information

•  Visit our City Services page for links to other City Services and contact information (phone numbers).
• Contact us at publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us.