Spook Creek: E-coli from Walmart parking lot:
Argus Property-Commercial Development: From the Alaska Highway Spook Creek descends approximately 800 meters along a moderate slope through a confined valley. Channel material is predominantly that of silt and clay. The creek emerges at the bottom of Two Mile Hill/ Chilkoot Way. From this point the creek channel has been altered. As the creek emerges from the valley it passes over a number of small weirs then through a culvert under Two Mile Hill road. Upon exiting the culvert the creek flows in a linear path through an open ditch between Klondike Chrysler and Jacobs Industries and across what was locally referred to as the Argus Property. The diversion and alteration of the creek channel below Two Mile Hill road was conducted under Water Use Licence (WUL) MS97-089. The licence was originally issued to Community &Transport Services, YG in February of 1998 and transferred to Mike Mickey of 17077 Yukon Inc., on November 19, 1998. The WUL authorized the channel diversion of Spook Creek. In their 'Reasons For decision" the Yukon water Board stated that "the proposed drainage improvement is required to more effectively carry subsurface and surface drainage from the vicinity of two mile hill to the backwater slough in the Yukon. The WUL in effect allowed for the infilling of a wetland and pond, and, re-routing of the creek around the perimeter of a proposed development site. The licence specifically authorized the construction of an open ditch and the proponents stated that the channel would remain open and would re-vegetate naturally to provide habitat for fish and natural filtration for waters in the creek. Recommendations from Water Resources prior to the
issuance of the licence specifically asked that "the licensee ... construct the ditch in such a manner that there is no increase in suspended
sediment in the waters of "Spook" Creek, above background (as measured at the Two Mile HW crossing), immediately prior to discharge into the Yukon River. " Report of Water Inspections Officer November 26, 2008
The Whitehorse Walmart store permits overnight stays by campers and motohomes. During the summer as mant as 50 may be staying on the Walmart parking lot. This ES 11 analsis began with a student reporting they saw a camper dumping their sewer into the storm sewer even though there was a sani dump adjacent to the service station at the south east end of the parking lot. Two students went to the Walmart management and asked about the overnight practice and reported their observatiuons. The Walmart management denied that this was a problem. This became the point that initated further study.
Students sampled water from the Argus property storm sewer. and upstream on spook creek. In mid May, they incubated the samples to test for the presence of e-coli. The results of this indicated the presence of e-coliu in the storm sewer water. Bob Sharp then went to the city Facilities and requested a map of teh storm sewer plans under the Argus properties. He was given the storm serwe plan outside the property but was told that the city did not have the plan for the storm sewer system under the Argus properties.
Subsequent discussions with Walmart management with students have resulted in refusals to answer any and all requests for informatiion related to overnight stays and storm sewer polution concerns.
Argus Property-Commercial Development: From the Alaska Highway Spook Creek descends approximately 800 meters along a moderate slope through a confined valley. Channel material is predominantly that of silt and clay. The creek emerges at the bottom of Two Mile Hill/ Chilkoot Way. From this point the creek channel has been altered. As the creek emerges from the valley it passes over a number of small weirs then through a culvert under Two Mile Hill road. Upon exiting the culvert the creek flows in a linear path through an open ditch between Klondike Chrysler and Jacobs Industries and across what was locally referred to as the Argus Property. The diversion and alteration of the creek channel below Two Mile Hill road was conducted under Water Use Licence (WUL) MS97-089. The licence was originally issued to Community &Transport Services, YG in February of 1998 and transferred to Mike Mickey of 17077 Yukon Inc., on November 19, 1998. The WUL authorized the channel diversion of Spook Creek. In their 'Reasons For decision" the Yukon water Board stated that "the proposed drainage improvement is required to more effectively carry subsurface and surface drainage from the vicinity of two mile hill to the backwater slough in the Yukon. The WUL in effect allowed for the infilling of a wetland and pond, and, re-routing of the creek around the perimeter of a proposed development site. The licence specifically authorized the construction of an open ditch and the proponents stated that the channel would remain open and would re-vegetate naturally to provide habitat for fish and natural filtration for waters in the creek. Recommendations from Water Resources prior to the
issuance of the licence specifically asked that "the licensee ... construct the ditch in such a manner that there is no increase in suspended
sediment in the waters of "Spook" Creek, above background (as measured at the Two Mile HW crossing), immediately prior to discharge into the Yukon River. " Report of Water Inspections Officer November 26, 2008
The Whitehorse Walmart store permits overnight stays by campers and motohomes. During the summer as mant as 50 may be staying on the Walmart parking lot. This ES 11 analsis began with a student reporting they saw a camper dumping their sewer into the storm sewer even though there was a sani dump adjacent to the service station at the south east end of the parking lot. Two students went to the Walmart management and asked about the overnight practice and reported their observatiuons. The Walmart management denied that this was a problem. This became the point that initated further study.
Students sampled water from the Argus property storm sewer. and upstream on spook creek. In mid May, they incubated the samples to test for the presence of e-coli. The results of this indicated the presence of e-coliu in the storm sewer water. Bob Sharp then went to the city Facilities and requested a map of teh storm sewer plans under the Argus properties. He was given the storm serwe plan outside the property but was told that the city did not have the plan for the storm sewer system under the Argus properties.
Subsequent discussions with Walmart management with students have resulted in refusals to answer any and all requests for informatiion related to overnight stays and storm sewer polution concerns.