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Welcome to the Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Salmon Creek Treatment Plant is a vital part of the wastewater system, helping to keep our community livable and protect the environment.

We are underway with several construction projects designed to improve operations at the Treatment Plant and better serve the surrounding community. This online open house will provide you with an opportunity to learn more about the planned construction activities and impacts, ask questions, and provide us with your feedback.

If you visit every station and fill out the questionnaire at the end, you'll receive a free gift of your choice!

The content of this site should take about 10 minutes to view. You may use the links below to skip to specific information or click "Get Started" above.

Please participate by Sunday, July 10th.

1
Find out what happens at the treatment plant 
2
Learn about planned updates and improvements to the treatment plant. 
3
Help protect our water quality. 
4
Give us feedback and select your free gift! 

= Page includes questions or opportunities for comment.

The Treatment Plant

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Aerial image of the Salmon Creek Treatment Plant

Aerial image of the Salmon Creek Treatment Plant

Providing Reliable Wastewater Service

The Salmon Creek Treatment Plant is the last part of the wastewater conveyance system. All sewer pipes and pump stations are designed with one purpose: to reliably carry wastewater from homes and businesses to the treatment plant. Wastewater is then treated to regulatory standards and released back into the environment.

The plant is an essential part of our public infrastructure. It serves over 50,000 homes and businesses in our service area. Our highest priority is keeping the plant operating to industry standards, while meeting all environmental regulations. The plant has 19 full-time staff, including managers, maintenance technicians, certified operators, and a laboratory coordinator.

To ensure the plant operates in a safe, reliable and cost-effective way, all plant operations are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through a modern, automated computerized control system. Backup generators ensure operations run consistently at all times, even in the event of a power outage. The entire perimeter of the site is fenced for safety.

In 2022, Clark Regional Wastewater District took over operations of the plant. Responsibilities include:

  • Engineering and capital planning.
  • Operating and maintain the plant.
  • Overseeing financial and administrative functions of the Alliance.
Aerial image of the Salmon Creek Treatment Plant

Planned Improvements

Visit each tab below to learn about our upcoming and completed Phase 5 improvement projects!


Construction Schedule and Impacts

Construction is underway on several projects and will continue through 2025. Use the interactive map on this page to learn more about potential impacts related to construction.

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Construction timeline

Construction timeline

Truck Traffic Routes

Construction relating to the Columbia River Outfall and Effluent Pipeline project and the Secondary Treatment Process Improvements projects will require increased truck traffic carrying materials, equipment and workers to the construction sites. This increased traffic will impact area neighborhoods. Expect increased truck traffic on the roads highlighted during the periods of construction. Any landscape disturbances made during construction will be fully restored and we will work to minimize disruptions to commercial and recreational interests.

Construction will occur (for the most part) between 7 am – 7 pm, Monday – Friday.

Use the map to view truck route information and construction updates. Select the Menu button for more information.


Project Schedule

Construction timeline
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Odor Control - COMPLETED!

We completed improvements to eliminate about 80-90% of the odors nearby neighbors may have experienced previously. 

As part of this project, we installed:

  • New biotrickling filters which treat air from the preliminary treatment and primary treatment processes.
  • New aluminum covers over the Primary Clarifiers.
  • New carbon adsorbers now treat air collected from the solids treatment process.
Discovery Clean Water Alliance Capacity Improvements, May 2021

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Odor Control Facilities Map

Odor Control Facilities Map

New equipment was installed in 2021 and now captures and treats odor that is generated as a result of regular treatment operations. However, some odor generating events may still occur from time to time, such as when treatment processes are taken off-line for cleaning and repair.

Odor Control Facilities Map

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Columbia Outfall and Effluent Pipeline

This project builds on decades of planning to ensure we can meet the region’s long-term wastewater treatment needs and continue safeguarding public health, environmental quality, and our community’s economic future. This project will replace the 50-year-old pipeline carrying treated wastewater from the Salmon Creek Treatment Plant to the Columbia River. The new pipeline and river diffuser will improve the water quality of the river and support the surrounding ecosystems.

Columbia River Outfall Video

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Kayak trail impacts

Outfall Effluent Pipeline Schedule

Construction Activities and Impacts

Construction on the new outfall and shoreline work began in 2021 and is nearing completion. Construction on the new pipeline is scheduled to begin later this year and continue through 2025. Use the interactive map in the “Construction Schedule and Impacts” tab above to learn more about the potential impacts related to construction and truck traffic.

Kayak trail impacts

Kayak trail impacts: Trucks carrying construction equipment and materials will use the kayak trail through 2023. During this time, trail access will be restricted. Any impact to the trail will be restored.

Click the image to enlarge.

Benefits

  • Ensure continued reliable service at a stable, affordable rate by planning for the long term and coordinating with other projects.
  • Support planned growth within the community.
  • Improve the water quality of the Columbia River through better mixing of treated wastewater.
  • Enable future decommissioning of Ridgefield’s aging wastewater treatment plant and outfall into Lake River.
  • Replace the existing river outfall diffuser currently in an area where the shoreline is unstable and threatening the current system
  • Free up near-shore migration routes for anadromous salmon and steelhead.

Project Schedule

Outfall Effluent Pipeline Schedule

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Secondary Treatment Process Improvements

This project will expand the biological treatment process to increase the plant’s treatment capacity from approximately 15 million gallons per day to 17.5 million gallons per day within the existing facility footprint. This will be accomplished by constructing a new Aeration Basin and Secondary Clarifier in the middle portion of the plant. In addition to these new structures, improvements to several mechanical pumping and air supply systems will be made inside existing buildings.

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Salmon Creek Treatment Plant

Perimeter Fencing Graphic

Construction Timeline

Upcoming Construction Activities and Impacts

Construction is slated to begin later this year and be completed by the end of 2025. Project design and permitting are complete and the competitive bid process is underway to select a construction contractor.

Materials may be stored at a nearby property owned by the school district on NW McCann Road between NW 47th Ave and NW 44th Ave.  Use the interactive map in the “Construction Schedule and Impacts” tab above to learn more about the potential impacts related to construction and truck traffic.

A new perimeter fence will be installed around the treatment plant when construction occurs. The new fence is intended to create a safer, more secure environment for the treatment plant and will be constructed of black vinyl coated fence material with three strand barbed wire across the top. The fence will be 8 feet high, including the barbed wire.

Perimeter Fencing Graphic

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Salmon Creek Treatment Plant

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Project Schedule

Construction Timeline

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Protect Our Water

You can help protect water quality and support the sewer system by using more natural products and making some simple changes around your home. 

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Protect your health handout

Protect your health handout

Help protect our water quality.

Each of us plays an important role in keeping our waterways healthy. From the products we purchase to how we dispose of them, our choices impact what ends up in our water.

Learn more by watching the video and saving or printing out our handout that has easy tips for protecting our water.

Protect your health handout

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Pollution Prevention Video


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Stay in Touch

Thanks for taking an interest in the Salmon Creek Treatment Plant!

Please feel free to reach out to our staff if you have any questions.

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Plush salmon toy

Tumbler

Canvas bag

Join us for our Annual Open House!

To learn more about the Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and meet our staff, join us for an in-person open house.

Tuesday, June 28th from 6 - 7:30 pm

15100 Northwest McCann Road Vancouver, WA 98685

We'll provide guided tours of the facility at 6:15 and 6:45 pm.


Contact us

Visit our website: discoverycwa.org

Thanks from all of us at the Discovery Clean Water Alliance

John Peterson

John Peterson, General Manager
Clark Regional Wastewater District
(360) 993-8819

Matthew Jenkins

For questions or information related to operational issues, contact:
Matthew Jenkins, Operations Manager
Clark Regional Wastewater District
(360) 946-7684

Robin Krause

For questions or information related to long-term planning and construction projects, contact:
Robin Krause, P.E. Principal Engineer
Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
(360) 719-1653

Leanne Mattos

To schedule tours for plant neighbors, school groups and other interested parties, contact:
Leanne Mattos, Senior Administrative Assistant
Clark Regional Wastewater District
(360) 993-8823

If you visited and checked in on each of the previous pages and complete the following questions, we'd love to send you a free gift! All participants will receive a magnet.

Plush Salmon GiftTumbler GiftCanvas Bag Gift
Plush salmon toyTumblerCanvas bag

    Final Questions

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