Water Quality

One of the concerns that stems from development on the scale of The Villages and Lawson Hills is the long term impact on the environment. In Black Diamond, protecting the water quality of Lake Sawyer is a vital interest. At YarrowBay, we are particularly concerned with algae blooms that appear in lakes if there is too high a concentration of phosphorus in the water.

Phosphorus is typically found in lawn fertilizers and household soaps, which can run into waterways if steps are not taken to prevent it. It also occurs naturally in rocks, decaying plant material and other mineral deposits which can be carried to water bodies via erosion and sedimentation.

To ensure that algae blooms will not overwhelm Lake Sawyer, YarrowBay has committed to a zero net increase of phosphorus as a result of the developed portions of The Villages and Lawson Hills into Lake Sawyer. The commitment is beyond standards put in place by the Lake Sawyer Management Plan and by the City of Black Diamond, as well as exceeding other existing Washington State and local requirements.
 
To accomplish its goal, YarrowBay will implement “source controls” that include requiring phosphorus-free fertilizers in all parks and the creation of stormwater treatment facilities, such as detention pools or large sand filters to remove phosphorus from the MPDs stormwater runoff.

Small, piecemeal developments often aren’t able to assess and correct for their environmental impacts to this degree, but the size and scale of the YarrowBay developments present a unique opportunity to do this. YarrowBay wants to do its part to help Lake Sawyer remain a vibrant, healthy treasure of the Black Diamond community for decades to come.