Completed Projects
Surface Water Management Projects Archives
View a list of our completed projects in Pierce County below. If you have questions about a project that does not appear on this page or on our active construction project page, please contact us.
| Upper Nisqually Channel Migration Protection This project constructed a series of rock deflectors to reduce and divert erosive flows away from the levee toe to preserve the structure and to reduce overall maintenance costs. The facility is a combination levee and revetment and is positioned along the north bank of the Nisqually River, south of state Route 706 at the Mount Rainier National Park boundary. The project was completed in late 2021. Learn more |
| Horsehaven Creek Culvert at 188th Street East This project raised 188th Street East to accommodate the new box culvert (bridge) that has a 19.5-foot span and 8-foot in height. This project improved fish passage and addressed flooding issues on Horsehaven Creek, where it crosses under 188th Street East near Orting. The new culvert meets current fish passage requirements and reduces the likelihood of the area experiencing water over the roadway. Learn more |
| Rody Creek Channel Stabilization Between 80th and 72nd Streets East This project reduced the transport of dirt and earth materials along the channel to stabilize the base of the ravine slopes along approximately 2,580 feet of Rody Creek channel between 80th and 72nd Streets East. This project helped stabilize the channel bed from further downcutting and stabilize areas at the base of the ravine slopes. This project also helped address Pierce County’s goal to improve water quality in the Clarks Creek stream system, as required by the Clarks Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) set by the Department of Ecology. Learn more |
| Puyallup River Flood Protection at Orville Road The Orville Road Setback Revetment project protects two miles of Orville Road between Electron Road and 249th Street East near Orting. The previous levee and revetment along the Orville Road side of the Puyallup River were damaged in multiple locations due to the river channel migrating toward Orville Road. The fifth and final phase, 2C-Year 2, included the installation of 40 engineered log jams and approximately 3,000 linear feet of existing levee removal. Learn more |
| Clear Creek Habitat Restoration The Clear Creek Habitat Restoration project improved access to salmon habitat and expanded the flood storage capacity by removing sections of an existing access road that separated Clear Creek from an adjacent wetland, which is owned by the Port of Tacoma. This 16-acre site within the Puyallup River watershed is home to many wildlife and fish species, including chinook, coho, and chum salmon, as well as bull trout, cutthroat trout, coyote, and deer. Learn more |
| Huge Creek Culvert Replacement at 160th A large three-sided culvert was installed under 160th Street NW to improve fish passage and fish habitat. The Huge Creek culvert was replaced to provide a clear fish passage for native trout and salmon upstream into Kitsap County. This project was part of a larger effort to improve fish passage in the Minter Creek basin. Construction was completed in October 2021. Construction was funded by the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), Flood Control Zone District (FCZD), Kitsap County and Pierce County Surface Water Management Funds. |
| South Fork Floodplain Restoration This is Pierce County’s largest side channel restoration project on the Puyallup River to date. It reconnected about 42 acres of floodplain and constructed a 4,200-foot major side channel, which include many engineered log jam structures, pools, rifles, and other natural wood features. The final phase was completed in November 2018. |
 | Soldiers Home Setback Levee The Soldier's Home Setback Levee project restored about 67-acres of Puyallup River floodplain area to historic pre-levee conditions for fish and wildlife. The new setback levee was constructed in 2007. It was setback about 950 feet from the river and the old levee along the river was removed. The setback allows the river to naturally meander in the opened floodplain area. The new setback levee also increased flood protection (100-yr level of protection) to adjacent property. |
 | Lower Puyallup River Levee Stabilization The Lower Puyallup River Levee Stabilization project was completed in 2010. A matrix of dolosse and logs was installed along 200 feet of the river to fix the eroding levee that was threatening Levee Road. This innovative technique encourage silt and vegetation to build up along the river bank. The combination of dolosse and logs stabilizes the bank and provides fish habitat. Over time, the dolosse may disappear under the silt, but the structure will remain preserving the integrity of the levee protecting Levee Road. |
 | Spanaway Creek Fish Bypass In 2007, Pierce County created a bypass channel around the historic Bresemann Dam on Spanaway Creek. The dam, built in 1873, blocked fish from migrating upstream to Spanaway Lake. The dam was kept to preserve the wetlands and historic mill pond. The new channel flows around the dam, following a historic stream path. The new channel provides migrating fish access to approximately five miles of upstream habitat, including Spanaway Lake. |
  | Sprinker Parking Lot Retrofit The Sprinker Recreation Center parking lot was retrofitted using porous concrete and asphalt. The original traditional asphalt parking lot was constructed in 1969 with no water quality filtration features. Runoff from the parking lot discharged directly into nearby Spanaway Creek. In 2010, the parking lot was replaced with porous asphalt and concrete, which allows rainwater to filter through the pavement and recharge groundwater instead of running off. In addition, 12,200 square feet of pavement was completely removed and replaced with bioretention areas - which function like large rain gardens, allowing rainwater to pool and slowly filter into the soil through native plants and special soils. This project was constructed using funds from the Washington State Department of Ecology totaling $1,115,000. |
 | Canyon Creek Flood Mitigation and Stream Enhancement In 2010, the Canyon Creek project restored the Canyon Creek stream channel, enhancing fish passage and alleviated flooding problems between 84th St and 90th St just east of Canyon Road. A large stormwater pond was built that will store stormwater regulate the flow of that water as it flows through the stream and into surrounding neighborhoods. Native plants will be installed in 2012 to complete the project. |
 | South Silver Springs Stream Enhancement and Flood Mitigation The Sound Silver Springs Site was purchased to mitigate flooding along Spring Site Road from South Prairie Creek. The project provides flood storage and off channel salmon habitat in Pierce County's most important salmon spawning stream, South Prairie Creek. Buildings were removed from the 12.85 acre site, new fish channels and habitat features were installed along with a pond and natural flood wall. This project was funded primarily by grants from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and Pierce County Community Salmon Funds with supplemental support by Surface Water Management Utility service charge. |
 | Woodland Creek Restoration Completed in 2010, this project daylighted and restored approximately 200 feet of Woodland Creek that was previously buried in an underground culvert. Pierce County partnered with Washington State University, Puyallup campus to complete this restoration. The project will provide salmon habitat for spawning and juvenile refuge. Salmon species known to use Woodland Creek are Chinook, Steelhead and Bull Trout. Funding for this project was provided by Pierce County, WSU and the Community Salmon Fund. |
 | Morey Creek Dam Fish Bypass In 2009, McChord Air Force Base, in partnership with Pierce County and the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, constructed a new stream channel around the Morey Creek Dam. This new stream channel allows migrating fish, including salmon, access to 6 miles of upstream habitat previously inaccessible due to the dam blocking the stream. Salmon species known to use Morey Creek are Coho, Steelhead and Cutthroat. |