Puyallup River Flood Protection at Orville Road

2017_image of Puyallup River along Orville Road
About the Project

The Orville Road setback revetment project will eventually protect two miles of Orville Road between Electron Road and 249th St. E. near Orting. The existing levee and revetment along the Orville Roadside of the Puyallup River has been damaged in multiple locations, because the river channel is migrating toward Orville Road. Using engineered log jams the project will construct a new revetment setback from the river to provide protection to Orville Road while allowing the river to reconnect with its floodplain.


Benefits of this project include:

  • Reduces flood risk along Orville Road and surrounding properties
  • Stabilizes river channel away from existing development
  • Enhances salmon habitat

Flood prone properties have been purchased within the project area using a combination of Salmon Recovery Funding Board grants and Flood Control Zone District funds.



  Contact Us


David Davis, Project Manager

Phone: (253) 798-6157

Fax: (253) 798-7709

david.davis@piercecountywa.gov


Mailing Address

2702 S 42nd St, Ste 109

Tacoma, WA 98409-7322 



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What’s Happening


Construction on the third phase, Phase II B was completed in December of 2019. Work included 23 engineered log jams designed to protect Orville Road. Active Construction of Puyallup was the contractor for this phase. 


Construction on a fourth installment (Phase 2C – Year 1) will begin in August of 2020 and will be completed by January 2021.  Work on this phase will include the installation 19 engineered log jams and approximately 1,500 LF of setback revetment. 


A fifth phase, 2C-Year 2, is planned for construction in late 2021.

Project Map & Location

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The Orville Road setback revetment project will protect two miles of Orville Road between Electron Road and 249th St. E. near Orting.

 Project Timeline

The project is scheduled in five phases: 

  • Phase 1 - Completed 2013 Constructed about 700 feet of setback revetment made of discontinuous engineered log jams (ELJs), and 6 ELJs placed on the gravel bar to deflect flows away from Orville Road. The setback revetment protects Orville Road and provides salmon habitat. 
  • Phase 2A - Completed 2018 This $1.2 million phase addressed the area just downstream of the Champion Bridge (river miles 28.3-28.6 and 27-27.7). Construction included (28) engineered log jams along the existing levee to create smaller side channels that are less erosive and provide salmon habitat. The 1,500-foot discontinuous dolo timber revetment and a series of engineered log jams will deflect the river away from the revetment and provide salmon habitat. Phase 2A was funded with a grant from Washington State’s Floodplains by Design. 
  • Phase 2B - Completed 2019 This 1.1 million phase extended the new revetment on the north and south end, adding an additional 1,500 LF. The project also installed (23) engineered log jams. Phase 2B was funded by Washington Floodplains by Design and the Pierce County Flood Control Zone District.
  • Phase 2C -Year 1 - Construction 2020 This phase will complete the setback revetment by extending it an additional 1,500 LF to the north. The project will also install (19) engineered log jams. Phase 2C is funded by Washington Floodplains by Design and the Pierce County Flood Control Zone District. 
  • Phase 2C -Year 2 - Planned 2021 This phase will complete the project by installing approximately (40) engineered log jams within the floodplain and removing approximately 3,000 LF of damaged levee.