Puyallup-White River Local Integrating Organization

We are helping Puget Sound recover by bringing together diverse groups and communities and applying local knowledge and expertise to the many challenges facing the Puyallup-White River Watershed (WRIA 10) on its path to recovery.

In December of 2018, the Puyallup River Watershed Council was recognized by the Puget Sound Partnership as the sponsor for the Puyallup-White River Local Integrating Organization (PWR-LIO). In 2019-21 we developed an Ecosystem Recovery Plan for our watershed. We are now working with PWR-LIO partners and Near Term Action owners to implement the plan, which serves as a catalyst for the recovery of the Puyallup-White River watershed, and thereby Puget Sound. Eventually, the Ecosystem Recovery Plan will inform future iterations of the Action Agenda for Puget Sound Recovery.

Tom Kantz served as the interim chair in 2018-19 when the body was forming. In April 2019, Allan Warren was elected Chair of both the PWR LIO as served for three years. In April 2022, Krystal Kyer was elected and she is the current Chair of the PWR LIO. Current participation includes: City of Tacoma, City of Sumner, Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, Pierce County, Pierce Conservation District,  King Conservation District, Trout Unlimited, WSU Washington Stormwater Center, Puyallup Watershed Initiative, Forterra, Rainier and Tahoma Audubon Societies, and residents. We are coordinating closely with the Puyallup and Chambers Watersheds Lead Entity for Salmon Recovery. Participation is open to all.

In late 2019, participants identified five focus areas that are considered important to ecosystem recovery: salmon, estuaries, floodplains, stormwater and water quality, farms and agricultural lands, along with two cross-cutting themes - climate change and equity. Stakeholder groups explored each of these topics in 2020-2021 to inform the Ecosystem Recovery Plan. The plan was adopted in August 2021. Additional funding was secured through the National Estuary Program to complete the ERP and develop a mapping tool and online portal, as well as providing coordination for the LIO in 2022. 

Meetings

Quarterly LIO Meetings are usually held on the 2nd Thursdays four times a year from 3:00pm-5:00pm (on Zoom at this time.) 

• The 2022 meeting dates are: January 12, April 13, June 1, September 14, and November 16.
• The 2023 meeting dates will be published in December.

Ways to Get Involved:

• Request a presentation to your agency, organization or group
• Join the PWR-LIO stakeholder contacts email list to receive meeting announcements, agendas, and meeting minutes.
• Attend an LIO meeting
• Read the Ecosystem Recovery Plan (ERP), adopted August 2021
• Explore the new ERP website and mapping tool, published Sept. 2022
• Attend a PRWC board meeting on the 4th Thursdays of most months from 3:00pm-5:00pm at Pierce Conservation District offices, 308 West Stewart Ave, Puyallup WA. There is a standing agenda item for PWR-LIO updates to the board, which oversees the LIO. NOTE: meetings are currently on Zoom only due to COVID-19.
• Bookmark and check this website for future updates and meetings 
• Contact the PWR LIO Chair, Krystal Kyer at [email protected] or 253-798-2485
• Contact the LIO Coordinator, Elizabeth McManus at Ross Strategic by emailing Andres Sheikh at [email protected]

Geography

The LIO boundaries mirror the WRIA 10 boundary, except for a small area in Tacoma from the Tacoma Narrows bridge north to Point Defiance. Since this area is not included in any adjacent LIO’s boundaries, we opted to include it so that there are no gaps in recovery planning. See map below: