The South Prairie Creek reach is an outstanding example of partnership, strategy and vision!

About the Projects:

South Prairie Creek (SPC) is a frequent flood damage area that has experienced seven high-flow events in the last 20 years. It's also one of the most productive tributaries in the Puyallup Watershed for salmon, including some listed as endangered on the Endangered Species Act. 

Staff from Pierce County Planning and Public Works, Puyallup Tribe Fisheries, Pierce Conservation District, South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group and Forterra work together to implement a vision of a restored ecosystem with reduced flood impacts and improved fish habitat. They also strive to integrate the project with current land use, such as agriculture. 

The partners leverage organizational strengths to secure funding from multiple sources, identify and conduct studies, and implement restoration projects to increase the SPC Watershed's contribution to regional salmon recovery.

Funding Sources:

Funding partners for this project include Pierce County Surface Water Management, Pierce Conservation District, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Terry Husseman Account Grant, CWA 319 Funds, Washington State Conservation Commission, Salmon Recovery Funding Board, National Estuary Program Fund, Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Funds and Floodplains by Design. 

Learn more at https://piercecd.org/Blog.aspx?IID=308. 

Tour Location Instructions:

(Link to Map) Spring Site Road East, Orting, WA

— Access to the site is via Spring Site Road East off of Pioneer Way East. Parking is available on the side of the road, but please take care not to block the road, driveway access, Tacoma Water gate or the turnaround. Follow the signage on-site to reach the tour area.

— The site location for the tour at South Prairie Creek Preserve is a recently completed project that restored 2,600 linear feet of side channel, installed 113 engineered log structures, re-vegetation of 50 acres of floodplain and riparian forest, the removal of an outdated bridge over the mainstem creek and the installation of a new bridge over a side tributary.

Staff will be at this site from 10-11:30 a.m.

The Canyon Road Regional Connection delivers a faster, more direct experience with less congestion!

About the Project:

Pierce County is moving forward with the next set of improvements between the Frederickson Industrial Area and the Port of Tacoma, offering big benefits for drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians and freight haulers in this growing area.

The County is working closely with the City of Fife, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, BNSF Railway and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to ensure the Canyon Road Regional Connection Project serves all the jurisdictions and communities along the corridor. 

Funding Sources:

Funding partners for this project include Pierce County, the Federal Highway Administration, Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board and BNSF Railroad. 

Learn more at canyonroadconnection.org.

Tour Location Instructions:

(Link to Map) 4000 block of Pioneer Way East, Tacoma, WA

— When you arrive, cross the tracks, go through the gate and park in the open field. Please be advised the parking area has uneven ground and tall grass, so we respectfully ask that you take care and do not idle your cars. 

Staff will be at this site from Noon to 1:30 p.m.

*Note: This site shares a location with the Clear Creek Integrated Design*

A Clear Creek vision: Creating a floodplain landscape where farms and fish can thrive as compatible land uses!

About the Project:

The Clear Creek Integrated Design project shares a vision of a landscape where farms and fish can thrive as compatible land uses, while vastly reducing harmful risks to human health and infrastructure that come with frequent flooding. In an area where multiple diverse interests converge on the landscape, collaboration is vital to achieve that goal. 

The Clear Creek basin of the Lower Puyallup River encompasses 7,930 acres and includes four tributary systems that converge on the floodplain bench of the Puyallup River.

That 1,140-acre floodplain bench, known as the Clear Creek/Riverside Area, is:

• The ancestral and reservation lands of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians
• The remaining majority of the historic 6,000 acres of estuary and intertidal habitat and one of the downstream-most tributary confluences for migrating salmonids
• An agricultural area of high priority with fertile soils and high market access to Tacoma and Puyallup and low development pressure due to existing flood-code requirements
• An area at extreme risk of flooding from both the backwater flooding at the confluence and the potential of flooding overtopping the River Road levee
• A neighborhood of residents that remain because of the rural feel and access to urban centers

The project is currently in the early preliminary design phase.

Funding Sources:

Funding partners for this project include Pierce County Surface Water Management, Pierce County Flood Control Zone District, Floodplains by Design and the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Learn more at piercecountywa.gov/ClearCreekStrategy. 

Tour Location Instructions:

(Link to Map) 4000 block of Pioneer Way East, Tacoma, WA

— When you arrive, cross the tracks, go through the gate and park in the open field. Please be advised the parking area has uneven ground and tall grass, so we respectfully ask that you take care and do not idle your cars. 

Staff will be at this site from Noon to 1:30 p.m.

*Note: This site shares a location with the Canyon Road Regional Connection*

Restoring natural stream processes to protect salmon habitat and water quality.

About the Project:

While Swan Creek is a beautiful place, it is in a state of imbalance caused by historical land use changes. Channel erosion in the upper segments of the creek combined with sediment deposits in the lower portions have contributed to a loss of habitat, impacting fish passage and downstream maintenance costs.

This project will focus on restoring the section of creek between Pioneer Way and 64th Street East by building engineered log jams and reforesting the ravine. These efforts will provide a multitude of benefits including stabilized ravine slopes, reduced sediment transport, improved water quality and better forest health.

Pierce County Surface Water Management has partnered with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians Fisheries, Metro Parks Tacoma and Pierce County Parks to develop this important project.

Funding Sources:

Funding partners for this project include Floodplains by Design and Pierce County Surface Water Management. 

Learn more at piercecountywa.gov/6281. 

Tour Location Instructions:

(Link to Map) 2922 Pioneer Way East, Tacoma, WA

— Parking is available in the Swan Creek Park gravel lot. 

Staff will be at this site from 1-2:30 p.m.

Four landmark projects that build on partnerships to benefit fish and industry!

About the Project:

As part of a reach-scale project to create sustainable salmon habitat and reduce flood risk within the City of Sumner, the White River Dialogue group (consisting of the City of Sumner, Puyallup Tribe, Muckleshoot Tribe, Pierce County, BNSF, Cascade Water Alliance, City of Pacific, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Ecology and more) created four separate components. The largest component of this overall project is the 24th Street section, which will reconnect more than 169 acres of currently disconnected floodplain. 

The 24th Street section on its own will significantly improve the available salmon habitat in the lower White River, leading to more than 3 additional miles of off-channel habitat through a newly reconnected forested floodplain. This reconnected floodplain will create almost 1 million cubic feet of additional floodwater storage within the lower White River, causing lower flood depths throughout the Sumner-Pacific Manufacturing and Industrial Center (SPMIC). 

The SPMIC is the largest manufacturing and industrial center in Pierce County and supports approximately 6 percent of the County’s total employment at companies like Amazon, Kellogg’s, Costco, REI, Golden State Foods, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and many other national and regional businesses. 

Funding Sources:

Funding partners for this project include Floodplains by Design, City of Sumner, Pierce County Flood Control Zone District, City of Sumner Water Utility, City of Sumner Sewer Utility, Stewart Road Bridge Funding, Port of Tacoma, BNSF Railroad and City of Sumner Land.

Learn more at https://connects.sumnerwa.gov/white-river-restoration-project. 

Tour Location Instructions:

(Link to Map) 14302 24th St. E., Sumner, WA

— Parking is available at 14302 24th St. E. Meet at the cul-de-sac right in front of the Sumner Link Trail. 

Staff will be at this site from 2-3:30 p.m.

Building a resilient community for fish and citizens!

About the Project:

Forterra, Pierce County, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Squaxin Indian Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe and the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, with support from the Town of Steilacoom and the City of University Place, are working together to restore the Chambers Bay Estuary. 

The area has been heavily modified by industry since the late 1800’s, cutting off natural tidal systems and salmon habitat. The project will include the removal of a 100-year-old dam, replacement of a functionally obsolete bridge, relocation of utilities, enhanced public safety and park facilities, restoration of up to 180 acres of estuary and opening of 3 miles of Chambers Creek, 2 miles of Flett Creek and 2.5 miles of Leach Creek to five species of salmon. 

Funding Sources:

Funding for design and construction of the project has not been secured but preliminary planning and engineering is in progress using Pierce County Surface Water Management funds.

Learn more at piercecountywa.gov/chamberscreekbridge. 

Tour Location Instructions:

(Link to Map) 10317 Chambers Creek Rd, University Place, WA

— Drive to Chambers Creek Road West, turn left when approaching New Tacoma Cemeteries Funeral to stay on Chambers Creek Road West. Cross over the Chambers Creek Bridge. A parking area will be on the right just around the bend in the road.

Staff will be at this site from 2-3 p.m.