Purdy Creek at 160th Street NW

About the Project

The existing 4-foot-diameter culvert includes a metal weir at the outlet, creating two steps of water surface drop before the downstream section of Purdy Creek.

The maximum water surface drop at the weir outlet is over 2 feet and identified as a partial fish barrier by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). In addition to the water surface drop, the existing culvert is undersized, resulting in flow velocities that are too high for fish passage.

The goal of the project is to provide rearing and spawning habitat to chum, searun cutthroat, coho salmon, resident trout, and steelhead.

Project Status

This project is currently in the final design phase of replacing the existing fish barrier with a three-sided open bottom box structure.

Background

This culvert replacement will assist in providing fish passage to upstream spawning and rearing habitat in Burley Lagoon. This is an area that the local Key Peninsula-Gig Harbor-Islands (KGI) Watershed Council lists as priority, high-quality habitat because of its excellent juvenile salmon-rearing potential and sizeable high-quality estuarine marsh complex. This barrier has also been identified by the Squaxin Island Tribe as a priority fish passage barrier.

Replacing fish barriers with fish passable structures is a priority to Pierce County. Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is replacing culverts on Purdy Creek under SR-16 and SR-302. Installation of a fish passable structure at SE 160th Street will continue to tie together the upstream reaches of Purdy Creek with fish habitat. Pierce County continues to work with other local jurisdictions, tribal governments, and stakeholders to improve fish habitat and spawning area across the county.