Completed in 2000. Following solicitation of proposed restoration project
site names from students at a tribal school and in consultation
a Puyallup tribal linguist, the Puyallup tribal representatives
proposed names for five projects. One of those sites,
the Wasser-Winters site, has been renamed "Mowitch,"
which in the Salish language means "deer."
The project site is located along the lower reach and
mouth of Hylebos Creek and adjacent to the industrial
shoreline of the Hylebos Waterway Upper Turning Basin.
As with the adjacent areas, the project site was filled
to its present elevation, channelized, and straightened
in the early 1960's when the upper Hylebos Waterway Turning
Basin was dredged to its current configuration.
On-site industrial uses varied little since the early
1960's through the mid-1980's with log storage and log
sorting being the primary onsite activities. During this
time period the site was routinely maintained with crushed
rock and Asarco slag as a ground cover for the large log
handling equipment. As a result of the use of Asarco slag,
Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) required
the Port of Tacoma (the landowner) to take remedial
actions to address the elevated levels of arsenic, copper,
lead, and zinc found in the soils and stormwater on the
project site.
Prior to the NRDA restoration activities, the project site was vacant and generally clear
of most significant vegetation except for Scott’s
broom (Cytisus scoparius), sapling red alser (Alnus rubra)
and a few Douglas fir trees (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Other
plant species such as Himalayan blackberry (Rubus procera),
Pacific blackberry (Rubus ursinus), and Canadian thistle
(Cirsium arvensis) had invaded the open areas of the
project site. The shoreline area of Hylebos Creek was very steep and
exhibited indications of erosion and bank sloughing. Rooted
vegetation was lacking below approximately +10 Mean Lower
Low Water (MLLW).
The project site includes a portion
of Hylebos Creek where the channel had been highly modified
by past dredging, straightening, and filling activities.
Along the project area, Hylebos Creek is tidally influenced,
with the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) established (physically
and biologically) in relationship to tidal elevations.
The City of Tacoma identified this aquatic community
as meeting the regulatory definition of a stream.
Restoration Activities
This project was designed to increase the sinuosity
of the Hylebos Creek channel and increase the area and
quality of the intertidal habitat. The design phase was
completed in late 1999, construction was completed in
fall of 2000, and vegetation planting of the upland site
was initiated in 2001. As a result of the 2004 monitoring
results, supplemental vegetation activities by Citizens
for a Healthy Bay (CHB), EarthCorps and NOAA’s Community-Based
Restoration Program were conducted in 2005. This site is part of the Baywide Monitoring Program and routine stewardship activities are now conducted by CHB. Please contact the CB
restoration manager for information about future volunteer
planting activities.
Two conceptual designs were presented to the public at
an April 1999 briefing: Alternative
A and Alternative
B. The restoration technical staff, the public, and
the design contractors evaluated the potential environmental
impacts and feasibility of the proposals and selected
Alternative B as their preferred design. This alternative
is discussed in more detail below.
The character of the straight stream channel was
modified and diversity added to the habitat.
Three backwater pools with base elevations near Mean Low
Water (MLW) were sculpted from the present upland
buffer area. A secondary stream mouth was added in
the area of the site that was an historical log ramp.
The backwater area becomes flooded the majority
of the year. The pools and adjacent terraces include horizontal
logs as habitat features. In addition, the area between
the pools was regraded to an elevation between Mean
High Water (MHW) and Mean Higher High water (MHHW) (10.96
to 11.84 on a MLLW datum). A minimum of 25 feet next to
the fence is vegetated.
The planting designs are based upon plants native to
Commencement Bay. Upland plants are selected
based upon their tolerance to the dry conditions on the riparian bank. The emergent plant
species are similar to those found elsewhere in Commencement
Bay and utilize the freshwater component from Hylebos
Creek. Plantings in the downstream (northern) area are
dominated by salt grass to accommodate the more saline
conditions from the tidal flood patterns on the
site. The area between elevations 11.32 and 14.32 are
extreme high tide areas and planted with emergent
plants. The site design plans include provisions for regular
watering during the time when the plants are becoming
established.
THE COMMON NAMES OF PLANTS AT THE SITE
Salt Marsh Plants: Lyngby’s Sedge, Saltgrass, Pickleweed,
American threesquare rush, Seaside arrowgrass.
Riparian plants: Red alder, Paper birch, Black cottonwood,
Douglas fir, Red osier dogwood, Oregon grape, Pacific
ninebark, Nootka rose, Hooker’s willow, Scouler’s
willow, Snowberry
FUNDING
The Trustees contributed approximately $300,000.00 from the Commencement Bay Restoration Account toward the planning, design, construction, and implementation of this site. Additional funds will continue to be directed toward stewardship and monitoring activities.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
The restoration site is between I-509 (aka Marine View Drive) as it curves near Taylor Way/54th Ave. E. Continue south on Marine View Drive. The site is adjacent to the CalBag Metals property (note that these are active train tracks). From I-5 take Exit 137 (Fife/Milton). Go approximately 0.4 miles and bear right at 54th Ave. E. Continue on 54th Ave. E. for approximately 0.2 miles.
