A long
distance view of the site. (G. Siani, NOAA,
2002)
Completed in 2000. Following solicitation of proposed restoration project
site names from students at a tribal school and in consultation
with a Puyallup tribal linguist, the Puyallup tribal representatives
proposed names for five projects. One of those sites,
the Puyallup Nursery site, has been renamed "Squally
Beach," which in the Salish language means "grasses."
The project site is located waterward of Marine View
Drive near the middle of the Hylebos Waterway on property
owned by the Puyallup Tribe. The site is approximately
360 by 80 feet, or 0.66 acres, and contained some hardwood
trees, blackberry bushes, and a strip of intertidal marsh
vegetation approximately three to four feet wide. The
site contained salt marshes and low-gradient mudflats that
provided habitat for benthic, or bottom-dwelling organisms
important to the food chain. These organisms are of particular
importance to shorebirds and juvenile salmon. The site
contained several pilings, logs and pieces of downed wood
indicative of previous log storage activities in the area.
Restoration Activities
The project restored approximately 0.66 acres of intertidal
habitat. Runoff from the hillside on the north side of
Marine View Drive, which forms the eastern project boundary,
is intercepted and routed through the project site in
a dendritic channel pattern. The design of this project
is consistent with the overall objective for the Hylebos
Waterway of increasing the sinuosity of the creek channel
and increasing the area and quality of the intertidal
habitat. The design phase was completed in late 1999 and
construction was completed in the fall of 2000. The first upland planting
occurred in November 2000, with the assistance of community
volunteers. Today, Citizens for a Healthy Bay provides both monitoring and stewardship assistance at this site.
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 project restores approximately 0.66 acres of intertidal
habitat by excavating about 2,000 cubic yards of material,
grading an area north of the existing vegetation line,
and planting intertidal vegetation. Runoff from the hillside
on the north side of Marine View Drive, which forms the
eastern project boundary, is intercepted and routed through
the project site in a dendritic channel pattern. Freshwater
inputs lower salinity and encourage growth of species
that tolerate brackish conditions. Substrate enhancement
may be a component of the project depending on the nutrient
availability of the existing materials.
THE COMMON NAMES OF PLANTS ESTABLISHED AT THE SITE
Revegetation of the site consists of the following:
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
Public Involvement/Volunteer Opportunities
The Trustees greatly appreciate the enthusiasm and donation
of time by all the volunteers. Thanks, everyone!
On April 21, 2001, in celebration
of Earth Day, volunteers, including Bill and his daughter
Rebecca, spent the day planting intertidal plants
at the Squally Beach project site. (Adjacent photo
courtesy of Colin Wagoner, Ridolfi Engineers.)
On November 19, 2000, the Trustees,
and volunteers from Stadium High School, the Boy Scouts,
and Citizens for a Healthy Bay, planted upland trees
at the site. (Adjacent photo courtesy of Jen Steger,
NOAA.)
On October 11, 2000, the Trustees,
along with the City of Tacoma and the Port of Seattle,
hosted a dedication celebration to recognize several
restoration projects: the Middle Waterway (City),
the Yowkwala, Skookum Wulge, Squally Beach, and Mowitch
NRDA restoration projects. (Adjacent photo courtesy
of G. Siani, NOAA.)
From I-5 take Exit 137. Turn right and follow 54th Ave. E. Turn right at 509 N. (aka Marine View Drive). An easy way to ensure that all three Marine View Drive sites are identified (Yowkwala,Squally Beach, and Skookum Wulge) is to go to the Cliff House Restaurant on Marine View Drive (on the left) and then turn around and drive south looking for three project signs on the right side of the road. The third of these signs, for the Squally Beach project, is at block 3200. A nearby powerline post is marked as "10-208." The sign should be visible from the nearby street turnout.
