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CHB's Conservation Priorities
for Commencement Bay |
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As of 1996, ninety-nine
percent of Commencement Bay's wildlife areas have been destroyed. In October
1994, Citizens for a Healthy Bay members established a goal to return 105 or
610 acres, of Commencement Bay's original natural marine ecosystem.
These Conservation Priorities represent a diverse range of habitats including
upland green spaces, wetlands, intertidal zones, and streams. The conservation
sites were chosen based on various unique characteristics and the proximity of
each site to other conserved areas.This ecosystem approach connects important
wildlife areas together thus creating a healthier and more productive wildlife
community.
An ecosystem approach to conserving Commencement Bay's natural resources will
ensure these resources remain for future generations. Citizens for a Healthy
Bay will present these priorities to local, state, and federal resource
agencies and continue to work toward protecting the bay's natural resources. |
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Puget Creek |
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Stream and vegetated area |
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An original salmon spawning
creek in North Tacoma, Puget Creek has received considerable attention over the
past few years from the Puget Creek Restoration Society working to improve the quality of salmon spawning
habitat. However, the mouth of the creek flows through a steep culvert under
Ruston Way which restricts fish passage. The Commencement Bay Cleanup Action
Committee has been working on a restoration plan for the mouth of the creek,
but currently has no funding to implement the plan. Redesign of the mouth of
the creek will allow salmon to migrate safely in and out of the creek and
return salmon spawning to North Tacoma.
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Head of Middle Waterway |
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Intertidal shoreline |
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The head of the Middle Waterway adjacent to 11th Street East in one of the
original mudflats of Commencement Bay is an intertidal area providing resting
areas for migrating salmon, foraging areas for birds and small mammals, and
tidal zone habitat for crabs and other shellfish. The head of the waterway is
owned by Simpson Tacoma Kraft (east shore) and the City of Tacoma (west
shore). Restoration of the east shore took place in 1996 under the Natural
Damage Assessment. Restoration of the west side of the head of the Middle
Waterway will complement the east side project and increase intertidal and
upland habitat in the bay.
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Wheeler-Osgood Waterway |
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Intertidal shoreline |
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As the original mouth of the Puyallup River, the restoration of the Wheeler-
Osgood Waterway will provide a historic monument as well as prime intertidal
habitat. Ultimately, restoring some river flow to the waterway will provide a
clean freshwater source to the Thea Foss Waterway. In the short term,
cleanup of the sediments and protection of the Wheeler-Osgood from future
developments will ensure this intertidal area remains a part of the
Commencement Bay ecosystem.
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Puyallup River Banks |
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River and vegetated area |
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This area contains one of the largest sections of upland within the
Commencement Bay area and along the Lower Puyallup River. Upland
habitat is important for birds and small mammals and provides a link
between upland and river dwellers. Protection of this area from development,
and the entire shoreline of the Puyallup River, will provide a buffer to upland
activities. The site is within the railroad right-of-way and also contains a
section of the Puyallup River dike.
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North Shore Hillside |
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Vegetated steep slope |
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As development pressures continue in northeast Tacoma, protection of the
north shore hillside is critical. This steep green corridor provides nesting
habitat for birds and habitat for mammals. The corridor also protects the
shoreline from erosion. Protection of the upland slope requires a revision
in the City of Tacoma Shoreline Code restricting further development.
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Puyallup River Delta |
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River and intertidal shoreline |
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The Puyallup River carries clean sediment from Mount Rainier to
Commencement Bay. This clean sediment is deposited in the bay and a
new delta area is forming at the mouth of the river. The delta is important
habitat for birds, fish, and shellfish and will continue to develop naturally
as the river deposits more clean sediment. The area is also unreachable
by land; therefore, little human disturbance has affected the thriving animal
life which use it. The new delta must be protected from dredging efforts and
allowed to develop naturally.
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Hylebos Mudflats |
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Intertidal shoreline |
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Saddling the 11th Street Bridge at the Hylebos Waterway are two mudflats
areas. These mudflats provide intertidal habitat within the waterway and a
resting area for migrating salmon to and fro the Hylebos Creek. The northern
mudflat is owned by the Puyallup Tribe and has been designated a preserve
area. The southern mudflat is used for log storage during high tide.
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Hylebos Creek |
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Stream and vegetated area |
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Salmon spawning continues in the Hylebos Creek on a limited basis. The
Puyallup Tribe stocks the creek with Chum, Coho and pink salmon. The fish
passage in the creek remains open, but stormwater flooding contributes to
a loss of spawning habitat and a decrease in water quality. King County has
developed a stormwater management plan for Hylebos Creek within it jurisdiction.
Development of a restoration plan for the Pierce County portion of the creek's
wetlands and floodplains will decrease flooding, increase water quality, and
increase productive spawning habitat.
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For more information,
please e-mail us at lrose@healthybay.org.
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