Chambers Creek Dam-Phase III

Chambers Creek Dam Phase III built on previously funded projects working on the ultimate goal of removing Chambers Creek Dam and restoring the estuarine habitat at the impoundment site. The feasibility study, completed in 2019, determined that restoration (i.e., removal of the dam and restoration of the estuary) would be feasible if done in conjunction with the replacement of the Chambers Creek Road bridge spanning the creek, which is immediately upstream of the dam site. As such, the goal of this project was complete a preliminary design package in conjunction with the bridge type-size-location (TSL) study.

In addition to completing the preliminary design package, the project team held regular meetings with a variety of government entities and stakeholders. In addition, we offered private meetings with the three treaty tribes whose usual and accustomed areas included Chambers Bay. We reviewed the draft designs, proposals, and bridge TSL with the tribes and in the larger group meetings. An amendment provided us a 6-month extension allowing for more time to pair our deliverables with the counties bridge study.

The project advanced the removal of the Chambers Bay Dam by completing preliminary designs. In additional the project to engaged government entities and stakeholders to provide feedback. Dam removal will restore estuarine habitat to steelhead, Coho, Chum, and Pink Salmon in their juvenile and adult stages as well as migrating Puget Sound Chinook, who utilize South Puget Sound estuaries as layover sites before migrating out along salinity gradients supporting growth necessary for survival to adult life stages. Restoration of Chambers Bay will support growth needs for fish year round, especially during the peak nearshore rearing season for Chinook and Coho between February and August.