Pierce County used this grant to develop final project design for partial removal of a revetment on the middle Puyallup River and construction of a side channel near its confluence with the Carbon River, known as the South Fork site ( LB RM 17.8 to 18.3). In addition, two distict design projects occured at the Fennel Creek: (1) a 30% design for partial revetment removal and floodplain reforestation at the right bank Fennel Creek floodplain site, Puyallup River (RM 15.2 to 15.8); and (2) a feasibility study for the restoration of Fennel Creek. These projects will reconnect approximately 100 acres of floodplain to the river, enhance the river by providing complexity in the form of log jams, create a new side channel, restore Fennel Creek and revegetate the floodplain. Pierce County currently owns or has construction rights on approximately 55 acres at the South Fork site and currently owns 44 acres at the Fennel Creek site, with plans to acquire an additional 19 acres for this part of the project within the next five years.
The existing river revetments and Fennel Creek levees limit the physical and biological processes of the stream channels and adjacent floodplains; removal and/or breaching of the revetment and levees will allow natural stream processes to occur and improve aquatic and riparian habitat. The future project is expected to result in channel migration, sediment and large woody debris transport and deposition, and creation of habitat. Chinook salmon, bull trout, steelhead, coho, and other salmon species will especially benefit in terms of improved spawning habitat and/or rearing habitat.
The middle Puyallup River is among the high priority areas identified for restoration in WRIA 10/12 lead entity strategy. Loss of floodplain habitat, particularly the side channels, is limiting performance of Chinook due to channelization and confinement of the river. The strategy notes that preferred projects in the mainstem will open up and restore floodplain habitat.
