Agencies Team Up to Save Des Moines Creek for People and Fish

2005 Archived News

A coalition of agencies gathered Friday on the shores of Puget Sound to celebrate a series of projects that will restore Des Moines Creek and serve as a model for growth-friendly environmental stewardship.

In these five projects, known collectively as the Des Moines Creek
Basin Plan, the city of Des Moines, the city of SeaTac, King County, the Port of Seattle, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Midway Sewer District are teaming up to improve and restore fish habitat, reduce flooding and erosion, improve drainage and allow for planned growth and roadway improvements in the Des Moines Creek Basin.

King County provided regional leadership in pulling the partners together and the technical expertise to help make the projects happen.

"The development and construction of these projects can serve as a template for how various cities and counties, the state, and other entities can make a difference by finding creative ways to work together," King County Executive Ron Sims said.

"King County is proud to participate in this regional collaboration and commends the members for their help in developing the Des Moines Creek Basin plan and bringing these projects to life."

The Washington State Department of Transportation is providing $9 million of the $20 million estimated total cost of the projects. This allows WSDOT to "pre-pay" for storm water improvements that will be needed as part ot the project to extend State Route 509 to I-5. Participating in this effort will improve the health of the Des Moines Creek basin, while saving about $27 million from project expenses that would have otherwise been spent on separate storm water facilities.

"This is the type of project we think people want to see – agencies working together to protect the environment and save money by making smart decisions." Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald said.

The Port of Seattle is also contributing $9 million to the projects.

"The Des Moines Creek project is a win for the environment, for the community and for the cause of regional cooperation," Port of Seattle Commissioner Patricia Davis said. "We have a solution that allows Seattle-Tacoma

International Airport and the surrounding communities to grow."

"Because the whole state benefits from SeaTac Airport, yet our local environment is impacted, I think it is fitting that the State, through WSDOT, contribute toward the cost of protecting our local streams," Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-33) said. "Growing up in this community, I remember playing in our local streams as a child. I want to make sure these opportunities are protected for future generations."

The cities of Des Moines and SeaTac also will provide funding.

"I am excited that this project that has been talked about for so many years is finally underway." Des Moines Mayor Bob Sheckler said. "The benefits to Des Moines and the Des Moines Creek Basin area are substantial in many different ways."

Des Moines Creek Basin projects are a good example of what can be done in an urbanized area to protect and restore the natural environment. This collective effort shows how agencies with diverse interests can work cooperatively and effectively toward common goals.

"By working together, we are able to achieve a better product at lower costs," SeaTac Mayor Frank Hansen said.

The restoration projects include:

• Marine View Drive (SR 509) culvert replacement and bridge construction to eliminate a significant fish passage barrier and open up more than two more miles of habitat.
• A regional detention facility (RDF) to provide stormwater storage and reduce peak flows and channel erosion.
• A high-flow bypass pipe to reduce peak flows and optimize storage volume in the RDF.
• A flow augmentation facility to maintain minimum stream flows during dry periods to ensure fish survival.
• Habitat enhancement and restoration to improve fish passage, enhance habitat and stabilize eroding stream bed and banks.

Construction on two of the projects – the Marine View Drive Bridge and the regional detention facility – recently got underway. Work on the bypass pipe will start later this year. Work on the flow augmentation facility and habitat enhancement and restoration will begin in 2007.

"The Des Moines Creek Basin projects represent a remarkable partnership that is replacing barriers and bottlenecks with bridges and passages, helping fish and people," Rep. Shay Schual-Berke (D-33) said. "It is exciting to see the partnership between Des Moines and SeaTac, and to see Des Moines take another step in becoming a jewel in South King County."

The Midway Sewer District plays an important role by providing over two miles of pipe for the projects, an easement through its treatment plant, and construction water disposal services.

"When all the public entities cooperate in a project, the community as a whole reaps more benefits," Midway Sewer District Commissioner Vince Koester said.

Des Moines Creek is a 3.5 mile-long stream system that flows from the south end of SeaTac Airport through the cities of SeaTac and Des Moines, and into Puget Sound. The Des Moines Creek Basin includes a large part of SeaTac International Airport as well as extensive commercial and high-density residential development. Because much of the Basin was developed before implementation of effective stormwater detention requirements, the stream experiences erosive flows and flooding in the winter and chronically low flows in the summer.