Work begins on restoring Hylebos Creek in Fife, WA

WSDOT
recent  |  interesting  |  random  |  favorites  |  contacts  |  sets  |  tags:  
Work begins on restoring Hylebos Creek in Fife, WA
Work begins on restoring Hylebos Creek in Fife, WA

The SR 167 Completion Project in Fife, WA reaches a major milestone in July 2023, when work begins on restoring and realigning Hylebos Creek as it makes it way toward Commencement Bay.

Before restoration and realignment work can begin, biologists must catch and relocate all the fish in the stream so they're not harmed by this work. This is known as "de-fishing." Workers here are not catching fish yet, but removing debris and other underwater hazards that could trip them up in the process.

Realigning Hylebos Creek is one part of a much larger and unique environmental mitigation program that we're doing as part of the SR 167 Completion Project.

Decades ago, areas on either side of I-5 at the Fife curve were converted to industrial and agricultural use, turning this area into a shadow of its former self. Hylebos Creek, for example, was diverted into ditches that followed straight lines and ran too close to I-5, allowing runoff from the road to enter the creek. Heavy rains led to chronic flooding on I-5 because the wetlands that used to act as a storage area for floodwater were gone. In addition to restoring the creek and making it more inviting to fish, especially Chinook and coho salmon, we'll also restore wetlands on the east side of I-5. In all, nearly 150 acres of wetlands and streams will be revitalized.

The SR 167 Completion project, along with restoring this vital habitat is part of WSDOT’s Puget Sound Gateway Program which completes critical links in Washington’s highway and freight network. It will build an important new connection to the Port of Tacoma, improve the movement of freight and reduce congestion on local roads and highways.

Attribution Noncommercial No Derivative Works Some rights reserved
Taken on: July 21, 2023
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with Hylebos Creek Hylebos Creek Everybody's photos tagged with De-fishing De-fishing Everybody's photos tagged with Creek restoration Creek restoration more » Everybody's photos tagged with Wetlands and streams Wetlands and streams Everybody's photos tagged with SR 167 Completion project SR 167 Completion project Everybody's photos tagged with riparian riparian Everybody's photos tagged with Riparian restoration project Riparian restoration project Everybody's photos tagged with Puget Sound Gateway Program Puget Sound Gateway Program Everybody's photos tagged with WSDOT WSDOT Everybody's photos tagged with Fish Fish Everybody's photos tagged with Chinook salmon Chinook salmon Everybody's photos tagged with Coho salmon Coho salmon Everybody's photos tagged with <KO « less
Sets appears in:   • SR 167 completion: wetlands and stream restoration   
Stats: 1,840 views