Renee Buck, Chair of the CCWC

The Town of Steilacoom, with the property owners, is working toward restoration and development of a 71-acre former paper mill site was built in 1919 and abandoned in 2000. On August 14, 2023, the CCWC sponsored a field trip to learn about the current status of the restoration and development project. Rand Bellar, the current property owner, is planning a mixed-use residential development on the north portion of the property and a creek restoration in the south portion. He is working with the Town of Steilacoom for the rezoning of the parcel and transfer of the daylighted Garrison Creek into public ownership through collaboration with Pierce County Parks.

The photograph shows Don Russell in the foreground at the waterfall where the Garrison Spring Creek daylight project will begin. The creek will follow the nearby wooded bluff, providing natural shading out to Chambers Bay through a new culvert. The new culvert will be at a lower elevation, giving salmon access to the creek up to the natural obstacle of the waterfall. Curious whether salmon were active in this area, Renee Buck and Derek Faust walked to just the area where the freshwater from the creek entered Chambers Bay at a low tide and observed six salmon. This is encouraging evidence that salmon are likely to return to the creek.

For more information about the project timeline and scope see: Garrison Springs Creek and Estuary Restoration