Pierce County residents that live near Purdy Lane Northwest and 144th Street Northwest are invited to a meeting Thursday, Jan. 25 on a proposed project to improve Purdy Creek’s fish passage, water quality and fish habitat.
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Peninsula High School library, 14105 Purdy Dr. NW in Gig Harbor.
Purdy Creek currently flows through pipes and a box culvert under a local gas station. The size of the pipes makes it difficult for fish to move upstream for spawning. There are also concerns about stormwater runoff polluting the creek.
Pierce County staff is seeking community feedback on several concepts:
- Purchase the Purdy Chevron Gas Station at 14317 Purdy Lane NW if the owner is agreeable. The county would remove the building and parking lot, install a larger culvert or bridge at 144th Street Northwest, and create an estuary on the gas station site.
- Purchase up to three properties just to the east of Purdy Lane Northwest and move the creek to the east of its current location. The county would also install a larger culvert or bridge at 144th Street Northwest and Purdy Lane Northwest.
- Install a long and wide box culvert below the existing Purdy Lane Northwest.
The county will use the information from the community as it seeks future funding.
This project has been in the planning stage for several years as the county seeks funding to move to the next stages of the project. A public meeting on this issue was held in January 2014.
A project website is available at www.piercecountywa.org/purdycreek.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Mike Livingston-Halliday, Planning and Public Works public information specialist
253-798-4210
mliving@co.pierce.wa.us