PHOTO BY MEGHAN ERKKINEN

This section of Wapato Creek, near Valley and 70th avenues in Fife, was relocated and improved as part of the Valley Avenue widening project. The eight-acre site includes off-channel areas for fish to rest and various plantings to improve the habitat.

Fife completes Wapato relocation project

By Meghan Erkkinen

The city of Fife is wrapping up a project along Wapato Creek, which was relocated and improved as part of the Valley Avenue widening project.

The section of the creek is located near Valley and 70th avenues. The widening of Valley Avenue from three to five lanes, a priority for the city of Fife for a number of years, was complicated by the close proximity of the creek both to the north and south of the street. The city determined that in order to widen the road, it would need to relocate the creek.

“Before the project occurred, if there was ever a spill in the road, it would go right into the creek,” said Russ Blount, public works director for the city. “The widening of the road obviously brought it closer to the creek. We looked at a variety of options…and came up with the idea of moving the creek away from the road at this location and then also building some wetlands and doing some other things to make up for the impacts (of the project) elsewhere.”

The city contracted with David Evans and Associates and consulted with the Puyallup Tribe and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife to put together a plan for the eight-acre site.

Crews relocated the creek bed and added plantings around the creek to provide shade for fish. An off-channel area was built to be a refuge for fish. The area has been fenced off to allow the habitat to develop.

Also added to the site was a pedestrian path that loops near the creek. The path will eventually tie into sidewalks that will be incorporated along Valley Avenue as part of the widening project.

“I think they did a really nice job with it,” said Mayor Barry Johnson. “It’s a good, solid improvement, and I’ve heard the fish have already started to use it.”

The Wapato Creek relocation and mitigation also helped city staff understand a little bit more about the creek. During the creek relocation process, crews dammed off either end of the old creek bed and used an electric shock to trap fish in order to move them to the relocated portion of the creek. In that process, they were able to document the types of fish running through the creek. Several types were found, including about a dozen trout.

“When you find trout in there that’s a sign the creek’s in good shape, which was pleasing to hear,” Russ Blount said.

The project cost a little under $2 million to complete. Residents are invited to visit the site, located on the south side of Valley Avenue just east of 70th.

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