DESCRIPTION
The Neadham Road area lies in a very dynamic reach of the Puyallup River that has had repeated damage and losses to flood protection facilities. The topography of the area raises the hazard to residents and first responders during flood events. For public safety and elimination of repetitive damages the area should be returned to open space. Removal of residents and abandonment of flood control facilities in the area will open up opportunity for the river to access relic channels blocked by flood control facilities. A major limiting factor to salmon and steelhead recovery is the lack of stable off channel habitat. Pierce County has been actively purchasing properties through FEMA buyouts, grants and land purchased for flood protection facilities. The County to date has acquired 220 acres in this area. Approximately 60 acres remain to be acquired before flood protection facilities can be abandoned. When buyouts are complete there will be over 1 mile of continuous floodplain containing numerous relic channels on the right bank side of the river in this area. The objective of the project is to purchase the remaining residential properties, remove the homes and other structures on the property. The removal of the residences will allow the County to abandon the flood control facilities protecting Neadham Road. Localized erosion protection on Brooks Road would be installed in the future as the need arises to protect the roadway.
The proposal is for acquisition and restoration. Pierce County plans to acquire private property along Needham Road, approximately 5.5 miles south of Orting on the Puyallup River. When acquisition and demolition are complete, the County will remove a total of 3,750 linear feet of levee to allow the river to once again access it's historical floodplain. Revetment needs to provide local protection along Brooks Road from channel migration will also be addressed.
The area lies in a very dynamic reach of the Puyallup River that has had repeated damage and losses to flood protection facilities. For public safety and elimination of repetitive damages, the area should be returned to open space. Removal of residents and abandonment of flood control facilities in the area will open up opportunity for the river to access relic channels blocked by flood control facilities. A major limiting factor to salmon recovery is the lack of stable off channel habitat. This project is intended to benefit Chinook, coho, pink, and chum salmon, steelhead, and bulltrout.
The County to date has acquired 220 acres in this area. Approximately 60 acres of private property and 70 acres of privately owned land remain to be acquired before flood protection facilities can be abandoned. When buyouts are complete, there will be over 1 mile of continuous floodplain with numerous relic channels on the right bank of the river in this area.
The property will be county-owned open space and future plans include riparian restoration and abandoned railgrade removal.
