Old Soldiers Home Levee Setback
In the 2006 construction season the project removed 5,500 Lin-Ft of existing levee on the left bank of the Puyallup River between river mile 21.3 and 22.3 and constructed a new 5,200 Lin-Ft setback levee structure reinforced with LWD. The maximum width of the river corridor increased from the pre-existing condition of 250 feet to its present condition of 1,150 feet. The project opened up and re-connected the Puyallup River channel to 53 acres of floodplain. The setback levee now allows for more natural channel migration and floodplain natural function and process. A smaller segment of side channel within the floodplain corridor area at the upstream end of the project was excavated, which allows river flow into the opened-up floodplain area more quickly.
The project directly addressed two key limiting factors by allowing more natural channel and floodplain function and processes. Off-channel rearing and refugia habitat were created, and spawning habitat is improving in the channel because meandering will reduce grade, slow water velocities, and create more suitable substrates.
Project vicinity on Google Maps
Relationships
- broader: floodplain
- located in: puyallup-white
- related to: pierce county