Stewardship Connection 2022
Puget Creek

This program covers four dates in 2022 and centers on the Puget Creek Natural Area. The organizing goal of the program is connecting area residents and visitors with this unique and compact watershed through scheduled quarterly stewardship opportunities. Activities and programs will educate volunteers on various aspects of Puget Creek ecosystems and each of the dates will feature a presentation on the theme, regular water testing for contaminants and microplastics and a focused cleanup and/or restoration project.

Event Schedule

9:30am                        Welcome/Registration
9:45am – 10:15           Presentation/Q&A
10:15 – 11:45               Cleanup/Restoration
11:45 – Noon               Concluding Activities

Jan 17: About the Water

A stormwater specialist will be on hand to talk about where the water that makes up Puget Creek comes from. How much of the Tacoma does the gulch drain? What is the connection between springs, streams, sewers and storm drains?

May 7: About the Fish

Talking About Salmon. A Salmonid ecologist leads a conversation about the history of salmon runs in the Tacoma area, and in Puget Creek, specifically. What did the early runs look like? When was the last run? Are there still fish that make it back here? What would real restoration look like?

August 21: About the Community

Focused on the history of the area, from the time of glacial retreat through to early Tacoma days and up until the present. This date will include some small construction projects and welcomes residents from the neighborhoods that border the gulch as well as participants from other areas. 

November 12: About the Birds

A naturalist-led introduction to the birds found in the Puget Creek watershed. How many species call this area home and how many others pass through occasionally? What are the issues affecting local populations and what can people do to help?

(The 2022 Stewardship Connection is presented as a partnership between the Ikkatsu Project, South Sound Surfrider and Tacoma Metro Parks. For more information on other volunteer opportunities throughout the Sound, click here for the Surfrider website and visit the Park’s website here.)