First Creek Watershed: Martin Luther King Day

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Martin Luther King Day - Day of Service

First Creek Watershed Cleanup, January 17, Tacoma, WA., Martin Luther King Day of Service - Participates: First Creek Middle School, University of Washington Tacoma (Environmental Sciences Dept), University of Puget Sound (Football Team), First Creek Church, Grace Methodist Church, TEAM (Tacoma Eastside Action Membership), First Creek Neighbors, Green Tacoma Partnership and Pierce County Stream Team, and other friends. This is a yearly event, join us next year and help make our environment better.

This was a very successful day, with 126 volunteers signing in. We removed Ivy and Blackberries, a lot of liter and trash and we improved the sidewalks on two sites, East 34th and First Creek and also at Fairbanks and First Creek. Thank you to everyone who participated, good work!

Two albums of additional photos:
To view the albums below, it's best to right click on the link and then open in a new window.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=272293524408%3A804448659&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee Photographs by Dan Fear

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=472293524408%3A2050329176&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee Photographs by Al Harmon

Our next major Cleanup Event will be on April 16th.
Other smaller work parties occur throughout the Spring and Summer. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Dan Fear at (253) 304-2808 or danfear@hotmail.com

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Brief Description

This site relates to the First Creek Stewardship Plan as well as other activities occuring in First Creek.

Summary about The First Creek Community Stewardship Plan. It is a community-driven effort that seeks to transform First Creek into a community asset. The community has partnered with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the City of Tacoma, the Tacoma Housing Authority, environmental groups, and others in order to achieve this vision.

Brief History of First Creek:
The area that is now known as First Creek was once the political and social center for the Puyallup Tribe. The creek, the first creek the Tribe came to they paddled home on the Puyallup River from Commencement Bay, was at the center of a thriving Puyallup tribal community with a salmon-laden creek.

Headwaters of First Creek:
The spring fed headwaters for the main stem of First Creek as well as both of it's tributaries all originate in Midland, which is the community located on the plateau on the county side, above the area currently under restoration. The main stem flows (or still tries to) on the east side of Portland Avenue, both tributaries flow on the west side of Portland Avenue.

The 1st Tributary formed the ravine that runs down the west side of Portland Avenue to just about 48th Street East, where it veers to the east under Portland Avenue and meets the main stem.

The 2nd Tributary joins the main stem at around 44th Street East, just below the 1st fork and also flows under Portland Avenue from west to east.

In 1999, the Midland Resident's Association was successful in gaining protection for the main stem by having that stretch declared Rural Separator. It took them over 3 years, lots of meetings, lots of door knocking and lots of petition signature gathering. In 2008, Pierce County planning finally acknowledged the 1st Tributary as an actual waterway as well.

First Creek Today:
Over recent years, First Creek has taken on different names, such as the "T" Street Gulch, as well as a deteriorating physical appearance. Much of the area is now covered by invasive plants, sewer lines, roads, and garbage. As a result, this important and beautiful area, like the neighborhood that surrounds it, now has a poor reputation in many people’s minds.

Our Vision for First Creek’s Future:
The City of Tacoma, Puyallup Tribe, Tacoma Housing Authority, and community are partnering to transform First Creek. While we recognize we may not restore the creek to its original condition, we do believe we can preserve the area for future generations to enjoy as part of their community. Working in collaboration with the Puget Sound Partnership, we envision a healthy habitat with native plants, natural and recreational trails, and educational material related to the creek’s historical and cultural significance. Our efforts in First Creek will work to complement what some of our neighbors in the Eastside are doing to improve the community.

We’d love to give you a tour of First Creek. We are looking for more volunteers to help with various aspects of this project throughout its upcoming phases. If you or someone you know would like to know more, email us at firstcreekwatershed@gmail.co

First Creek Watershed

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Martin Luther King Day - Day of Service

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