Friends of Swan Creek Watershed

WHAT'S THERE:  Amazing opportunities to see salmon spawning, starting in late November.

Friends of Swan Creek Watershed is a diverse group of adults & youth who work together to provide educational and volunteer opportunities in Swan Creek Park & Watershed.  In 2006 they received a City of Tacoma Splash Grant to assist in their educational outreach. Swan Creek Park, 290 acres of undeveloped land with primitive walking trails, is nestled on the boundary between Tacoma and Pierce County.  It is a hidden treasure with a rich ecosystem, including salmon and a rare plant, and a unique history.  A canyon containing Swan Creek extends the length of the park.  Pierce County Parks & Recreation manages 40 acres of the park site along Swan Creek, including the park’s primary entrance at Pioneer Way where there is a small parking lot.  Metro Parks Tacoma manages 250 acres of the park land along the easterly City of Tacoma limits.

Mission: To educate the public about the Swan Creek Watershed and engage people of all ages in activities that cultivate environmental stewardship and preserve this natural resource in the heart of our urban landscape.  

 WHERE: E 59th St & E Roosevelt Ave

Directions to the Pioneer Way Park Entrance:  The Pioneer Way entrance to Swan Creek Park is located on Pioneer Way between River and Waller Roads.  If you are coming from I-5/River Road, look for the Clay Art Center and Barker’s Barn on the right.  The park entrance is just past that on the right.  If you are on Pioneer Way coming from Puyallup, it’s just past Waller Road on the left.  Note: currently there isn’t park signage at the street entrance, but you’ll see it when you turn into the parking lot.

 Educational Opportunities: Students can engage in monitoring of the spawning salmon by doing visual counts, looking at the outtake flow, and marking the redds. Swan creek's plant diversity makes for an ideal class for plant identification.

CONTACT: Sue Berstein  sue.b@prodigy.net