This land was set to be developed into 40 homes. Now it’ll be kept as salmon habitat
The city of Gig Harbor has been making strides in conserving local land this year. With their first – but certainly not last – land conservation acquisition, they are setting an example of what great partnerships and environmental sustainability can provide for communities.
The North Creek Salmon Heritage Site is split into three phases and on Tuesday, Oct. 4, this conservation milestone is being celebrated with a public “un-groundbreaking” ceremony.
Mayor Tracie Markley, representatives from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, and the former property owners will be at the ceremony.
The “un-groundbreaking” is specifically for Phase I of the North Creek Salmon Heritage Site, located just north of the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant and across the street from Donkey Creek Park. Phase II – adjacent to Phase I and covering 23.87 acres – is expected to close at the end of October and Phase III (which I wrote about earlier this year) will be celebrated in November.
There were challenges with the Phase III purchase, but the city persisted in preserving the land. At the Aug. 8 City Council meeting, City Administrator Katrina Knutson shared that the city did not receive a Pierce County Conservation Futures Grant for purchasing the property. However, at the council’s direction, the city moved forward with purchasing the land for the full $1 million and had $50,000 of funding support from the Gig Harbor Land Conservation Fund for the acquisition.
The delay in celebration was explained at the Sept. 26 City Council meeting. Knutson noted that partner Great Peninsula Conservancy will be creating a conservation easement on the Phase III property, free of charge, to ensure the land will be conserved in perpetuity. The soonest that the easement can pass via their board will be Nov. 16, Knutson said. Once the easement passes, the city is looking forward to having an un-groundbreaking ceremony for the Phase III property.
With strong partnerships and perseverance by the city, all three phases will be preserved in perpetuity for their environmental and cultural significance. The 11.5 acres of Phase I are split zoned R1 and R2; there was interest to develop approximately 40 homes on the land. Instead, the acreage will be preserved in its natural state.
North Creek flows under Harborview Drive onto this parcel, and this body of water is flourishing salmon habitat. WildFish Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Wildlife have identified Coho, Coastal Cutthroat Trout, Chum, and Puget Sound Steelhead trout in the creek.
While the future of this land is natural preservation, it has potential to include a low-impact, non-motorized trail that connects Harborview Drive to the Cushman Trail with public salmon viewing areas. This connection would also allow Cushman Trail users to easily access historic downtown. However, the city emphasizes that environmental sustainability is key – the trail on Phase I would be accessible, but unpaved.
“We want residents and visitors to be able to get into nature without undoing the preservation of this land,” Knutson said. “A trail would be similar to something you might see at a state park.”
The land also notably holds historical and cultural significance to the Puyallup Tribe as the ancestral homelands and main village site of the sxʷəbabč (Swift Water) Peoples, the original residents of Gig Harbor. A trail would include historical interpretive signs for the cultural heritage of the land.
The preservation of this acreage and the Cushman Trail connection to access the waterfront have been a local topic for some time. And with (potentially) three significant land conservation acquisitions before the end of this year, Gig Harbor is setting a great example of what city-led environmental preservation can look like.
“Preserving this land is something residents have wanted for awhile.” Knutson noted. “The city is really excited about the future of this project.”
The Phase I acreage was purchased by the City with a $430,000 grant secured in September 2021 through Pierce County Conservation Futures. Additional matching funds were supplied by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians ($50,000) and the city ($20,000).
The Lyons Family Trust previously owned the property and Phyllis and Paul Lyons executed the sale agreement. The land had been inherited from their Uncle Milan Mikich after being held since 1925. This was the year that Mikich arrived in Gig Harbor following an invite from his World War I buddy – another notable Gig Harbor resident – Norman Kimball.
Mikich is known for his work throughout Gig Harbor, including his hand in founding the Gig Harbor Grange. In a city press release, Paul Lyons noted how special Gig Harbor was to his uncle and how proud he would be to see this land preserved for generations to come.
Carly Vester has been writing an environmental column for The Peninsula Gateway since 2019. Her storytelling focuses on the intersection of people and the outdoors — from adventures across the west, to our environment and the rich history surrounding it. Her documentary films have screened internationally and her writing has been published locally and regionally.
