Channel Migration Zone | Surface Water Management | Public Works and Utilities

Public Works & Utilities >> Surface Water Management >> Capital Improvement Program >> Channel Migration Zone

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Historic Ipsut Creek Cabin - Mt. Rainier Flood 2006

INTRODUCTION

Pierce County regulates Channel Migration Zones as defined in Pierce County Code (18E.70). Channel migration zones have already been mapped and adopted for the Puyallup, Carbon and White Rivers. County Code identifies additional rivers to be studied for CMZ hazards. These additional studies must be adopted by Council action before being used to make regulatory decisions. In 2007, studies were completed for the upper Nisqually River and for portions of South Prairie Creek. These studies are currently being reviewed for adoption. The proposal to adopt the two new studies was heard before the Pierce County Planning Commission on January 22nd. The proposal raised significant concerns from citizens and the Planning Commission continued the discussion until a future meeting. Then at the request of the County Council, the CMZ proposal was removed from the Planning Commission agenda to allow for a broader community review.

Channel Migration Zone (CMZ) Studies

CMZ Frequently Asked Questions (pdf - 15kb)

The hearing with the Planning Commission has been postponed to a later date to be determined.

South Prairie Report (pdf - 22,579kb / 62 pages)

Upper Nisqually River Report (pdf - 8,858kb / 58 pages)

Upper Nisqually River Exhibit 1 - Coming Soon
Upper Nisqually River Exhibit 2 - Coming Soon
Upper Nisqually River Map Plate 1 (pdf - 14,984kb)
Upper Nisqually River Map Plate 2 (pdf - 9,091kb)

Puyallup-Carbon-White Rivers Final Report (pdf - 1,875kb)

Pierce County Map showing the fees in each basin.

Citizens Advisory Committee

A Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) has been established to evaluate and provide recommendations to Pierce County regarding channel migration zones. The CAC is comprised of individuals representing a variety of stakeholder groups, including affected property owners, members of local watershed councils, land use advisory committees and floodplain managers. Through a series of meetings and discussion, the group will work collaboratively to develop recommendations on the mapping and management of CMZs by August 31, 2009.

For additional information on the Citizen Advisory Committee, including meeting agendas and other materials, please click through to the CAC's page below.

CMZ Citizen Advisory Committee

Contact Information

If you have questions about channel migration zones in Pierce County, please contact Dennis Dixon at 253-798-3696, Hans Hunger at 253-798-6162 or Randy Brake at 253-798-4651.

For more information about the CMZ CAC, please contact Melissa Paulson at 253-798-4686.