Pierce County Surface Water Management (your Storm Drainage and Surface Water Management Utility) is completing a regional stormwater detention pond on a 12.5-acre site at approximately 9400 144th Street East on South Hill. The detention pond will accept runoff from the adjacent wetland when the flood stage is reached. Flooding of the wetland has been a primary cause of flooding across 144th Street East during fall and winter storms.

Also, a new storm drainage pipeline is being constructed to collect drainage from the detention pond and roadside ditches along 144th Street East and 86th Avenue East. The pipeline will run west on 144th Street East and then north on 86th Avenue East past South Hill Park to approximately 135th Street East. There, stormwater will discharge to an existing drainage channel that goes to Afdem infiltration basin on 128th Street East and to Zongas Pond.

• Ends flooding on 144th Street East.
• Restores a wetland to the south of 144th Street East that was filled a few years ago.
• Adds native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers to six acres of South Hill. This vegetation will reduce stormwater runoff, buffer the adjacent wetland, buffer residences to the west and future development to the south from the detention pond.
• Preserves open space for current and future residents of the area.
• Conveyance of runoff to the Afdem infiltration basin allows runoff to replenish groundwater that feeds many local streams. Several of these streams provide habitat to salmon, trout, and other wildlife.