pierce county logo Pierce County mount rainier left mount rainier mount rainier left
Public Works and Utilities
horizontal page banner

Public Works & Utilities >> Surface Water Management >> Watershed Services >> Basin Plans Main Page >> General Basin Plan Information


What is a Basin?

  • A smaller drainage area within a larger watershed
  • There are 5 watersheds in Pierce County
  • There are 26 basins
  • Basin plans for Gig Harbor Peninsula, Muck Creek and Clover Creek will be prepared first
  • All basin plans should be done in 5-10 years

Issues Addressed in Basin Plans

  • Flooding
  • Water Quality
  • Fish Habitat
  • Natural Resources
  • Relationship of Water to Land Use

Programs and Regulations Addressed

  • Clean Water Act/ NPDES and Wetlands Fill Permits
  • State Water Quality Standards
  • Endangered Species Act
  • County Storm Drainage Plan and Capital Improvement Projects
  • National Flood Insurance Program
  • Safe Drinking Water Act
  • Nonpoint Watershed Plans (WAC 400-12)

Basin Planning Process

  • Phase One - Characterization
  • Phase Two - Plan Development
  • Phase Three - Implementation, Effectiveness Monitoring and Plan Updates

Characterization Elements

  • Mapping
  • Sub-basin boundary delineation
  • Stream gauging
  • Collect existing information
  • Windshield surveys
  • Stream reconnaissance
  • Macroinvertebrate surveys
  • Existing land cover
  • Historic conditions
  • Impervious surface coverage estimates
  • Community involvement
  • Problem identification
  • Prepare characterization report

Plan Elements

  • Continue data collection
  • Stakeholder involvement
  • Develop simulation models
  • Identify potential land use/resource conflicts
  • Identify expected water quality, habitat and flooding problems
  • Problem prioritization
  • Develop programmatic remedial measures
  • Develop candidate capital projects
  • Evaluate alternative land use scenarios
  • Develop implementation alternatives
  • Plan preparation

Pierce County Ferry
Schedule, fares, and more.

PC Responds
Stop illegal dumping.

Request Road Maintenance
(253) 798-6000

Report Downed Signs
(253) 531-6990

Locations & Directions
Public Works & Utilities building locations and directions

Privacy Policy | Text Only Version | Webmaster

Copyright © 1996-2010 Pierce County Washington. All rights reserved. 		             
Last Modified
Jun 16 2008 1:34PM