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Council approves county transfer of 33.6-acre 'Stubbs' parcel to support South Prairie Creek restoration
Summary
Pierce County Council authorized the executive to accept transfer of the 33.6-acre Stubbs property from Forterra Northwest to expand the South Prairie Creek restoration; county staff said the project is at 60% design, construction is funded and expected in 2027, and the county will accept existing stewardship obligations.
The Pierce County Council voted unanimously on Dec. 9 to authorize the executive to accept a transfer agreement with Forterra Northwest for a 33.6-acre parcel commonly known as the Stubbs property (tax parcel 0519123054).
Council staffer Paul Boehke described the parcel as adjacent to the South Prairie Creek Preserve, near South Prairie and about 3.5 miles southwest of Buckley. Lisa Spurrier of Planning and Public Works told the council the land was purchased in 2021 with a mix of Pierce County Conservation Futures and Washington State Salmon Recovery Funding Board grants; Pierce County contributed $296,000 toward demolition of structures on the site.
Spurrier said parts of the parcel are elevated but that other areas have historic fill that the county plans to remove to restore functional floodplain habitat. A project that extends restoration into this parcel is at roughly 60% design and is expected to reach 90% by February, with construction fully funded and anticipated in 2027.
Boeke and Spurrier said Forterra did not intend to retain the property permanently and that stewardship obligations tied to RCO (Recreation Conservation Office) grants will transfer to the county. No members of the public spoke on the item during the meeting; the roll call recorded 6 ayes and 0 nays.
Council members commended Forterra’s cleanup work and expressed interest in how the county will integrate the tract into restoration and public-access plans.
