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Chambers Bay dam removal plan aims to restore 180 acres of estuary, reopen 5.5 miles of salmon habitat
Summary
Pierce County staff described a plan to remove Chambers Creek Dam, replace a functionally obsolete bridge, and restore about 180 acres of estuary habitat and 5.5 miles of upstream stream habitat; RFQs for design work are under way and some regional design funding has been secured.
Sean Millsmith, Pierce County Planning and Public Works, presented the Chambers Bay estuary restoration project and the planned site visit. "This would restore 180 acres of estuary habitat," Millsmith said, summarizing the project's principal ecological benefit. The project proposes removal of the Chambers Creek Dam, replacement of the functionally obsolete bridge, and restoration work that would reopen approximately 5.5 miles of upstream habitat for multiple salmon species.
Millsmith reviewed project history (feasibility work dating back to 2009 and Army Corps studies in 2012), recent technical work (a comprehensive implementation strategy completed in 2025), and near-term procurement steps: an RFQ for bridge replacement design (selection imminent) and an RFQ for dam-removal and estuary design open through June 16. He also described grant applications submitted in April to the Fish Barrier Removal Board and PSAR and noted a $7,000,000 regional-design grant recently awarded to Pierce County; the county also anticipates contributing about $5.5 million from surface-water utility fees for design and construction.
Millsmith emphasized tribal leadership and co-management in the project and noted a recent, notable fisheries signal: for the first time since 1995, Chinook were documented above the Chambers Creek dam (1,506 counted) during recent surveys. The council planned to visit the site this afternoon to view the dam, estuary and proposed restoration footprint.
