By Marianne Lincoln
On November 29, 2024, I took a drive out to a few locations on Clover Creek to see where there was water and where it ended. I started near Canyon Road and ended near Pacific Avenue. The water in the South Fork disappeared just after Golden Given, where there are a number of beaver dams. Seven I believe I was told.
On the North Fork, there was no water coming down from the branch at 20th Avenue and a light flow at 15th Avenue Court. By the time it got to B Street, there was no flow at all.
Then on Saturday, December 7, it had started raining at night. So, I wandered back out and got some comparison shots. Still no flow from 20th Avenue to Brookdale Greens. 15th Avenue Court’s flow from the North Fork was very steady and that carries all the way to A Street. At 134th it petered out.
The South Fork still was not flowing past the beaver dams between Golden Given and 10th Avenue. The remaining portions of the creek that had flow were getting storm water runoff. For example, at C Street, there is a runoff pipe on bother sider just West of the bridge. Those were flowing pretty heavily. problem is, no one in the County has told us where that water is coming from. It really should not flow straight into the creek bed.
The creek is not really flowing through Parkland. It just has areas that are ponding and look like they are trying to get somewhere. But when you go downstream, you find the water hasn’t made it that far. Then another storm drain or a bit of runoff fills another area with water for a few feet. This just can’t be right.
Here are the comparison shots with labels.
Pierce Prairie Post 
Marianne,
The 2 drains at C Street have delivered polluted storm water directly to Clover Creek since about 1968.
I complained about this to Pierce County over the years. About 3 years ago Pierce County, Stormwater folks started a project to change one of the two drains to infiltrate the water. The project has been funded and is still being engineered. Tim Ramser is the guy in charge. He told me this is a difficult problem to fix because recharge sites are scarce.
Give him a call to get an update.
Kurt and I have lots of photos and info. I have a flyer about these drains.
Tim knows I want to see more water quality projects completed in this watershed. I estimated residents are paying about $12 Mil per year but only get about 4% back in projects.
Al
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Al, you are the reason I specifically posted that photo! I have heard you ask about it several times and when I saw it myself, just pouring into the creek bed I took several photos and close ups. There will be more!
I live on Clover Creek. Or rather than no Creek Clover Creek. We are at gravity lake and 112th St. in Lakewood. Last year on November 5 the creek filled within an hour. The year before that on December 5 the creek filled within an hour. I think that’s odd. I know that we have not had rain and I know we are in a drought. But why does it flow within two hours? The creek is dry now. As you know. I know also that there is a lot of building out in the Puyallup area and that changes the flow of water because I believe they’re putting in holding tank. Thank you for the post. I love hearing from you talking directly about Clover Creek, Lincoln. Regards, Roberta Steele
Sent from my iPhone
we have the creek running through our back yard. We’re off johns rd. It’s been dry for so long probably since spring if remember correctly. It’s sad we bought the house loving the fact we had it back there. Wish I knew the reason or how to fix the issue to get it flowing again.
Write to Diedra Connors at CloverCreekRAA@gmail.com her family is on the other side at about 9th Ave. The Clover Creek Restoration Alliance is doing work at her property getting rid of invasives and planting trees to shade out the reed canary grass. We may be able to assist you also if you are nearby.