This Nisqually River Basin Characterization Report documents and describes drainage/flooding,

water quality, and aquatic habitat conditions and problems in the Nisqually River planning area.

The report was prepared by Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Water Programs Division

(Water Programs), which is responsible for surface water management in unincorporated Pierce

County.

Water Programs prepares basin plans to identify and prioritize capital improvement projects and

other Water Programs activities in individual drainage basins. Basin plans address the flooding,

water quality and aquatic habitat aspects of surface water management in the major stream

systems of the non-federal lands within unincorporated Pierce County. Water Programs uses the basin plans

to develop its capital improvement, maintenance, repair, property acquisition, and program schedules and

budgets. The funding for these projects is the stormwater management fees collected annually from each

parcel in the study area.

Water Programs’ basin planning process has three phases. Phase 1 involves basin

characterization, with a primary focus on identifying key problem areas and data gaps that will

need to be addressed in Phase 2. Phase 2 is the plan development and adoption phase. It builds

on the findings of Phase 1 by filling information gaps, correcting information, performing

hydrologic analyses based on planned future conditions, investigating problems, identifying

alternatives, and recommending solutions. Phase 3 involves plan implementation, monitoring,

and updating. Download the Characterization Study Executive Summary.