Chambers Bay Estuary, fish ladder repair and more

Before Chambers Creek becomes Chambers Bay, the water flow is blocked by an outdated dam. Built to provide electricity for a nearby paper plant that closed years ago, the dam is widely considered to be harming the ecosystem of the area. Pierce County Surface Water Management, South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group and four local tribes (Puyallup, Nisqually, Squaxin, and Muckleshoot) are working together to raise money to remove the dam, repair the nearby bridge, and restore the surrounding habitat.

The Chambers Bay Estuary Restoration is speculated to begin soon, but the bridge replacement funding is purported to be holding up the work. The watershed that this dam impedes is called the Chambers Clover Watershed, Washington State lists it as WRIA 12 (Water Resource Inventory Area). There is a WRIA 12 Restoration Plan on file with the State Department of Ecology.

On August 7, 2025, a small group of local citizens from the Tribes, the CCWC (Chambers Clover Watershed Council) and CCRA (Clover Creek Restoration Alliance), came out to the dam to work on the wooden fish ladder ahead of the salmon run. This ladder requires annual repairs, but it is a slippery, slimy job that needs to happen on a low tide in good weather.

This year, we had 13 people help: Russ Ladley, Blake Smith, Dan Edwards, Joe Tobin, Wes Siddle, Julien Close, Dale Varbel, Sally Boyle, Vern, Kirk Kirkland, Renee Buck, Marianne Lincoln, and Al Schmauder. The Puyallup Tribe team provided 8 timbers and the tools.

The WDFW (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) hatchery manager stated that excess Chinook Salmon would be passed up Chambers Creek this year, the first time in 25 years.  However, they must be counted so only the WDFW ladder will remain open until the run is over in October.