During large storms, the Puyallup River would often overtop the levee in Orting, threatening homes, schools, businesses, infrastructure, and habitat. After a major flood event in 2006, the City of Orting began working with Parametrix to improve the situation and secured funding for improvements from a half dozen different agencies, including:
- Pierce County Flood Control Zone District: $8.8 million
- Salmon Recovery Funding Board: $2.2 million with City match
- Washington State Department of Ecology Stormwater: $1.3 million with City match
- The Nature Conservancy Floodplains Grant/ECY: $4.7 million
Each funding source had specific items that were eligible for reimbursement, requiring careful tracking during construction and monthly payments to the contractor.
The new 1.6 mile levee protects the City from flooding, widens the Puyallup River Channel, restores natural habitat, and promotes salmon recovery. The new levee survived its first big test with flying colors in November 2014 when the 4th largest flow since 1962 moved down the Puyallup River.
View some news coverage of this important project:
Groundbreaking: http://youtu.be/x7F8DTFTHaw
Success after the first flood event in November 2014: KOMO Newsor The Nature Conservancy