Climate Work
Climate Work in the Puyallup Watershed
FFTF Partners are committed to understanding the ways in which climate change will impact their work throughout the Puyallup River Watershed. This page provides information related to climate change studies being conducted and supported by FFTF partners.
Climate Projects
FFTF Puyallup Watershed Restoration and Flood Benefits
Status: In-process
Scale and Extent: Watershed
Description: Quantify flood and sediment storage from proposed or potential setbacks as well as instream restoration in upland tributaries to compare to current and future flood volume and aggradation rates.
For more information, contact Guillaume Mauger, University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (UW CIG): gmauger@uw.edu
Clear Creek Salinity Intrusion Study
Status: In-process
Scale and Extent: Clear Creek
Description: Determine how often the salt wedge enters Clear Creek now and in the future.
For more information, contact Guillaume Mauger, University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (UW CIG): gmauger@uw.edu
Cross-Section Survey of Lower River
Status: In-process
Scale and Extent: Lower to mid-river, site specific (Puyallup)
Description: Cross-section surveys where the river is confined between levees to capture changes in aggradation over time.
For more information, contact Helmut Schmidt or Dennis Dixon at Pierce County: helmut.schmidt@piercecountywa.gov or dennis.dixon@piercecountywa.gov
Flood Inundation Mapping
Status: Planned
Scale and Extent: Watershed
Description: Determine future flood depth and extent for current conditions if all proposed setbacks are implemented with all man-made flood protections removed.
For more information, contact Helmut Schmidt or Todd Essman at Pierce County: helmut.schmidt@piercecountywa.gov or todd.essman@piercecountywa.gov
Sediment: Phase 1 - Document the Scale and Extent of Recent Aggradation
Status: Planned
Scale and Extent: Carbon and Puyallup Rivers
Description: A similar study has already been conducted on the White River. This study would expand on the analysis to update aggradation rates for the Puyallup and Carbon Rivers using data that has been collected since the 2011 report.
For more information, contact Kathleen Berger at Pierce County: kathleen.berger@piercecountywa.gov
Sediment: Phase 2 - Improve Understanding of Underlying Causes of Observed Aggradation
Status: Planned
Scale and Extent: Middle and Lower Puyallup River, Carbon River
Description: Determine causes of aggradation to understand management options and long-term trajectory of aggradation.
For more information, contact Kathleen Berger at Pierce County: kathleen.berger@piercecountywa.gov
Monitoring: Suspended and Bedload Sampling
Status: Planned
Scale and Extent: Watershed, Site-Specific
Description: Monitoring suspended and bedload sediment at specific sites to track changes and sources of changes over time. Provide data for more accurate sediment modeling.
For more information, contact Kathleen Berger at Pierce County: kathleen.berger@piercecountywa.gov
Impacts of Climate Change on Peak Flow in the Puyallup River Basin
Status: In-process
Scale and Extent: Puyallup River and Tributaries
Description: Determine future peak stream flows for Puyallup River and tributaries, providing all times/seasons.
For more information contact Guillaume Mauger, University of Washington Climate Impacts Group (UW CIG): gmauger@uw.edu