About the Watershed
From Mount Rainier National Park to Commencement Bay
From its headwaters at the glaciers of Mount Rainier National Park to its terminus at Commencement Bay, the Puyallup-White River Watershed the only watershed in the contiguous United States with pristine headwaters in a national park and an estuary in a massive Superfund cleanup site. From upland forests to the estuarine waters, it is the responsibility of all who live, work, and play in the Watershed to preserve and restore it and the natural and human relationships that make this a great place to call home.
Key Features
Essential Habitat
The Puyallup Watershed provides essential habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed species such as Chinook salmon, steelhead, bull trout, Southern Resident killer whales, grey whales, marbled murrelets, and Canada lynx.
People
The Watershed includes many communities that have been historically marginalized and affected by these pressures. It is also home to the Puyallup and Muckleshoot Indian Tribes and their tribal reservations
A Watershed Under Pressure
The Puyallup Watershed is under severe distress and pressure from development, climate change, and pollution. Over the next 15-20 years, it is projected that an additional 400,000 people will move to the area.