Sequalitchew Creek

Sequalitchew Creek
Physical characteristics
Mouth	DuPont Warf, Nisqually Reach
Length	38.4 miles

Sequalitchew creek, located in DuPont, Washington emanates from Sequalitchew Lake, Fort Lewis, Washington, was the location of the original Fort Nisqually trading post established in 1833 by the Hudson's Bay Company. The historic, natural flow of Sequalitchew Creek runs from Sequalitchew Lake, through Edmonds Marsh, down the canyon and out to the Puget Sound.

History

Methodist Episcopal Mission marker at Sequalitchew Creek

• In 1832 the area that became Fort Nisqually was sited by Hudson’s Bay Company’s chief trader, Archibald McDonald. In cooperation with the Nisqually Tribe, a storehouse for blankets, seeds and potatoes was built at the mouth of Sequalitchew Creek.
• 1839 Nisqually Methodist Episcopal Mission was established, bringing the first U.S. citizens into the Puget Sound region near the creek canyon.
• 1841 Wilkes U.S. Exploring Expedition set up an observatory on the bluff near the creek to survey, map and chart the waters of Puget Sound. They joined the Americans at the mission to hold the first 4th of July celebration west of the Mississippi River.
• 1843 Second Fort Nisqually. Business became mainly agricultural, and the fort was relocated on a flat-plains area near the banks of Sequalitchew Creek.
• 1904 First joint Army-National Guard training exercises on west coast were held. The massive encampment near Sequalitchew Creek included the “Buffalo Soldiers” of the 9th Calvary.

In 1959 and 1960, Sequalitchew Lake was utilized by the Washington Department of Fisheries as a fish farm that reared and released coho salmon to Sequalitchew Creek. From 1976 until the mid 1990s the Washington Department of Fisheries operated a Coho salmon fish hatchery and rearing facility on Sequalitchew Lake. In the past, Native Americans caught from 3,500 to 4,000 fish annually in Sequalitchew Creek.

Physical description

Sequalitchew Creek Beach

The total drainage basin of the Creek encompasses 38.4 square miles. This watershed begins at Kinsey Marsh, draining via Murray Creek into American Lake. Seasonal overflow from American Lake feeds Sequalitchew Lake. The water level of both lakes is maintained year round by springs and water table seepage. A diversion dam, built by Fort Lewis around 1950, lies near the headwaters of the Creek. The dam drains through a canal that originates in Hamer Marsh, east of the Creek. Just south of Sequalitchew Lake, the canal passes under the Creek through a series of complicated culverts. It continues west for one mile, and turns north to empty into Puget Sound at Tatsolo Point, off Steilacoom-DuPont Road, DuPont.

Sequalitchew Beach and railroad tracks

Creek trail and beach

The areas unparalleled natural beauty can be traversed on an old narrow gauge railway roadbed that ran from the DuPont Company area to Puget Sound. The trail leads to Sequalitchew beach. The creek corridor is used by hundreds of species, including eagles, hawks, song birds, herons, ducks, owls, frogs, salamanders, snakes, beaver, raccoons, coyotes, deer, and rabbits. The waters off Sequalitchew Beach are inhabited by Harbor Seal and Gray Whale.

Further information: [[:List of fauna of Sequalitchew Creek]]

Proposed mining expansion

A proposed 177-acre expansion of Glacier Northwest's, (recently renamed as Cal-Portland, previously known as Lone Star Gravel), existing gravel mine will involve the removal of 184 acres of forest and topsoil surrounding Sequalitchew Creek. If allowed, it will create a 550-acre hole in the underlying gravel as 40 million tons of gravel is extracted over the next 14 years. The pit will be 80 feet deep and expose the underlying Vashon Aquifer. The flow from this exposed aquifer (estimated at approximately 6.5 million gallons per day) will be directed down a man made ditch to Sequalitchew Creek with a flow eight times that of present Sequalitchew Creek. The dewatering of the aquifer will lower the groundwater level in the vicinity by as much as 30 feet, thereby draining nearby Edmonds Marsh, a Class I wetland.

Glacier Northwest’s current Conditional Use Permit to expand the mine, and dewater the aquifer and creek violates the 1994 Settlement Agreement as established by the Nisqually Delta Association. DuPont Municipal Code specifically protects wetlands. Although a signatory, the city of DuPont ignored the '94 agreement and their own municipal code and did not discourage Glacier from applying to expand their mining extraction. In accordance with the '94 Agreement, parties are now meeting regularly to determine next steps.

Sequalitchew Village

City of DuPont's 2008 Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan, p. 47 describes future use of the mining area, Sequalitchew Creek and dewatering of the aquifer to include total build out of approximately 2,138 residences. The proposed neighborhood would be named Sequalitchew Village.

References

• City of DuPont, Washington
• Nisqually Delta Association
• 1994 Settlement Agreement
• A Twentieth Century History of Sequalitchew Creek
• DuPont Historical Museum
• City of DuPont's 2008 Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan, p. 47
• Weyerhaueser Export Facility Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Volume II, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Seattle District, May 1982, p. 111

External links

• Glacier Northwest Aggregate Mine Proposal
• Published Tidal Bench Mark Sheet for 9446828 DuPont Warf, Nisqually Reach, Washington