The Friends worked with the Port of Tacoma to preserve this 85-acre parcel near the mouth of Hylebos Creek and the Hylebos Waterway.

When the Marine View Gravel site was placed on the real estate market, it became one of our top priorities, being near the ecologically important creek mouth, having more than 800 feet of Hylebos Creek, and having high potential for restoration. However, the multimillion dollar property was well beyond the scope of potential preservation funds.

Port of Tacoma officials were also interested in purchasing the property for mitigation, replacing another less valuable mitigation site they hoped to develop. We agreed that the Marine View Gravel site had a much higher mitigation value and supported the mitigation exchange.

The Port purchased the property in 2006. The Port's involvement means that much more of the property will be able to be preserved than if we'd purchased it through other means. The Friends thanks the Port of Tacoma for their leadership on this vital Hylebos project.

By working together to find ways to satisfy the Port's mitigation and development needs while addressing a critical Hylebos Watershed need, the Port and the Friends have created a stunning conservation success.

Read about the Marine View restoration project