The Muck Creek Basin has a lot of issues. Most of the problem probably does have to do with well water drawn. There are, however, lots of areas that could be utilized to enhance recharge. Unfortunately I know of nothing being done on Muck Creek. It does run through the base, so perhaps something is going on.

The county has lots of resources, but for the most part is myopic in its view. In the Puyallup Basin, flood control and storm water departments are buying up quite a bit of land. This land, however, is just fenced off and left as-is, other than removing some of the structures. Much of it could be utilized for recreational uses, and if they teamed up with groups like duck unlimited, they could create some awesome wetlands and hunting areas for little to no money. . What they seem to do is wait for federal funds, then slowly spend millions doing small sections, leaving all of it closed off.

One tributary, clear creek, was one I fished on as a kid. They have some huge wetland projects going on it the lower section. The problem is, the stream has very little suitable spawning areas. In fact, flood control would come by and dig out the stream every few years when I was a kid, leaving a straight, mud lined ditch. The upper area, where spawning could occur, is blocked off by a private fish hatchery, that diverts most or all of the water for a small section. I have watched lots of fish come up and try to swim up the outflow pipe. In fact, about 40 years ago, at around 12 years old, I hooked into what I believe was a summer steelhead that was well over 40 inches in the hole created by the outflow ( it was the biggest hole on the street. It streaked across the hole and broke me off in about 5 seconds. I also caught the biggest cutthroat I ever saw out of the creek. Of course, now it is 100% off limits.

So now, millions are being spent in the lower areas, but miles of potential spawning habitat are shut off. A good sized, wooded canyon, with tons of woody debris, cascading holes, all shut off. I know of only a small, tiny creek chum utilize and per happens 10 to 30 feet of gravel on the main system. It might have changed recently, but I doubt it.