Environment

Gig Harborites love the natural surroundings in which they live, and Gig Harbor Now staff members keep them apprised of opportunities to enjoy and preserve their forests, waters and creatures.

Chum coming soon to a stream near you

Oct 20, 2022 | By: Ed Friedrich

Chum salmon arrive in throngs to spawn in small streams like those around the Gig Harbor and Key peninsulas. Here are some good places to watch them.

Stink bugs making annual fall foray onto, into homes

Oct 10, 2022 | By: Ed Friedrich

Brown marmorated stink bugs are searching for warm spots to weather the winter. Relatively new to the Northwest, they’ve been largely undiscovered by predators that could keep their numbers down.

Kopachuck State Park renewal nearing, minus beach portion

Sep 28, 2022 | By: Ed Friedrich

The Kopachuck renovation project will begin early next year, but the beach portion will be held up after funding fell $1 million short.

In addition to lead contamination, high concentrations of PCBs have also been found near the Donkey Creek delta.

Wait continues for new data on lead contamination near Donkey Creek

Sep 22, 2022 | By: David Armstrong

As the rocker Tom Petty told us, “The waiting is the hardest part.’’ A 20-year quest by state agencies to pinpoint the levels of toxic lead contamination of waters in and near Gig Harbor will continue for a while longer, as hiring slowly resumes at the Washington state Department of Ecology, and investigation and mitigation

A new Guardian now keeping watch over the waters of txʷaalqəł

Sep 15, 2022 | By: Vince Dice

Puyallup Tribe Culture Director Connie McCloud paused with emotion when describing the significance of the place known as txʷaalqəł to her people. “Here on the waters and on this land, our ancestors have lived here for thousands of years. We remember them today and acknowledge them,” McCloud said. “Those that lived here fished and raised

Volunteers go to war with English Ivy along Nelyaly Creek

Sep 12, 2022 | By: Vince Dice

Andy Sharp shut off the chainsaw he was using to cut swaths of an invasive plant off a deciduous tree at his property near the corner of 82nd Ave NW and 92nd St. NW. “This tree’s already dead,” Sharp said. The suspected cause of death: English Ivy. Sharp, along with volunteers from Friends of Pierce

State, county both plan culvert removal to clear way for Purdy Creek fish

Sep 08, 2022 | By: Ed Friedrich

The state has begun work to remove three fish passage barriers on Purdy Creek and Pierce County is planning to replace two others.

New turf at Sehmel Homestead Park's multiuse field.

New turf field ready for use at Sehmel Homestead Park

Aug 15, 2022 | By: Vince Dice

The new turf soccer field at Sehmel Homestead Park will be dedicated in a ceremony Friday afternoon. But the $948,000 surface already has hosted its first major event. The Harbor Soccer Club’s Tyee Cup, which included 150 youth teams, was contested in part on Sehmel’s new carpet. Installation was mostly complete last week, ahead of

Culvert taking Purdy Creek under the Highway 302 spur.

Fish passage project to temporarily shift traffic on Highway 16

Aug 10, 2022 | By: Ed Friedrich

Work will begin soon on a 3-year effort to replace 44-year-old pipes that carry Purdy Creek under Highway 16. A third culvert will be replaced under the Highway 302 Spur in Purdy. And a complete closure of Highway 302 for the Little Minter Creek culvert project begins Thursday.

A fire crew from Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One fights a brush fire in 2019 at Murphy Drive and East Bay Drive.

As wildfire season flares up, here’s how to evaluate your home’s risk

Aug 09, 2022 | By: Christina T Henry

Our wet spring brought a welcome reprieve from wildfires and smoke that have plagued Western Washington in recent years. But summer isn’t over by a long shot, and wildfire season is just getting started. Several fires that started last week in Eastern Washington — one a brush fire that led to the evacuation of a

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