Habitat Restoration at Olympic View Resource Area

The site is located at the point between the Thea Foss and Middle Waterways adjacent to downtown Tacoma, Washington. Olympic View is the first of several major contaminated sites throughout Commencement Bay to be cleaned up as part of the larger cleanup effort aiming at removing the Bay from the National Priorities List. The project was performed as a Removal Action pursuant to an Administrative Order on Consent between the City of Tacoma and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as under a Consent Decree between the City of Tacoma and the Natural Resources Trustees.

The site is located within an industrial area where over several decades the intertidal and subtidal sediments have accumulated high concentrations of heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's), and dioxins. The project restored habitat for juvenile salmonids, improved overall water quality, and restored upland areas with native grasses, shrubs and trees for wildlife habitat.

Project Performance

Despite the wide variety and complexity of the different remedial activities performed, the tidal and fish window restraints on the work schedule, and several changed conditions resulting in additional work and unexpected schedule impacts, the project completed successfully. The project was thoughtfully and carefully designed by the Engineers, effectively managed by the City of Tacoma, and then carried out to a successful completion. A letter of commendation was received that stated in part "The City of Tacoma would like to express it's appreciation for excellent performance and professionalism..." and "exemplary management and administration of this contract."