Editorial: Grant makes city a stormwater leader

The Washington State University Research and Extension Center and the city of Puyallup will use $1 million in grant money to make the city a leader in stormwater research and environmental preservation.

Like many cities, Puyallup was built on the backs of farmers. Raspberries, hops and daffodils made this community prosper.

At one point, closer to the turn of the last century, city leaders were so impressed with the role of Puyallup they considered petitioning the state to have the capital moved here. Though the capital remained in Olympia, it was undeniable that Puyallup had a strong presence in the state.

The community’s focus may have shifted slightly away from farming but is still rooted in preservation of the environment, putting the city again in a position to be an example for the rest of the state.

When the city began construction of the City Hall, city leaders opted to aim for the gold standard of the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED), the green building practices government offices are required to meet. They incorporated a rain garden, reduced stormwater runoff and included street lights that shine down instead of up to lessen the burden on wildlife.

This evolution is also evident in the Washington State University Research and Extension Center. Without abandoning its support to local agriculture, the center has also added an environmental component to its repertoire. Only a few months ago, the Extension Center installed pervious pavement to the campus, allowing stormwater to filter toxins before entering streams and rivers.

Armed with $1 million in Department of Ecology grant money, the city, the Extension Center and the University of Washington-Tacoma will replace a stormwater assessment tool and fund a resource center where new ideas can be explored.

Not only are these advance beneficial to Puyallup but they could also have a wide-reaching affect on other communities spread across the nation.