About

Since our establishment in 2003, we have been determined to make an impact. Through all of our endeavors we hope to display the conviction behind our beliefs.

Pierce County

is one of Washington's fastest-growing areas, with a 20% population growth rate over the last 10 years. Rapid population growth raises concerns about livable communities, congestion, pollution, and water quality. Without careful planning, the quality of life and our environment will be affected. Better communities are made by citizens working with their local governments.

Friends of Pierce County, a nonprofit organization, works to educate and empower residents to create livable communities, and preserve and restore the environment. We collaborate with local agencies and other groups to promote sustainable development and environmentally sensitive land-planning practices.

 

Objectives

  • Serve as an interactive link coordinating communication among communities, businesses, governments, and other active entities

  • Educate and empower communities through public outreach

  • Direct growth of community attributes that promote a sensible and sustainable balance between environment, equity, and economics

  • Preserve and restore the natural ecosystem

  • Promote livable communities with linked and shared resources

  • Advocate for responsible and adaptive land use and transportation planning

  • Advocate for responsible watershed planning and natural resource management

  • Advocate for environmentally friendly planning, policies and best practices

Recent Accomplishments

  • Started environmental clubs in three schools in the Peninsula School District for hands on water quality monitoring lessons at a local stream.

  • Produced a shoreline steward book that educated residents how to protect shorelines, the importance of water quality, and making a positive impact.

  • Wrote citizen education book to inform Pierce County residents how the land use process works and how they can become effectively involved.

  • Completed watershed restoration project in Crescent Creek that used low impact development and soft armoring of the stream bank.

  • Organized volunteer restoration efforts in local watersheds by planting native vegetation and removing non-native vegetation.

  • Stopped development of a five acre property in 2019 located on marine and freshwater shorelines.

  • Convinced Pierce County to add $100,000 to its 2022-23 budget to update its shoreline inventory of piers, docks, and bulkheads and to add $50,000 for enhancing the county’s permit tracking system to better analyze cumulative impacts from development on shorelines.

 
 

Get Involved

 
 

Become a Member

Join Friends of Pierce county as an annual or lifetime member to support the organization, get involved in local action, and bring your own expertise to the conversation.

Donate

Make a monetary donation to keep our organization running and help us expand our reach and impact. Your support will go right back into your own backyard.

Get in Touch

Contact us to ask questions, learn more, or start a new conversation about what’s happening in Pierce County. We look forward to hearing from you!