Save Des Moines Wetlands: Stop the Destruction

Save Des Moines Wetlands!

Update 4/25/2025: We filed with King County Superior Court to dispute the hearing findings we received in November from the hearing we had October 17th.

Since filing with Superior Court we have been getting what free legal help we can find, but it's not enough. We have paid $1100 in filing fees out of our pocket already. Now we are asking the community for help. We reached our 1st goal and got the filing fees covered for the hearing with The City of Des Moines. Can we ask for help again?

The $15,000 we raise will help us pay for a Land Use Action Attorney as well as any more filing fees we may encounter. Please consider helping us save the green canopy of trees, wetlands, and all animals and sealife. Join our group on Facebook: Save Des Moines Creek Wetlands and Green Spaces. Thank you! ☺️

This started in July 2024 and this is why we are asking for help: Oppose the plan to fill 11,938 square feet of wetlands and build a 402,380 sq ft industrial building on 21 acres of green space!

Help us raise $15,000 to appeal to the City of Des Moines, WA to stop the destruction of the wetlands and the green canopy that covers many from the pollution of the planes that go over our city. We only have till June 15, 2025.

The impacts of this project and opportunities for public comment have been poorly communicated with residents. The broader vision for creating the Des Moines Creek business park at the top of the hill on 216th was ultimately to employ thousands of residents who would then become customers for businesses located at the bottom. That plan never came to fruition, as all previous phases of the project have proven. Local business here still stutters, and this final piece of construction isn’t going to change that. We’ve seen time and time again, particularly in Des Moines– which is one of the most impacted communities by the Port of Seattle– that this tall tale of trickle-down economics does not benefit average citizens. We have no reason to believe the proposed construction will do anything but worsen the existing negative impacts from the Port, which have all included increased noise, reduced tree canopy, and higher health risks for residents.

Wetlands are critical ecosystems that provide numerous environmental benefits, including water filtration, flood control, and habitat for wildlife. Wetlands naturally prevent flooding and coastal erosion downstream, and provide a free built-in buffer against landslides and floods. The proposed project to fill in the wetland and “reroute” the stream will have an impact. We have a say in stewarding our environment, ensuring any development is held to the best standards of equity and preservation.

The city approved one of the weakest SEPA environmental reviews of the site available. There’s still time to appeal, but we need your help!

We've already gathered over 600 signatures from concerned Des Moines and King County residents opposing this project. Let's protect our green spaces and community well-being! Before June 15th, we need your help to raise the $15,000 needed to hire and attorney and any fees we may continue to encounter. Any amount helps! Thank you! ☺️