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PUYALLUP – The dedication and celebration preview of the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center’s Low Impact Development (LID) project, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28, has been cancelled.
The event will be rescheduled at a later date.
The project is under way to transform a WSU extension center into a research facility that may be unique in the United States.
The 114-year-old Puyallup Research and Extension Center is being retrofitted into a research lab and demonstration facility on the application of low-impact development (LID) techniques. Phase 1 will control and measure stormwater runoff that can carry pollutants into nearby waterways.
It may become the only full-scale research facility on LID techniques of its kind in the United States, said Curtis Hinman, WSU Puyallup Extension LID educator.
The LID project is a major step in the WSU Puyallup Center’s evolution from a traditional agricultural research and extension facility to an urban center focused on the science and education of sustainability to meet the needs of urban communities and their residents.
Stormwater runoff was a major contributor to flood damage during storms in recent years. Runoff is responsible for carrying pollutants into salmon-bearing waterways and ultimately to Puget Sound.
The LID project involves replacement of paved surfaces such as parking lots with permeable materials. Equipment will be installed to direct rainwater from building roofs into 16 rain gardens. Other equipment will monitor and measure the effectiveness of various plants and materials for capturing, retaining and filtering stormwater.
The project is funded by a $1 million construction grant from the state Department of Ecology and matching funds from WSU. The grant was awarded to the City of Puyallup in partnership with the extension center and with support of the Puyallup Indian tribe.
