Miller Creek Photo Tour: Follow the Stream through Burien, SeaTac, and Normandy Park to Puget Sound

Regardless of whether you’ve lived in the Miller/Walker Creek basin all your life or have just moved here, you’ll find Miller Creek views you’ve never seen before!

References to “stream reaches” refer to the analysis of stream characteristics found in Appendix C of the Miller and Walker Creeks Basin Plan (Adobe Acrobat 4.6 MB).Photos are organized going from upstream to downstream.

Miller Creek – From the Headwaters to the Sound

Photo of stream flowing out of a lake underneath a footbridge Arbor Lake where Miller Creek begins. South-central White Center is drained by Miller Creek. February 15, 2008 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 11)

Photo of a pond surrounded by trees — Hermes stormwater detention pond on a tributary to Miller Creek in Burien. October 22, 2007 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 11)

Photo of a stream in a ditch next to a highway — Miller Creek in ditch, looking south along SR 509 from S. 136th St. overpass. Creek flows south from Arbor Lake, under overpass, and away toward the south. At clump of trees in center of photo, stream flows east (left) under SR 509. February 15, 2008 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 11)

Photo of Miller Creek showing lack of native trees and shrubs along grassy streambank — Miller Creek near its headwaters in Burien. The stream here lacks a buffer of native vegetation. Lack of shade causes water to heat up, making life difficult for young salmon. Lawn care chemicals can easily enter stream. November 22, 2002 photo. (upper Miller Creek, reach unknown)

Photo of Miller Creek east of SR509 showing mix of native and non-native trees and shrubs — Miller Creek east of SR 509 in Burien. Vegetation is a mix of alder trees (native) and English ivy and bittersweet nightshade (non-native, invasive plants). November 16, 2007 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 10)

Photo of Miller Creek at S. 144th Way where volunteers are revegetating the stream — Miller Creek at S. 144th Way in Burien. Creek flows diagonally from left to right. Over 45 volunteers replanted the south side of the creek on October 27, 2007. (Miller Creek Reach 10)

Photo of Lora Lake from SeaTac Airport third runway — Lora Lake in Burien. View looks northwest from top of SeaTac Airport third runway. Miller Creek flows from right to left at bottom edge of photo. September 17, 2007 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 9)

Photo of Miller Creek tributary east of Lake Reba, showing pollution-absorbing boom — Miller Creek tributary east of Lake Reba on Port of Seattle property in SeaTac. White tubing is a continuously-deployed absorbent boom for intercepting pollutants. September 17, 2007 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 9)

Photo looking west across the entire Miller Creek watershed from the eastern boundary — Looking west over the entire width of the Miller Creek basin from the northwest corner of the SeaTac Airport third runway. Tree line in far distance is western edge of the Miller Creek basin. Miller Creek flows from right to left across the bottom third of the photo. The creek was placed in this location during the construction of the third runway. S. 156th St. is visible at lower left. September 17, 2007 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 9)

Photo of Port of Seattle stormwater detention ponds below the airport third runway — Port of Seattle stormwater detention pond with SeaTac Airport third runway in the distance. After being treated, stormwater is discharged to Miller Creek. (Miller Creek Reach 8)

Photo of mature and newly-planted trees along Miller Creek on Port of Seattle property — Mix of mature and newly-planted native vegetation south of S. 156th St. on Port of Seattle property. September 17, 2007 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 8)

Photo of waterfall on Miller Creek on Port of Seattle property — Waterfall on Miller Creek. Some adult trout have been seen to pass upstream of this waterfall, which is about 5 feet in height. Undated photo from the early 2000s. (Miller Creek Reach 8)

Photo looking downstream at waterfall on Port of Seattle property — Downstream view of top of waterfall on Miller Creek. Abundant cutthroat trout and coho salmon juveniles were found in the pool during May 2003 surveys. September 17, 2007 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 8)

Photo of culvert at S. 160th St. on Port of Seattle property
Culvert under S. 160th St. on Port of Seattle property. Culvert was a partial upstream fish passage barrier, in part because of the flat apron that spread out the water and made it too shallow for adult fish to swim through. September 17, 2007 photo. (Miller Creek Reach 7)