This document assesses the ecological functions of wetlands and aquatic resources in the Miller Creek and related basins near Sea-Tac Airport, evaluating their roles in water quality, flood storage, and wildlife habitat. Wetlands in the Runway Safety Area and Vacca Farm areas are rated across functions such as nutrient trapping, groundwater exchange, and habitat for fish, waterfowl, amphibians, and small mammals. The assessment finds that interconnected wetland complexes like Lake Reba provide high-value flood attenuation and baseflow support for Miller Creek, while farmed wetlands perform at lower functional levels due to sparse vegetation and agricultural runoff.Open full document
Notes
This document provides a functional assessment of aquatic resources in the Miller Creek Basin, focusing on wetlands in the Runway Safety Area/North Airfield and Vacca Farm Mitigation Area. It evaluates water quality, hydrologic, and habitat suitability functions of numerous wetlands, including their roles in flood storage, sediment trapping, baseflow support, and wildlife habitat. The assessment covers wetland complexes associated with Lake Reba, Lora Lake, and Miller Creek.