Hylebos Creek

Hylebos Creek is a stream located in the U.S. state of Washington near Tacoma and emptying into Commencement Bay, part of Puget Sound. It flows through southern King County and northern Pierce County, through the cities of Tacoma, Federal Way, Milton, and Fife, as well as the Puyallup Indian Reservation.

Hylebos Creek
Hylebos Creek is located in Washington (state)
Hylebos Creek
Location of the mouth of Hylebos Creek in Washington
Hylebos Creek is located in the United States
Hylebos Creek
Hylebos Creek (the United States)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountiesKing, Pierce
Physical characteristics
SourceUnincorporated King County
 • locationWashington
 • coordinates47°16′45″N 122°18′30″W[1]
 • elevation290 ft (88 m)
MouthCommencement Bay
 • location
Washington
 • coordinates
47°17′6″N 122°24′40″W[1]
 • elevation
0 ft (0 m)[1]
Basin size16.8 sq mi (44 km2)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationFife[2]
 • average29.2 cu ft/s (0.83 m3/s)[2]
 • minimum3.5 cu ft/s (0.099 m3/s)
 • maximum413 cu ft/s (11.7 m3/s)

Course

The main stem of Hylebos Creek originates at an elevation of 290 feet (88 m), in unincorporated King County just south of the interchange of Interstate 5 (I-5) and Washington State Route 18 (SR 18), at 47°16′45″N 122°18′30″W.[1] It flows generally south, collecting small tributaries including one that drains Lake Killarney.[3] The creek enters Federal Way, turns to the southwest, flows through a ravine and enters Pierce County and the city of Milton. Just east of I-5 the creek is joined by its main tributary, West Hylebos Creek. From there Hylebos Creek flows south close to I-5, then turns northwest. At the southern end of the creek's bend along I-5 it is joined by a long tributary from the east, which drains Surprise Lake.[4] Parts of this tributary stream are channelized ditches running in straight lines and turning sharp 90-degree corners. Hylebos Creek continues northwest from this tributary's confluence, crossing a small corner of Fife's Lower Hylebos Nature Park before entering the Port of Tacoma, part of the city of Tacoma. The creek empties into Hylebos Waterway, an inlet of Commencement Bay and part of Puget Sound.[5] The mouth of Hylebos Creek is located at 47°17′06″N 122°24′40″W,[1] where Hylebos Waterway joins Commencement Bay.

West Hylebos Creek originates at an elevation of 229 feet (70 m), in Federal Way, King County in West Hylebos Wetlands Park, at 47°17′21″N 122°19′34″W.[6] It flows generally south, collecting first an intermittent tributary stream flowing from Panther Lake in Panther Lake Park,[7] then a long tributary rising from North Lake[8] and the vicinity of The Commons shopping center, then flowing south along the west side of I-5. At the interchange of I-5 and SR-18 this tributary turns west toward West Hylebos Wetlands Park, then south, joining West Hylebos Creek in southern Federal Way. From this confluence, West Hylebos Creek continues south to join the main stem Hylebos Creek at 47°15′06″N 122°19′54″W, elevation 22 feet (6.7 m).[6] A significant portion of West Hylebos Creek's course consists of wetlands.[9][10][11]

History

Hylebos Creek is named after Peter Francis Hylebos, a Catholic priest born in Belgium who founded schools and hospitals in Washington Territory. [12]

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hylebos Creek
  2. "USGS 12103020 Hylebos Creek at Highway 99 at Fife, WA". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Killarney
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Surprise Lake
  5. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hylebos Waterway
  6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West Hylebos Creek
  7. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Panther Lake
  8. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Lake
  9. Information about the creek's course, tributaries, and watershed acquired in part from "The National Map". USGS. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  10. General course info in part from USGS topographic maps accessed via the "GNIS in Google Map" feature of the USGS Geographic Names Information System website.
  11. Thomas Guide 2009 King & Snohomish Counties: Street Guide. Rand McNally. 2008. ISBN 978-0-528-87036-1.
  12. Cathy McDonald, "History and a rare peat bog at West Hylebos Wetlands Park", The Seattle Times, 2009-12-24. Retrieved on 2009-12-24.
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