The South Puget Sound Unit, within the city limits of Lakewood, is home to the Urban Wildlife Interpretive Center and the Lakewood Fish Hatchery. A paved trail offers opportunities for walking and is accessible for persons with disabilities. The unit is one of the last remnants of South Puget Sound prairie ecosystem that once stretched across thousands of acres in the region.
The South Puget Sound Unit is located within the city limits of Lakewood in Pierce County.
The South Puget Sound Unit is within the Puget Sound watershed. Located in Lakewood, adjacent properties include housing developments and business districts.
This unit is part of the South Puget Sound Wildlife Area.
Game Management Unit: 652
Getting there
Maps and directions to WDFW-managed access points for this unit. Opens Google Maps in a new tab.
Recreation and public access
A Discover Pass is required on WDFW lands -- including water access areas, wildlife areas, and campgrounds -- unless you already have a Vehicle Access Pass issued with the purchase of an eligible hunting or fishing license. Recreate responsibly on public lands: please know the Public Conduct Rules.
Public facility information:
- Large parking area
- No restroom
- Paved ADA trail
- Interpretive center
Recreation and access advisories
- Closed during hours of darkness.
Hunting
The entire South Puget Sound Unit is a designated SAFETY ZONE and within a City of Lakewood no shooting ordinance. It is unlawful to hunt at this unit.
Wildlife viewing
This unit includes open grasslands, offering opportunities to view a variety of wildlife.
Search for potential birding opportunities on or near a wildlife area unit by using eBird Northwest, a citizen science database portal that provides freely-shared bird lists at 'hotspots' and interactive maps plus other birding information updated daily.
Other recreational opportunities
A paved trail offers opportunities walking and is accessible for persons with disabilities.
Visit the Urban Wildlife Interpretive Center.
Conservation
The property is one of the last remnants of South Puget Sound prairie ecosystem that once stretch across thousands of acres in the region.
Special habitats and species
This unit supports a variety of species that are adapted to open grassland habitats, despite being surounded by urban development.
Conservation goals
- Maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Manage wetland ponds for state endangered western pond turtles and enhance turtle nesting sites
- Preserve habitat and species diversity for both fish and wildlife resources
This unit supports a variety of species that are adapted to open grassland habitats, despite being surounded by urban development.
- Maintain healthy populations of game and non-game species
- Protect and restore native plant communities
- Manage wetland ponds for state endangered western pond turtles and enhance turtle nesting sites
- Preserve habitat and species diversity for both fish and wildlife resources
Land stewardship
The South Puget Sound Unit was acquired in the 1920s and was the site of the former South Tacoma Game Farm and South Tacoma Hatchery. The game farm operation was discontinued in 1980s, but the hatchery still operates and is now the Lakewood Fish Hatchery.
Acquisition history
The parcels making up this area were purchased between 1929 and 1976.
| Funder | Fund |
|---|---|
| County | Transfer of land |
| State of Washington | Transfer of land |
| WA Dept of Fish and Wildlife | WDFW Game Fund (now Wildlife Fund) |
Management planning
South Puget Sound Wildlife Area Management Plan (January 2022)
Every eight to 10 years, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) revises management plans for each of its 33 wildlife areas to document current conditions, address new agency initiatives, and identify new management priorities and actions. In between those major revisions, WDFW updates plans every two years to outline short-term objectives and accomplishments. In 2014, WDFW began the process of updating existing plans, many of which were written in 2006. The new plans are being developed with significant public participation and input.
Planning Advisory Committee
South Puget Sound Wildlife Area Advisory Committee