Burien’s Multi-Jurisdictional Effort with SeaTac and Port of Seattle Combines Infrastructure Improvements with Ecological Restoration Near Burien’s Miller Creek Trail
The City of Burien joined partners from the City of SeaTac and Port of Seattle on Thursday, November 20 to celebrate the completion of the Miller Creek Restoration Project.
Located in the City of Burien’s Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA) near the Miller Creek Trail at Des Moines Memorial Drive South and South 144th Street, the project builds upon years of ongoing work by the City of Burien to integrate stormwater management and environmental enhancements along Miller Creek.
The project relocated a segment of the creek containing two failing, non-fish-passable culverts and degraded open channel. More than 1,300 feet of new stream channel has been designed to minimize erosion and increase natural habitat, optimizing conditions for migrating salmon. Along with the installation of two new fish-passable concrete box culverts under Des Moines Memorial Drive South and Miller Creek Trail, the project adds 1.4 acres of new floodplain for increased flood capacity, sediment control, and habitat connectivity and two acres of restored and enhanced riparian habitat.
One of several projects implementing NERA redevelopment plans, construction for this project began in 2023 and completed in October 2025. The project was supported by the City of SeaTac and Port of Seattle, in addition to grant funding from the Washington Department of Ecology.
“The completion of this project acts as a vital last piece of Burien’s initial investment in the Northeast Redevelopment Area, showcasing the partnership and commitment of Burien and our neighbors, SeaTac and the Port of Seattle,” said City of Burien Civil Engineer II Dan O'Brien, who served as the project’s manager. “The combination of infrastructure improvements and environmental enhancements for Miller Creek provides both economic benefits to our area as well as contributing to regional habitat and salmon recovery efforts. We are proud of this work and hope that additional partnership opportunities can be found in the coming years.”
"This project is another milestone to celebrate in the City's progress toward delivering on plans to shape a better future for our community and the environment we share,” said Burien Deputy Mayor Sarah Moore. “Here in Burien, we are answering the call to restore habitat, replace barriers for fish passage, reduce flood hazards, and responsibly manage stormwater runoff. We're also creating safer, more vibrant communities by investing in improvements that enhance trail connectivity and provide more options for recreation. Thank you to our partners for helping us provide a united, regional response to these critically important challenges."
"The restoration of Miller Creek clearly demonstrates that local governments can significantly enhance the region’s environment and quality of life when we align our interests across jurisdictions,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman. "The power of the Port's collaboration with the cities of Burien and SeaTac has resulted in the removal of barriers to salmon migration which create critical connections to habitat restoration work further upstream. These connections will also increase the number of salmon in Puget Sound, to the benefit of fishermen and whales alike."
"SeaTac knows how important it is to keep Miller Creek healthy, as detailed in our Stormwater Management Action Plan," said SeaTac Mayor Mohamed Egal. "In addition to the previously mentioned benefits to Miller Creek, this project also resolved a stormwater infrastructure problem after realigning the creek to flow through the new underpass. This allowed for the removal of a failing drainage culvert in Des Moines Memorial Drive South that could have compromised the structural integrity of the roadway."
The Miller Creek Trailhead at 14455 Des Moines Memorial Drive South in Burien is now reopened to the public. Amenities include accessible parking, paved trails, benches, and interpretive signage.
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