Licton Springs and Pilling's Pond

Licton Springs is a small remaining fragment of what was once a vast system of wetlands that covered much of Western Washington. Since the colonization of this state, it is estimated that the Puget Sound Basin has lost up to 70% of its wetlands. The urbanized areas of Puget Sound have lost upwards of 90-98% of their original wetlands. The losses and degradation of remaining wetlands are due to a variety of reasons including: draining for urban development i.e. housing, highways, and industry; dredging to form lakes; diking to create farm-lands; pollution; invasion of non-native species of vegetation and poor forestry practices. With future growth predicted in the Puget Sound urbanized are at 20-30% by the year 2000, the pressures on remaining wetlands will only increase. [from the Licton Springs Neighborhood home page]