The Midway Sewer District transferred on April 30 ownership of more than two miles of existing pipeline to the Des Moines Creek Basin Committee for use as a creek high-flow bypass.

The committee includes the cities of Des Moines and SeaTac as well as King County, the Port of Seattle and the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Its members are working on projects that improve drainage, reduce erosion and improved fish habitat in the creek watershed.

The pipeline, which parallels Des Moines Creek between South 200th Street and Puget Sound, will drain a large detention pond that will collect excessive creek flows during storms.

"We are pleased these pipelines, which have served the public for the past 43 years as a trunk sewer and outfall, can continue to serve the community and the environment as a creek high-flow bypass into the future," Midway commission president Jack Hendrickson noted.

"We are also grateful for the opportunity to cooperate with the basin committee in achieving their goal of improving Des Moines Creek."

Before the donated pipeline can be used, Midway must complete construction of a new outfall this summer.

The last segment of the new outfall will parallel the existing outfall, beginning at Des Moines Beach Park and ending about 1,800 feet offshore.

A biologist will monitor the project to ensure minimal disruption to the marine environment.

Midway will also be required to restore the corridor to preconstruction conditions.