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A homeowner in Union, Washington, wanted a new water feature to complement the panoramic views of the Skokomish River Valley and Purdy Creek from his residence, which overlooks the southern end of the Hood Canal from a high cliff. The client wanted a natural looking installation that could accommodate fish and provide a privacy screen between neighbors. The homeowner worked with Dreamscapes Landscape and Design, an Olympia-based design/build firm, to develop a water feature with two creeks that pool and cascade on their way to a primary pond lined with rocks and boulders. The client, an employee of the Squaxin Island Tribal Center, enlisted Dreamscapes owner Jacob Tate and project lead Jason Murray for his project after the company installed a large pond at the Tribal Center that linked to other water features.
Challenges Project challenges began with establishing the budget, which was strict and limited, and defined the sizes of the pond liner and water pumps. The budget was also a factor in the selection of the soil, rocks, plants and plumbing supplies, requiring careful consideration of the materials used. The existing site contained a shallow pond with overgrown water plants, algae and water loss problems that needed to be removed. The existing feature held about 3,000 gallons, roughly half the size of the new installation. During demolition, the crew saved and repurposed as much material as they could to reduce project costs, including retaining gravel, large rocks and yard d????(R)???(C)cor. "Approximately 20 yards [of existing material] was moved out of the way, and re-used for berms that created the heights and elevations for the drops in the water features," Tate said. Tight liner restrictions led to a change in the appearance of the streams, and the falls and water flow were similarly adjusted to accommodate the capacity of the water pumps. Further adjustments were made with the soil and creek levels to ensure that the project would look like a natural extension of the hillside and residence. The construction area was not accessible from all sides, so the main pond was installed first, followed by the creek, water wheel and plumbing for the pumps (Easy Pro). After completing the creek nearest the water wheel, the three-man crew backed out of the area to shape the other creek and connect it to the main pond. An electrician was subcontracted to install outdoor outlets for the water pumps. Finally, the six-week installation of the pond and water feature took place during late fall and early winter, so weather was a continual consideration. The site received snow during one of the construction days, and freezing temperatures on other days caused some delays. Of course, no outdoor project in Washington State would be complete without the constant threat of rain, which occasionally flooded the project area and slowed work down. Features The kidney-shaped main pond was approximately 28 feet long and 17 feet wide upon completion, with a depth of three feet. The water wheel, a starting point for the previous water feature, was repurposed as an accent piece. The wheel was initially going to be placed on the side of a large pool in one of the creeks, but budget and size restrictions led to its relocation. Custom yard d????(R)???(C)cor includes remnants of Washington State's rich logging history, like the chain-and-clamp system hanging over some repurposed logs. "Those are called "boom sticks,' which has the piling log – the end piece that holds the boom together with all the logs – and chains left over from the heavy logging days, in the early 1920's," Tate said. To reach the pond, the water cascades over about five feet of grade, navigating rock falls of varying heights. The creek nearest the water wheel evokes a babbling brook, while the other creek is much larger and amplifies the sounds of moving water. Twenty tons of locally sourced granite, cobble and round field rock were placed within and around the water feature to enhance the project's natural look. About 1,500 square feet of pond liner was installed, and 3,000 square feet of felt was layered beneath and above the liner.
For the large stones surrounding the pond and falls, Dreamscapes used the most local source available. "The boulders were taken out of a farmer's field in our region," Tate said. "He said "I need to farm, and all these rocks keep popping up, can you come and get them?' A lot of them had moss and stuff on them, so they're "character rocks,' as I like to call them, as opposed a standard stone." Tate's crew used a Takeuchi TB 235 compact excavator to put the boulders in place. The alpine driftwood came from a nearby island owned by the Squaxin Island Tribe, a group of Native American clans known collectively as "the people of the water." The tribe allowed the use of the driftwood in the feature as a tribute to the land and the homeowner's heritage. The homeowners are tribal fishermen, and placed carved bears throughout the landscape. The fishing bear that highlights the new water feature was carried over from the previous installation.
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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