Gig Harbor Storm Drain Sidewalk Art Project
Turns storm drains into eye-catching conversation starters about clean water.
Only rain down the drain.
This community art project turns storm drains into eye-catching conversation starters about clean water. Local artists created site-specific sidewalk murals around storm drains across Gig Harbor to remind us that everything entering these drains flows straight to the Salish Sea—impacting salmon, octopus, and the entire nearshore ecosystem.
Project Goals
- Raise public awareness of stormwater pollution.
- Celebrate local artists and science communication.
- Inspire simple actions: pick up pet waste, reduce fertilizers, and never dump anything into a drain.
How to Experience the Murals
- Explore: Find murals at locations marked below (or scan the QR code).
- Learn: Each site includes a short message about storm drains and local wildlife.
- Act: Keep streets and driveways clean; never dump chemicals, paint, or yard waste.
Media & Inquiries
Harbor WildWatch: info@harborwildwatch.org • 253-514-0187 • harborwildwatch.org
City of Gig Harbor: NPDES Coordinator • mabboud@gigharborwa.gov • 253-853-2646
Credits
Project funded and supported by the City of Gig Harbor with program design and community education by Harbor WildWatch.
1) The Sound Starts Here
Artist: Perry Hamilton
Artist Bio: Perry Hamilton is a Florida-born, Tacoma-based artist who works primarily in sketch and acrylic. After studying biology at the University of Puget Sound, Perry joined the coldwater team at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Blending art and science, Perry creates paintings, drawings, and exhibit pieces inspired by regional marine life.
About the Artwork: “My storm drain piece was inspired by my experiences working with the Giant Pacific Octopus. They’re curious, beautiful creatures people connect with deeply. I can think of no better way to help people care for our waterways than to show them a piece of the environment they can protect.”
Location: 8714 N. Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA
2) Otter-ly Important — Only Rain Down the Drain
Artist: Kat Barlow
Artist Bio: Kat is a recent Environmental Science graduate of UW Tacoma who grew up in the South Puget Sound. Passionate about local habitat and wildlife, she has studied and worked in water quality—turning passion into action.
About the Artwork: “My mural features river otters. While working in Gig Harbor, I often spotted otters scurrying along the bay; they always sparked wonder and whimsy. This piece connects everyday water quality actions to the animals that make Gig Harbor unique.”
Location: 4021 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA
3) Straight to Stream and Sea
Artist: Liz Racine
Artist Bio: Born and raised in the South Puget Sound, Liz earned a biology degree from Pacific Lutheran University and has worked and volunteered with MaST Center Aquarium, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, and now Harbor WildWatch. Her artwork—spanning fiber, drawing, and paint—celebrates the ocean.
About the Artwork: “This storm drain art is an ode to the chum salmon that return to Gig Harbor each year. Salmon are resilient—facing many challenges yet making it back to spawn. As we clean up waterways and improve passage, nature can rebound when given a chance.”
Location: 3211 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA
4) There’s Chum in the Water!
Artist: Perry Hamilton
Artist Bio: Perry Hamilton is a Florida-born, Tacoma-based artist who works primarily in sketch and acrylic. After studying biology at the University of Puget Sound, Perry joined the coldwater team at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Blending art and science, Perry creates paintings, drawings, and exhibit pieces inspired by regional marine life.
About the Artwork: “This piece is meant to represent the stages of life that our local chum salmon live through. I wanted to represent the importance of all our local waterways by following the life cycle from spawning to juveniles to oceanic adults to help us understand that our waterways are connected. We start with our spawning chum salmon upstream, to the eggs hatching into alevins, to fry, to smolt, to adults swimming back to the ocean.”
Location: 8714 N. Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA
How to Experience the Murals
- Explore: Find murals at locations marked below (or scan the QR code).
- Learn: Each site includes a short message about storm drains and local wildlife.
- Act: Keep streets and driveways clean; never dump chemicals, paint, or yard waste.