Toxic soil stalls work on historic orchard in Pierce County. Neighbors concerned
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- City confirmed orchard soil contains high arsenic and lead from Asarco smelter.
- DuPont Council will decide in 2025 whether to remediate site or relocate trees.
- Saplings from 1840s Fort Nisqually stock remain unplanted behind fence.
Residents in the city of DuPont took to Facebook recently concerned about why a dozen fruit trees were sitting unplanted in the DuPont Heirloom Orchard near City Hall.
After a conversation with Mayor Ron Frederick on Tuesday, The News Tribune verified the trees have not been planted in the orchard because the city recently confirmed the soil contains high levels of arsenic and lead due to contamination from the former Asarco copper smelter plant in Tacoma. The City Council will decide in the new year whether to clean up the site and plant the trees there or relocate them elsewhere, Frederick said.
The saplings are cuttings from a group of fruit trees that were originally brought from England and planted by Fort Nisqually residents in the early 1840s, according to the city. Frederick said he anticipated the council to debate the historical value of the trees and make a decision on where the trees would be planted by springtime.
In the meantime the mayor said the trees aren’t dying and “are fine like they are.”
Although city staff have discussed creating a Heirloom Orchard for nearly a decade, only last week did the city confirm the soil near the original Fort Nisqually site was toxic, Frederick said.
Staff suspected the soil was contaminated but wanted to give the council factual confirmation before its discussions, he said. A fence with a sign reading, “Authorized Personnel Only,” has surrounded the site for years, Frederick said.
This story was originally published November 29, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
