HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORKSHOP re N. Hood Canal Project, RCO Application JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Jeff Chapman,Representing Jefferson County on the RTCA Project
DATE: July 13,2026
SUBJECT: WORKSHOP re: North Hood Canal Recreation Project/Public Survey
(Possible action on RCO Planning for Recreation Access(PRA)application Letter of
Support)
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The Olympic Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (OPORC) is working with the Department of the
Interior on a Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Areas (RTCA) grant to study outdoor recreation in the North
Hood Canal region of Brinnon and Quilcene. Applicants included the US Forest Service,National Park
Service, Washington State Parks, Washington Trails Association and American Whitewater. The County
and Tribes are participants in the awarded effort. A public survey is being released today July 13, 2026.
ANALYSIS:
The purpose of the RTCA effort is to compile input from users, visitors, and area residents as what can be
done to improve recreation in the North Hood Canal area, compiled in a report, with recommendations.No
ground disturbing action is funded as part of this study. It will be a resource to landowners and does not
replace any environmental reviews.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No funding from the County is requested here. The OPORC is applying for an RCO PRA grant through
Discover Your Northwest to cover their overhead expenses and would appreciate a letter of support from the
County. This will likely require assistance from and coordination with our Parks and Recreation Department
since this is a PROS plan project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff requests the Board approve a motion to send a Letter of Support to the Washington State Recreation
and Conservation Office for Discovery Your Northwest grant application#26-1939, a Planning for
Recreation Access (PRA) grant.
REVIEWED BY:
1/2 73'47
Josh . Peters, County Administrator Date
North Hood Canal Project Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEATTLE, WA-July 13, 2026
Press & Community Contact
Laurie Thorpe, Director
Olympic Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative
lauriethorpe@gmail.com, (509) 690-7347
Have Your Say: Community Survey to Shape Recreation in the
North Hood Canal
Local residents, Tribes, and recreationists are invited to help shape future recreation in
the North Hood Canal by taking part in a community survey open July 13 — October 30,
2026. Input gathered over the next 16 weeks will inform recommendations that area
land managers can use to guide future land management decisions and visitor use
planning.
The survey focuses on the North Hood Canal project area on the eastern edge of
Washington's Olympic Peninsula. It includes the area along Highway 101 between
Brinnon and Quilcene, and the Dosewallips and the Duckabush recreation corridors.
This landscape brings together various institutions including Federal, Tribal, State, and
local entities to develop an integrated perspective on the future of outdoor recreation in
this area.
"We hear you—and we're here," said Laurie Thorpe, Director of the Olympic Peninsula
Outdoor Recreation Collaborative. "This survey is a practical way for everyone who
uses and loves this place to share what matters most for recreation today and for future
generations."
A full range of perspectives is essential to identifying new, realistic ways to reach
favorite places and to prioritize opportunities that deliver the greatest benefit for
everyone.
Participants will be invited to share:
• How and where you engage and recreate in the project area today (e.g., trails,
camping, boating, scenic drives).
• Your views on key interests, constraints, and issues (e.g., safety, the
environment, cultural values, economic opportunities, and existing use patterns).
• How you want to recreate and engage in the future, so recommendations reflect
evolving needs and preferences.
How to Participate (July 13—October 30, 2026)
• Take the survey online:
https://outdoorengage.mysocialpinpoint.com/north-hood-canal
• Find project updates & upcoming events:
https://www.opoutdoorreccollab.com/dosewallips-project
• Meet us in person: The Collaborative will connect with locals and visitors through
public events throughout Summer 2026 to ensure anyone interested can engage.
• Stay informed:
o Visit opoutdoorreccollab.com for the survey link and updates on pop-up
events across the project area.
o In Fall 2026, early findings from the survey will be shared with local
community members for feedback.
o A summary of what we learned, along with our analysis and draft
recommendations will be shared in the spring of 2027 for community
feedback.
About the Effort
The Olympic Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (ORC) formed a working
group—including residents, business owners, non-profit staff, and local/federal agency
representatives—to guide this effort. The ORC is a convener that partners with land
managers, interest groups, and communities to foster sustainable, equitable, and
seamless outdoor recreation across the peninsula. The project goal is to listen well to
local residents, Tribal leaders, visitors, and land managers to develop recommendations
that truly guide outdoor recreation management in the North Hood Canal. Our belief is
that this will become the standard for outdoor recreation planning on the Olympic
Peninsula.
f :UCKHORN l.-- ....^' •
• ILCENE
Nf. ir ‘r \ .
7 MOUNTAIN - '""
' 4TATEOFWAONR �I „ i. <»
`qq
MT. %rr n' fit.
e
CEPTION ,r° ( °``
/; W..
y j
1. �_ � _..._..._..._..
4.
1 •''wir,n. ow ' TH A...ew W I�
*LITTLE BUCKHORN N1y oJaen«r.nl.v ew «na rH
\ n.a eaJ onvo„ I n r m.a,i
MYSTERY I y WILDERNESS I'°'r'°'° ,f f�
3 M�rH� y TT Mr Wal4e, ..
...,, _ 7 1ouw V�ew1,
4TH
• rare.v+\ _ rH MtWalke, •«`' •
+ IfneaJ1 Elba c,�TH _ ..( IlneeJ
ti ' yMy OLYMPIC I�— TAT—SF ANH,•%
z. i I NATIONALiar�r, _ FOREST r
p� ,
DABOB .
l k,. BAY
�.`A+ •, 'yy^ � 1 l(: A .n i " Ni91 mart , r
+�"� I ! f rew+ll P,NJ
F3 ira llwaJ ` love —
,.,
�1 IA'unve,„,t Rocky Brook Falls AMERICAN TIMBER
w., RESOURCE,LLC •
OLYMPIC : m ny Aro
NATIONAL I MANKE TIMBER 1^'
PARK COMPANY SEAL ROCK
• m WA STATE PARKS Seal Nor. ♦ JEFFERSON LAND TRUST '
II THE BROTHERS T .myy,ounJShea•«"
•
c.mPy,«,n.,
WILDERNESS JUPIT.
I STATE OF WA /+� r' •
DNR w,� POPE '�` /♦ -�
RESOURCES ; BRINNON
untkem„n _ _ �• (34 TH } ,.
�" naeheaJ lin. l f v a �r ' i
�� T ,A ground (ern,�Um TH ///!� IC
A TH *mt J.,.., 1 ±
`` aye,Hole Ga nMed
-� TH ,ems•• 1 IIa11, J MapleadNeylwV
G 'TT T railhead •
DNR/ —r)---r-------'/_:.,: ,- r ;'k' Pf taut Harbor r� I N
�� M ri I.
Ni
�1 DUCKABUSH♦t ♦ ••� •
Aditu
RECREATION ASSETS CIRCULATION/BOUNDARIES OWNERSHIP TYPE
® TRAILHEAD Q PICNIC AREA . STATE HIGHWAY USFS INDIVIDUALS/PRIVATE
USFS ROADS NPS BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL
O CAMPING e WATER ACCESS r`.../ TRAILS
�." MAJOR RIVERS WILDERNESS AREA
co INTERPRETIVE SITE ® INFORMATION
,•• •• DOSEWALLIPS STATE _ STATE
PARK PARK BOUNDARY
•1• 1 1• PROJECT AREA O 1
0
BOUNDARY
Dosewallips Area Grant FINAL March 1, 2025
PROJECT SUMMARY
a. Summary of project-Tell us about your project idea and the specific outcomes you
would like to achieve:
The Dosewallips Road was once a beloved recreation destination, providing drive-up access to
two popular campgrounds and numerous trails. The Dosewallips Campground and adjacent
stock camp was also used as a main access into the Olympic National Park for both users and
agency stock crews.
In January 2002, a landslide closed the road and it has not been opened since. Just past the
washout is a large concrete road bridge across the Dosewallips River that is now separated
from the main road but remains a major feature over the Dosewallips River. A temporary trail
with multiple switchbacks was built by WTA and BCHW across the adjacent embankment to the
washout to allow continued access for hikers, stock, and ONP crews. While meant to be only
used for a few years until a new road bypass was constructed, this steep trail, unsuitable for
bicycles, remains the access route today. The Forest Service published a FEIS that included a
0.84-mile reroute as the preferred alternative in 2010, but the record of decision was never
signed due to insufficient funds for implementation, because of requirement for a Regional
Interagency Executive Committee to review five site-specific Forest Plan amendments. In 2015,
the Forest Service published the results of a sustainable roads analysis which reversed course
on the FEIS and marked the road as "likely not needed". Since then, no decisions have been
made on the future of access in the valley. The USDA Forest Service manages the road to the
Elkhorn Campground, and the National Park Service manages past that point up to the
Dosewallips Campground beyond the washout. The Forest Service andNPS have gradually
divested in infrastructure located beyond the washout, while WA State Parks has continued to
develop and acquire land for new recreation opportunities on the south side of the Dosewallips
River. The loss of access represents a major impact for the community of Brinnon, the
surrounding area, and countless visitors from across the state, as the road provided access to
some of the most popular recreation sites on the Hood Canal.
Still, visitors continue to trek through 6 miles of the old road to access the area for hiking,
camping, horseback riding, fishing, biking, whitewater sports, and more. Because the bypass
trail is unsuitable for some uses, trails are often cut down through the riverbank causing
additional erosion. Also, since the time of the original washout, a second road surface washout
downstream at Case Creek has developed due to an unsustainable culvert and has limited
vehicle access to the original washout, to functional parking areas, and to other trailheads such
as the Tunnel Creek Trail parking area. In the absence of a strategy to manage the area,
unmanaged use occurs, causing outsized impacts on the land. With certainty that the road will
remain closed due to the aforementioned reasons, the Forest Service and others must consider
a strategy that can fully transition this place from its legacy use to a planned, sustainable
recreation area. More is needed to understand what recreation currently is and could look like
within the watershed and surrounding area in order to prevent unmanaged use that is actively
occurring.
In addition to the focus on the Dosewallips Watershed, there are other recreation amenities
located north of the watershed that should be included in the concept planning process. Forest
Service, Washington State Parks lands, and National Park entrances are in close proximity to
each other, meaning displaced or newly managed use in one area will impact the others. These
sites include: Seal Rock Campground, Falls View Campground and associated trails, Mt. Walker
Viewpoint and trail, and the Elbo Creek sites. Falls View Campground requires planning, as the
campground was closed 5 years ago due to a widespread tree disease issue. Once the
treatment to the stand was complete, half of the campground was reopened, but the other half
remains closed and is in need of a future designation. As this project considers how to steward
responsible recreation, and how visitors move across these lands, taking a look at the full
recreation system in the area is critical.
Our goal, in partnership with RTCA, is to develop a Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Strategy for
the future of the Dosewallips Watershed (DW) and other closely connected recreation sites
located north of the watershed. This includes visioning, developing a plan for and supporting the
execution of community engagement— including Tribes—and working with the Olympic
Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative to understand and summarize this community
feedback. Community engagement would support the visioning work for the area. By collecting
this data, the Olympic Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative would use the help of RTCA
and its coalition members to share findings and recommendations on future management of the
Dosewallips Watershed with the land managers. Specifically, the Strategy would:
• Gauge and document public interests and demands for recreation assets in this area
using community and stakeholder engagement.
• Provide a focus on visitor use management across the landscape.
• Include engagement with Tribes as it fits with other local and regional efforts.
• Create a set of recommendations using information learned from community
engagement.
Outcome One: Demonstrate a commitment to bettering our understanding of recreation impacts
on Tribal Treaty rights and incorporate innovative techniques to mitigate such threats in the
community planning process
Outcome Two: Provide a Strategy for agencies and communities that becomes a guide for
future management and development of the Dosewallips Area.
Outcome Three: Demonstrate the strength of community based outdoor recreation planning on
the Olympic Peninsula.
Outcome Four: Through this process, strengthen the Olympic Peninsula Outdoor Recreation
Collaborative's ability to initiate and coordinate these types of planning efforts.
The Dosewallips Area has a strong mix of native culture, outdoor recreation lands (National
Park Service, WA State Parks, US Forest Service) and local communities such as Brinnon and
Quilcene, WA. This demonstrates the relatedness of cultural, economic and social needs here,
which in turn, sets an expectation that we must do this together. Key agencies and communities
have all expressed interest and would benefit greatly from engagement and outcomes of this
work. The place, the players and the interest in Dosewallips is well known. A move toward
thinking and visioning together is timely.
b. Describe any specific results anticipated within 5 years of project start-up (for
example, greenway plan development or implementation, community events, land
acquisition, sustainable organization formed, miles of trails developed, acres of land
preserved/conserved, etc.).
We expect the OP — Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (ORC) to be the lead coordination for this
effort with the idea that this approach could be used regularly across the Olympic Peninsula with
ORC leading.
One goal is to provide new recreation opportunities and better manage existing dispersed
recreation to address opportunities that have been lost in the region as a result of the landslide.
We expect to use this process and approach for other watersheds/Areas on the OP.
Stakeholders are committed to act on analysis, public engagement, funding, and advocacy to
advance a community vision. For example, the countless user-group organizations (hikers,
bikers, campers, boaters) can take chunks of work from the strategy related to trail
maintenance, stewardship, and advocacy; while land managers work through longer-term
processes to improve infrastructure.
c. Describe any major project accomplishments to date:
An FEIS was published in 2010 to determine whether or not to open the washed out
Dosewallips road. The Decision was never signed and since then it has become commonly
understood that the road will not be rebuilt/opened as the Park Service and the Forest Service
gradually divest of recreation infrastructure from the area. Given the amount of time, costs,
divestiture of facilities, and environmental concerns it only makes sense to pursue options
where the road remains closed. This is a clear place to start.
In recent years, Washington State Parks has been acquiring land on the south side of the
Dosewallips river to the Forest Service boundary in anticipation of developing recreation access.
This represents one clear opportunity for collaboration and planning between the Forest Service
and the State Parks in regards to cross boundary recreation access.
Over the past few years, as the ORC has been forming there has been continued interest by
outdoor recreation groups and communities to open a dialogue about the future of Dosewallips.
At our annual meeting in October 2024, we agreed to pursue an RTCA opportunity if possible.
d. Describe anticipated benefits to the community (for example, recreational, social,
environmental, economic, health, etc.):
The Dosewallips Watershed hosts a number of recreation opportunities for users of all types—
hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, backpacking, fishing, river boating, etc. Access to the
river can be gained via a variety of landowners including the Forest Service, Washington State
Parks, and the Park Service. With the 101 highway intersecting it, the Dosewallips Road is
around 1 hr from Olympia and less than 2 hrs from Tacoma, making it a day-trip destination for
those in major metro areas in addition to locals getting out to enjoy the beauty of their
Peninsula.
Access to the outdoors is essential to people's wellbeing —their mental, physical, and emotional
health. Per the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office's recent recreation demand
survey, 90% of Washingtonians walk or hike on trails annually. But when the Dosewallips road
closed in 2002, hundreds-of-thousands of people lost drive-up access to beloved trailheads
such as Lake Constance, West and main for Dosewallips trails, Elkhorn Campground (Forest
Service) and the Dosewallips Campground (Park Service)—cutting down their opportunities to
explore, even in their own neighborhoods.
Prior to the closure, these campgrounds and trailheads were consistently well used and one of
the most popular entries into the Olympic National Forest and Park on the Hood Canal. Other
recreation opportunities in the area include the popular Seal Rock Campground, Falls View
Campground, and the Mt. Walker trail, which is a popular year-round trail that is in need of a
revitalized winter access point. The closure or decreased access of these sites not only impacts
community wellbeing, but hurts the economy of nearby businesses and resources that rely on
visitors and the revenue that we know recreation sites generate for local towns.
The benefits to communities, agencies, Tribes, interest groups and visitors is significant. The
DW is easy access off of Hwy 101 near Brinnon, WA and Quilcene to the North. Both
communities have been impacted since the road washout and would benefit directly by
sustainable outdoor recreation use. Strategically invested recreation assets create better
experiences for visitors, reduce impact on the land, and help land managers do their job. This
Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Strategy will inspire stewardship and action that will have
lasting impacts on local communities.
The area has much to offer from trails to State Parks and could easily attract funding
investments.'
ROLES
a. Describe your organization, its role in the project, and the time and resources that will
be contributed:
The Olympic Peninsula, Outdoor Recreation Collaborative (ORC) is a non-profit group of land
managers, interest groups, and community members in support of sustainable outdoor
recreation across the OP. This unique group has a "Peninsula Wide"focus which fosters
networks and connections. We work together toward seamless outdoor recreation experiences,
collaboration and integrated management across boundaries.
ORC's role on the Dosewallips project would consist of coordination with RTCA and all engaged
partners. ORC would be the contact and lead for the project from a community standpoint and
ensure the project stays on track. We would provide basic communication and updates about
the project through our networks, work with RTCA on engagement strategies and networking to
engage a wide range of voices. The time commitment is expected to be about eight hours a
week for coordination and project management. In addition we expect to be engaged with
meetings and public engagements throughout the project time frame.
b. In the chart below, describe each partner's role, responsibility, and contribution to the
project(please include partners providing letters of commitment):
Organization Name / Partner's Role, Responsibility, and Contribution Page
Olympic Peninsula— Outdoor Recreation Collaborative : Main contact and project lead.
USDA Forest Service— Land Manager: Input, review and guidance
Washington State Parks— Land Manager: Input, review and guidance
National Park Service— Land Manager: Input, review and guidance
WA Trails Association— Network and input.
American Whitewater— Network and input.
The land management agencies (National Park Service, US Forest Service, WA State Parks)
will support in various ways including: providing data and other information to support the vision
planning effort, attend meetings, provide subject matter expert advice on policy and other
logistic feasibility of project ideas, and agree to consider the final community plan in future
Forest decision making. The agencies may assist with Tribal engagement when requested. The
agencies do not establish the group, set agenda's, or'drive' the process. This is a
community-led effort.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT
a. Describe project support to date, including support from the general public,
organizations, coalitions, government agencies, and elected officials. Share any relevant
news media articles, sections of plans that propose the project, and/or government
resolutions that illustrate this support:
As mentioned earlier, the ORC and participating agencies are in support of this project.
Outdoor recreation interests groups have expressed concern over the "unmanaged" nature of
some facilities and continue to pressure agencies to figure out Dosewallips.
Local county officials have expressed interest and support.
The US Forest Service and WA State Parks have expressed support and will offer staff time for
input and review as needed. The National Park Service is supportive but has limited capacity.
b. Describe plans for future public outreach and engagement:
Engagement plans would be built with RTCA to prioritize who, how, where, and when to engage
in the development of the Strategy. The ORC has monthly meetings and will continue to update
members and agencies as the proposal and subsequent project unfold.
A major intention of technical assistance is for the RTCA staff to work with the Olympic
Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative in defining the right questions to ask and methods
for engagement as ORC and RTCA conduct stakeholder engagement to inform this plan. We
anticipate this could include a survey, town halls, and community meetings— as would be
developed through this grant.
a. What are the major project challenges your organization faces?
• Getting the right people engaged to do the project well.
• The Forest Service's availability to do watershed level outdoor recreation planning work.
• Current agency capacity.
b. Describe the types of assistance and specific deliverables you are seeking from the
NPS staff that would complement your team. For examples, see the description of "Our
Services" on page 2.
1) Community engagement consultation and implementation.
2) Outline and development of a Sustainable Outdoor Recreation Strategy as described
above.
3) Outdoor recreation planning skills and processes to complete the Concept Plan.
How Did You Hear About Us? Have you worked with Rivers, Trails and Conservation
Assistance in the past? If not, how did you hear about our program (for example, from a
colleague, online search, NPS website, grants.gov, social media, email, or other)?
Over the past several years the idea of using RTCA to help with visioning work at Dosewallips
has been in discussion with various interest groups and agencies. Several members of the ORC
have had experience with RTCA and found the work very beneficial
CoNssr Board of County Commissioners
4w� oo0,1„ 1820 Jefferson Street
ti PO Box 1220
4040 Port Townsend, WA 98368
'WING
Heather Dudley-Nollette,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
July 13,2026
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office(RCO)
Planning for Recreation Access(PRA)Grant Program
1111 Washington Street S.E.
Olympia, WA 98501
RE: OP Outdoor Recreation Collaborative/Discover Your Northwest RCO Grant Application 26-1939
Dear Review Committee,
Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners are pleased to express our support for the Olympic
Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative's(ORC)North Hood Canal Planning Project(NHCP).
Representing the residents of and visitors to Jefferson County,we recognize the importance of thoughtful
integrated outdoor recreation planning and implementation by both the County and our partner
organizations.
The Olympic Peninsula Outdoor Recreation Collaborative's North Hood Canal Outdoor Recreation Plan
seeks to establish a multi jurisdictional vision for stewardship of outdoor recreation opportunities across
federal, state,and county lands near Brinnon and Quilcene in southern Jefferson County. Community
sensing and engagement will occur this summer with analysis and planning throughout the fall and winter
2026/2027 as part of a NPS Rivers,Trails,and Conservation Assistance(RTCA)grant assistance project
secured by ORC and the Olympic National Forest.
This project was initiated because of strong and continued community and recreationist interest since a
washout closed the Dosewallips road in 2002. Recreation use has changed and the continued demand for
recreation in the area has created significant safety and parking concerns. To complete outdoor recreation
planning at this scale in an integrated fashion is clearly the way to be successful and we expect will lead to
using this approach across the Olympic Peninsula.
Jefferson County is supportive of studying what can be done to improve recreation in the County,
including participating in and contributing to efforts like the North Hood Canal Planning Project.
We respectfully ask the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office to fund this grant request.
If you have any questions regarding our support,please feel free to contact this office.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Heather Dudley-Nollette, Dist. 1 Heidi Eisenhour,Dist.2 Greg Brotherton, Dist. 3-Chair
Phone(360)385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us