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Home My WebLink AboutChapter 1 draft Introduction 10 1 14Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION & COUNTY PROFILE / CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION & COUNTY PROFILE Introduction The purpose of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan is to provide comprehensive guidance on the development and management of Jefferson County’s parklands, trails, open space, and recreation program services. This plan is a component of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan. It links the elements within the larger County Comprehensive Plan. It serves to and unite open space lands, parks and facilities into a coordinated network. The Washington State Legislature prescribed land use planning guidelines for select cities and counties with the adoption of the Growth Management Act in 1991. This included Jefferson County. Thirteen goals were adopted to guide the development and adoption of comprehensive plans codified in Chapter 36.70A.040 of the Revised Code of Washington. Three of these goals directly affect the development and implementation of this plan: RCW 36.70A.040 (9) guides recreation, parks and open space: “Retain open space, enhance recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks and recreation facilities.” RCW 36.70A040 (10) covers the environment: “Protect the environment and enhance the state’s high quality of life, including air and water quality, and the availability of water.” RCW 36.70A.040 (13) historic preservation: “Identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and structures that have historical and archaeological significance.” Plan and Planning Area: This Plan is a strategy for sustaining and developing parks and recreation. It will be updated every six years. This update includes goals for short term improvements and mechanisms for funding them. It also articulates community priorities that will set the foundation for the next 15-20 years. This plan provides the opportunity to solicit a number grant opportunities including the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) under the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP). WWRP contains categories for local park projects, conservation, open space lands, and trails. Other categories provide grant funding for boating facilities as well as off-road vehicle projects. Federal funding under the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is also available. The 2014 Jefferson County Comprehensive Park and Recreation plan update will provide RCO grant eligibility from 2015-2021. The RCO requires public and community input as part of the planning process. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners appointed the Park and Recreation Advisory Board (JCPRAB) to work with the staff throughout the update process. The community was included in regular Park and Recreation Advisory Board meetings throughout the preparation and completion of the draft plan. The draft plan was ultimately adoption by the Jefferson County Commissioners. In 1992, Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend adopted a joint resolution establishing the County-wide Planning Policy (CWPP) as a framework to guide the development of comprehensive plans. The goal of the adopted County-wide Planning Policy is to ensure that local planning efforts are consistent with each another and with regional growth management planning. It recognizes the need for counties, cities, special purpose districts, and those agencies and jurisdictions involved in the delivery of public services, to coordinate the independent development of local Comprehensive Plans. This plan includes coordination in the siting of parkland and public facilities and it includes discussions on County-wide strategies for parks, facilities, open space and recreational services. The purpose of the Jefferson County Parks Comprehensive Plan is to identify how park, recreation and open space needs should be addressed and implemented for the benefit of both County residents and visitors alike. Jefferson County manages 1,151.2 acres of parklands with 23 parks and 6 community centers that serve recreational interests. Jefferson County contains many park and recreation assets. Approximately three-fourths of the 1,808 square miles of land area in the County is in public ownership. In addition, the two largest publicly owned areas are the Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest, comprising 539,000-166,000 acres, respectively. County Profile Jefferson County was one of the first counties organized by the Washington Territorial Legislature in 1852. The County was named after President Thomas Jefferson. It is located in the northwestern corner of the state bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Puget Sound on the east. Jefferson County has been an inspiration to the generations who have called it home. The stories and legends of native tribes who inhabited the area speak eloquently of the spirit of this land. The journals of the early explorers are replete with descriptions of the awesome beauty and bountiful natural resources found in the County. Today, the County is 1,808 square miles, with a water area of 379 square miles. Jefferson County is the 18th largest County in the state with a population density of 16 people per square mile. Jefferson County consists of three distinct geographic areas-the “West End” on the Pacific Ocean, the Olympic Mountains in the central region, and the Puget Lowlands in the eastern section. The Olympic Mountains are the dominate landform, occupying more than 75% of the total area. Located within it is the Olympic National Forest and the Olympic National Park. Jefferson County is located within the West Coast Marine Climatic Region with variations ranging from 200 inches of rainfall annually in the Western rain forest to 18 inches in Port Townsend. Low rainfall on the Eastern side of the County is caused by the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. Topography ranges from sea level to 7,965 feet above Puget Sound on the top of Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in the Olympic Mountains. Because the Olympics were uplifted as a dome, rather than a ridge, the river systems radiate out in all directions from the center. Jefferson County is drained by 9 major rivers and 4 major creeks that flow west into the Pacific Ocean, north into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and east into Admiralty Inlet and Hood Canal. Principal rivers are: Hoh River, Clearwater River, Queets River, Elwah River, Dungeness River, Duckabush River, Doeswallips River, Big Quilcene River and Little Quilcene River. The Principal creeks are: Snow Creek, Salmon Creek, Eagle Creek, Chimacum Creek, Thorndyke Creek and Fulton Creek. Lakes in Jefferson County are: Tibbals Lake, Kah-Tai Lagoon, Anderson Lake, Beausite Lake, Gibbs Lake, Crocker Lake, Tarboo Lake and Leland Lake. Wildlife habitats are generally classified as marine, estuarine, freshwater, and terrestrial categories. Many wildlife species rely upon most or even all, of these habitat categories for survival. Jefferson County has all four categories of wildlife habitat. Marine habitat: In Jefferson County, the marine habitat zone encompasses County shoreline along the Pacific Ocean in the “West End”, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Discovery Bay, Admiralty Inlet, Hood Canal and Dabob Bay. Beach and Offshore Habitat: Beaches in Jefferson County provide near shore habitats for forage fish including surf smelt, sand lance and Pacific Herring. The richest near shore habitats are found in Discovery Bay, Admiralty Inlet and Hood Canal. In Jefferson County burrowing creatures make their homes on the sea floor and tidelands, these include native and introduced species such as butter clams, cockles, horse clams, littleneck and manila clams. Commercial and/or harvested species include shrimp, Dungeness and Red Rock Crab, oysters, and kelp. Geoduck tend to be abundant around Discovery Bay, Hood Canal and Dabob Bay. The deeper waters and narrow channel of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet and Hood Canal produce a unique marine environment rich in nutrients hosting a remarkable diversity of fish and animal life including octopus, Ling Cod, and Wolf Eels. Wildlife Species: Portions of the County that overlook the Pacific Ocean, Stait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, Hood Canal and Discovery and Dabob Bays provide habitat for the Bald Eagle and the Osprey. Anadromous game fish have been identified in the area include Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Dolly Varden, Eastern Brook Trout, Whitefish, Largemouth Bass, perch, crappie and catfish. These species spawn and rear in medium sized gravel beds with medium water flow along creeks, channels, streams, swamps and marshes. Chimacum Creek is a typical lowland-type stream that gradually meanders through a wide valley habitat offering suitable spawning and rearing areas. Valuable habitat qualities in the undeveloped, large native vegetation tracks and around the remaining wetlands and riparian (streamside) forests along river and creek valleys. The wooded areas support a wide variety of large and small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The most common mammals within the wooded areas include chipmunks, rabbits, marmots, skunks, and raccoons. A small number of larger mammals including black-tailed deer and coyote occur at the edge of the plateaus where large contiguous forested area remain. Species may forage in all of the zones, particularly during the winter months, but retreat for night and seasonal cover into the upland wooded areas. Examples include a variety of game species such as pigeon, grouse, rabbit, deer, bear, bobcat and cougar. Population Predictions and Demographics: Jefferson County has experienced steady population growth, a trend that is projected to continue through 2035 when the population is anticipated to reach 29,872. The total projected growth (2025-2035) for the County, including the City of Port Townsend is 7,445. The County is predominantly (91.37%) Caucasian. The median resident age is 53-years as compared to the state-wide median age of 37-years. Over the last decade, aspects of growth have included an increased percentage of older adults. In Jefferson County, 30.5% of the population is 65 years and older as compared to 13.6% in Washington State. The median household income from 2008-2012 for Jefferson County was $46,870. This is lower than in the whole of Washington State which is $59,374. There are 13.7% of Jefferson County residents that live below the poverty line compared to statewide (12.9%). This reflects a population, (including children), with acute need for County services. According to the statistical findings, the population within Jefferson County had socioeconomic characteristics that were significantly different than the averages typical of the state. The statistics indicate residents of Jefferson County are likely to be older and living in childless households with recreational interests that coincide with these characteristics. Table 1.1 Base Population 2012 Projected Population 2015 Projected Population 2025 Projected Population 2035 Projected Growth in Population 2015-2035 29,872 30,468 33,678 37,914 7,445 Integration with Other Documents: This Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan provides a 20-year vision for the providing parks and recreation in Jefferson County. This Plan is an update of the 2002 adopted plan. The Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan discusses parks, recreation and open space issues in Section 6. Planning documents and studies that influence park and recreation facilities and services within the County were reviewed for policies, guidelines and information relevant to the Park, Recreation and Open Space Comprehensive Plan. Those are: Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan revised by ORD #02-1104-13 and the current 2014 working draft changes in progress. US Census 2012 & Washington Office of Fiscal Management Population and Demographic Data. Jefferson County Non-Motorized Transportation & Recreation Trails Plan-2010 xxxxxx