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JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
's 615 Sheridan Street o Port Townsend o Washington o 98368
www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.org
December 10, 2014
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Tami Pokorny, Environmental Health Specialist II
DATE: December 15, 2014
SUBJECT: Agenda Request: Discussion of Possible Transfer of County-
owned Dosewallips Floodplain Properties to WA State Parks
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
On November 10, the BoCC discussed the possibility of transferring county -owned conservation
properties on the Dosewallips River floodplain to Washington State Parks in response to an inquiry
by Director Don Hoch. Staff requests an opportunity to discuss a draft letter to inform Director Hoch
of the County's willingness to move forward with the transfers.
ANALYSISISTRATEGIC GOALS:
State Parks would like to acquire up to seven County -owned parcels, or portions of parcels, on the
south side of the Dosewallips River totaling approximately 51 acres to support recreational activities
and habitat protection.
The parcels of interest are APN #s 602342001, 602343010, 602343012, 602343013, 602344014, and
602344022. All of these parcels were originally acquired with RCO salmon recovery and Secure
Rural Schools Title III funds and protected for conservation purposes by Deeds of Right for Salmon
Recovery. Two parcels, APN #s 602342001 and 602344014, are substantially divided by the river
channel and could potentially be segregated along the thalweg (line of deepest current). The resulting
new parcels would require legal protection for purposes of salmon recovery.
State Parks has offered to conduct the necessary survey(s) and cover other costs of acquisition and
segregation. Any transfer of ownership is subject to approval by the Recreation and Conservation
Office Salmon Recovery Funding Board (RCO SRFB).
The benefits of the transfers to the County and its residents would include:
• Simplifying recreation and habitat management and law enforcement on the south side of the
river under single, State Park, ownership.
COMMUNITY HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WATER QUALITY
MAIN: (360) 385 -9400 ALWAYS WORKING FOR A SAFER AND MAIN: (360) 385 -9444
FAX: (360) 385 -9401 HEALTHIER COMMUNITY FAX: (360) 379 -4487
• Obviating County management, stewardship and other grant responsibilities for the
transferred properties.
• Contributing to the creation of a publically accessible trail and wildlife corridor linking Hood
Canal with Olympic National Forest and Park.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of transferring the parcels would be limited to a small amount of staff and legal time.
Costs to discuss the draft letter are negligible.
RECOMMENDATION:
Meet with staff to discuss, and revise as needed, the draft letter to potentially transfer Dosewallips River
floodplain properties to WA State Parks.
REVIEWED BY:
Philip 116dei County Administ for Date
COMMUNITY HEALTH PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WATER QUALITY
MAIN: (360) 385 -9400 ALWAYS WORKING FOR A SAFER AND MAIN: (360) 385 -9444
FAX: (360) 385 -9401 HEALTHIER COMMUNITY FAX: (360) 379 -4487
ctc-'Y��
Don Hoch aid
Director x�
STATE OF WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
1111 Israel Road SW • P.O. Box 42650 ® Olympia, Washington 98504 -2650
(360) 902 -8500 ® Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at (800) 833 -6388
www.parks.wa.gov
September 30, 2014
Honorable Phil Johnson District 1
Honorable David W. Sullivan District 2
Honorable John Austin District 3
County Courthouse
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Subject: State Parks acceptance of land transfer from Jefferson County adjacent to Dosewallips
River
Dear Sirs:
State Parks is willing to accept transfer approximately 26 aces of Jefferson County owned land
lying south of the Dosewallips River, which abuts Dosewallips State Park and includes parcel
numbers 6023433010, 602343012, 602343013, 602343014, and 602344014. If approved, State
Parks would own and manage these Jefferson County lands for recreational activities and habitat
protection. This proposal would provide additional mutual benefits to the County and State
Parks.
Prior to the Dosewallips State Park planning process in 2002, State Parks, Jefferson County, the
Hood Canal Coordinating Council, and others partnered to identify the highest priority land
acquisitions along the Dosewallips River. The original purpose of the acquisition was to protect
high quality salmonids habitat along the river and to provide an opportunity to build an upland
trail connecting Hood Canal with the high country of Olympic National Park.
The result of this collaboration, along with public process, informed a long -range plan for
Dosewallips State Park. By 2006 the State Parks Commission approved a long -term boundary for
the park that included a 6 -mile corridor from Hood Canal to the Olympic National Forest
boundary.
In 2008, State Parks received a Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant number
08 -1356. The goal of this project was to acquire approximately 1 mile of riparian habitat on the
Dosewallips River, adjacent to Dosewallips State Park. As a component of this grant, State Parks
used a previous land acquisition made by Jefferson County as match for the 2008 grant.
Grant funding allowed State Parks to acquire approximately 139 acres south of the Dosewallips
River by December 2012. Today, portions of the Jefferson County match lands, however, are
located in-between State Parks lands (see maps).
State Parks acceptance of a land transfer will allow this agency to manage all of the lands on the
south side of the river consistent with our policies and procedures and specifically eliminate the
confusion about hunting caused by the current mix of recreational uses. The land transfer will
also relieve Jefferson County of management obligations on the South side of the river.
Please contact Michael Hankinson, parks planner, at your earliest convenience if you have
questions or require more detail. Michael can be reached at (360) 902-8671 or email at
Michael.Hankinson arks.wa. ov
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silic "' rd
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Don Hoch
Director
December x, 2014
Don Hoch, Director
Washington 8tate Parks and F;bcreation Commission
111 Israel F ad SN
PO Box 42650
Olympia, WA98504 -2650
&Abject: Transfer of County -owned properties adjacent to Dosewallips River to Mate Parks
Dear Director Hoch:
Thank you for your letter of September 30. Jefferson County welcomes the opportunity to transfer
approximately 51 acres of its property, located on the south side of the Dosewallips River, to Mate Parks
for recreational activities and habitat protection. We agree there would be mutual benefits to the
County and Mate Parks, includingthe growing potential for awildlife and trail corridor linking Hood
Canal with Olympic National Forest.
We understand from Mr. Hankinson that all of the county's floodplain property lying to the south of the
river is of interest to Etate Parks. These parcels indude APN#s 602342001, 602343010, 602343012,
602343013, 602344014, and 602344022. Two of the parcels, APN#s 602342001 and 602344014, are
substantially divided by the river channel and could potentially be segregated.
All of these propertieswere acquired by the County using grant fundsfrom the ROOSalmon F;bcovery
Funding Board. Consequently, they are protected by Deeds of Right for Salmon F;bcovery and must be
managed in perpetuity consistent with salmon recovery and all other requirements of the applicable
ROD grant agreements.
The County requeststhat Sate Parkstake steps necessary to initiate the transfers with the
understanding that:
1. State Parks obtain consent from the FM Salmon F;bcovery Funding Board to proceed with the
transfers and segregation(s).
2. Any segregations must meet the approval of Jefferson County Department of Community
Development.
3. All costs of transfers and segregations including, but not limited to, surveys, applications,
permits, dosing costs, conveyance documents and other legal costs (other than those of
Jefferson County) are paid for by 8tate Parks.
4. All property segregations are divided by the thalweg of the Dosewallips River rather than fixed
points.
5. All coststo develop and record legal protections for any new parcelsthat are created are paid
for by 8tate Parks.
6. Jefferson County is released from all management, stewardship and grant obligations for the
transferred properties.
We would like to once again express our enthusiasm for these potential transfers. Back in the early
2000s, when the County first sought funding to acquire floodplain in the "Powerlines Reach " — a stretch
of the river of particular value to spawning fish including Chinook salmon – it was hoped that an
eventual transfer to Mate Parks might be feasible.
Snce then, many partners have contributed to the success of the acquisition effort, most especially Ted
Labbe, formerly biologist with the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, who documented the area's importance
to salmon, Sarah Spaeth, Executive Director with the .Jefferson Land Trust, who successfully negotiated
with landowners, the former landowners themselves, and Park Manager Douglas Hinton and his staff at
Dosewallips State Park who have so graciously supported our restoration efforts and access needs.
We are excited to consider the possibilities as Dosewallips State Park extends upriver. The Park has
always been of tremendous value to the County and enjoyment to us as a place we, and thousands of
local residents and tourists, greatly enjoy visiting each year.
Rease contact Tami Pokorny, environmental health specialist, with any questions you may have. Tami
may be reached at (360)379 -4498 or email tpokorn� _ jeffer n.wa.us.
We look forward to working with you.
Sncerely,
End.
Cc. Michael Hankinson, Washington State Parks
Douglas Hinton, Dosewallips State Park
Carl Smith, Jefferson County Department of Community Development
Fbn Alen, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Jeromy Sullivan, Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe
Yvonne Oberly, &okomish Tribe
Wayne George, Suquamish Tribe
Michael Pamsey, ROO Salmon Fbcovery Funding Board
Sarah Spaeth, Jefferson Land Trust
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