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615 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org
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: February 6, 2018
SUBJECT: Letter of Partner Commitment and Support re: Lower Big Quilcene
River Restoration Project Grant Proposals, an important
component to Salmon Restoration and Salmon Recovery in Hood
Canal; Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, The Salmon
Center
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Environmental Public Health requests a Letter of Partner Commitment and Support re: Lower Big
Quilcene River Restoration Project Grant Proposals, an important component to Salmon Restoration and
Salmon Recovery in Hood Canal; Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, The Salmon Center
ANALYSIS:
An email was received from Michelle Myers, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group, The Salmon
Center, requesting a Letter of Partner Commitment and Support from the Jefferson County
Commissioners. For several years, Jefferson County Environmental Public Health and Public Works
Departments have participated in this effort to improve conditions on the floodplain for people and fish.
RECOMMENDATION:
Environmental Public Health management recommends that the BoCC review and sign the Letter of
Partner Commitment and Support re: Lower Big Quilcene River Restoration Project Grant Proposals, an
important component to Salmon Restoration and Salmon Recovery in Hood Canal; Hood Canal Salmon
Enhancement Group, The Salmon Center
REVIEWED BY:
I 7�k
Philip Morley, Cp nt Administrator
Community Health
Developmental Disabilities
360-385-9400
360-385-9401 (f)
Always working for a safer and healthier community
Environmental Health
Water Quality
360-385-9444
(f) 360-379-4487
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February 12, 2018
Board of County Commissioners
1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Kate Dean, District 1 David Sullivan, District 2 Kathleen Kler, District 3
Re: Letter of Partner Commitment and Support for the Lower Big Quilcene River Restoration
Project
Dear Funder,
Jefferson County wishes to acknowledge our support and commitment to the Lower Big
Quilcene River Restoration Project and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group's (HCSEG)
efforts to restore natural floodplain functions to benefit fish and wildlife and to help prevent
flood -related impacts to the community.
Hood Canal Summer Chum salmon remain "at moderate risk of extinction" according to NOAA
Fisheries, and the restoration of the lower Big Quilcene River is important to sustaining the
species for the long-term. Warnings by the UW Climate Impacts Group of "widespread changes
in streamflow timing and flood risk" elevate our concerns about flooding across Linger Longer
Road and elsewhere in Quilcene.
Since the 1990s, the Jefferson County has partnered with willing landowners to acquire
floodplain properties as a precursor to future infrastructure improvements and to re-establish
open spaces where floodwaters won't cause serious harm. Since 2013, we've participated in the
Lower Big Quilcene River Stakeholder and Trustee Group to develop a restoration design for the
river and to achieve additional benefits for the community such as improved conditions for
shellfish and enhanced recreational opportunities.
We are happy to continue our work with HCSEG.
Sincerely,
David Sullivan, Chairman Kathleen Kler, Member Kate Dean, Member
Phone (360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us