HomeMy WebLinkAbout060622as04 JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Mark McCauley, County Administrator
FROM: Julie Shannon, Executive Secretary II
DATE: June 6, 2022
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION AND POTENTIAL ACTION re: Letter of Support re:
Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Institute (WCRRI) Pulling Together in
Restoration—Phase 5 Project; Jill Silver, Executive Director, 10,000 Years Institute
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Jill Silver, Executive Director for the 10,000 Years Institute requested to give an update on the Pulling
Together in Restoration—results, challenges and coastal jobs in restoration and resiliency Phase 5 and
present a DRAFT Letter of Support regarding this.
ANALYSIS:
Please see all attachments
RECOMMENDATION:
Hear Presentation, review DRAFT Letter of Support and Comment .
REVIEWED BY:
Mark McCaul County Administrator Dat
June 6, 2022
Review Committee
Washington Coastal Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WCRRI)
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
Re: Letter of Support for WCRRI Project: #22-1313, Pulling Together in Restoration—Phase 5
Dear Committee Members,
The Jefferson Board of County Commissioners is pleased to provide a statement of local support for the
10,000 Years Institute’s Pulling Together in Restoration—Phase 5 project for funding through the
Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (see attached Local Support Document).
From the inception of WCRRI in 2015, the Pulling Together in Restoration (PTIR) has been crucial in
providing persistent and continued protection for forest health, aquatic ecosystems, habitats, and
climate resilience across the unique watersheds of west Jefferson County. Hiring and training crews
provides much needed jobs and skills development for stewarding the natural resources that support
our county and local economies. Building on two decades of invasive plant prevention and control work
in the Hoh River, PTIR contributes thousands of hours of work by trained local crews to protect our
forests, rivers, and agricultural lands from degradation by non-native Scotch broom, knotweed, reed
canarygrass, and toxic tansy ragwort.
PTIR provides crucial invasive plant prevention for numerous restoration projects across Jefferson
County watersheds in Goodman Creek, the Hoh River, Upper Bogachiel, Queets, and Upper Quinault
which reduces management cost, improves productivity, and supports county programs including the
Conservation District, Noxious Weed Board, Washington State University Cooperative Extension, and
Public Works/Roads, and important planning projects including the Hoh Restoration and Resiliency Plan.
Jefferson County roads carry visitors from around the globe to visit the unique Hoh and Upper Quinault
rainforests, the Hoh, Queets, and Quinault rivers, and our wild coastal beaches – and with the
coordination between the Jefferson County Public Works staff and 10,000 Years Institute, these roads
are models of weed-free transportation corridors. Healthy timber and weed-free rock resources provide
revenues to support much-needed county services. Healthy habitats provide fish and wildlife enjoyed
by recreational, hunting, and fishing enthusiasts, the Hoh Tribe, and for local subsistence – and all
depend on healthy native plant communities.
Funding PTIR will enable the Institute to continue services and education to the local community as a
valuable partner to Jefferson County and many others in restoration and resiliency on the coast.
Sincerely,
WASHINGTON COAST RESTORATION AND
RESILIENCY INITIATIVE
LOCAL SUPPORT DOCUMENT
The intent of this form is to document support by a local organization for a project being proposed for
funding through the Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WCRRI).
Project Name: #22-1313, Pulling Together in Restoration – Phase 5___________
Project Sponsor: 10,000 Years Institute—Jill Silver________________________
Supporting Organization: __Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners__
Signing Representative: __Heidi Eisenhour, Board Chair____________________
Title: District 2 Commissioner________________________
Contact Information: _HEisenhour@co.jefferson.wa.us (360) 385-9100_____________
1820 Jefferson Street, PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368__
By signing below, the above-named organization affirms it is in support of the project as it is currently
proposed. Furthermore, said organization agrees that the project is likely to have a net benefit to the
local environment and community.
Signature: _______________________________ Date: __6/06/2022___________
The space below may be used by the supporting organization to provide comments, or additional
documents may be attached, if needed.
The BOCC voted in approval at the June 6th, 2022 Commissioner’s Meeting.