HomeMy WebLinkAboutNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration COMA j,, 11`�' . 161'
Board of County Commissioners
ON 4
-44 4ws �o 1820 Jefferson Street
PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
O Kate Dean,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
`�S1IING�S
September 6, 2022
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East-West Highway, 14th Floor
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Re: Letter of Support - Hood Canal Summer Chum Habitat Priorities and Immediate Needs
To Whom It May Concern:
Jefferson County is glad to support the Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC) grant proposal titled "Hood
Canal Summer Chum Habitat Priorities and Immediate Needs." We are pleased that the work done by HCCC
and partners has led to significant progress toward recovery of iconic Hood Canal Summer Chum, and the vital
funding from this grant will get us still closer to full recovery.
Jefferson County also strongly supports this proposal because we recognize that a healthy and thriving
ecosystem provides myriad socioeconomic benefits to Hood Canal communities. Our economy, recreation,
transportation and way of life depends on clean water, abundant marine species and solid infrastructure.
We are proud that our region has an opportunity to delist and recover Hood Canal Summer Chum- a nationally
significant conservation achievement, providing a blueprint to others for how investments in habitat restoration
and sustainable fisheries management can effectively recover salmon and steelhead stocks on the west coast.
This project aims to modernize rural transportation infrastructure and significantly improve habitat
connectivity at the Duckabush River estuary, a project that Jefferson County and myriad partners have been
working on for many years. It is representative of the restoration opportunities that arise as aging infrastructure
reaches the end of its useful life. It also supports both tribal treaty rights and a robust economy.
Thank you for consideration of funding for this regionally significant salmon recovery ecosystem restoration
proposal.
Sincerely,
Jefferson County Commissioners 40111
lit
Kate Dean eidi Eisenhour, Chair reg Broth-rton
District 1 District 2 District 3
Phone(360) 385-9100 Fax (360) 385-9382 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us