HomeMy WebLinkAboutDISCUSSION re WCRRI Consent Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Kate Dean, Commissioner, District 1
DATE: May 28, 2024
SUBJECT: Letter of Support for 10,000 Years Institute WCCRI grant application
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Jill Silver, Executive Director of the 10,000 Year Institute (10KYI), has requested a letter of support for the
organization's project application titled"Pulling Together: Jobs in Restoration and Resiliency, Phase 6"—in
application for funding to the Washington Recreation Office's Washington Coast Restoration and
Resiliency Initiative (WCRRI) program. We're currently in the 9th year of successful program
implementation.
ANALYSIS:
10KYI has been a long-term community partner to Jefferson County, performing weed
management, revegetation and workforce development opportunities on the west end of the County.
It is in the interest of the County to support their funding requests as it benefits residents and
ecology alike.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the County.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the attached letter of support and consider signing it.
REVIEWED BY:
414/47.A/(1
Mark McCauley, unty Administrator U ate
o� Coster Board of County Commissioners
� ° 0�, 1820 Jefferson Street
C PO Box 1220
Port Townsend, WA 98368
<1 S ,tO Kate Dean,District 1 Heidi Eisenhour,District 2 Greg Brotherton,District 3
IIINC,
May 28, 2024
Review Committee
Washington Coastal Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (WCRRI)
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
Re: Letter of Support for WCRRI Project:#24-1602, Pulling Together in Restoration—Phase 6
Dear Committee Members,
The Jefferson Board of County Commissioners(BOCC) is pleased to provide a statement of local support for
the 10,000 Years Institute's Pulling Together in Restoration—Phase 6 project for funding through the
Washington Coast Restoration and Resiliency Initiative (see attached Local Support Document). From
inception of WCRRI in 2015,the Pulling Together in Restoration (PTIR) has been crucial in providing
persistent and continued protection to forest health, aquatic ecosystems, habitats, and climate resilience
across the world-renowned watersheds of west Jefferson County.
The BOCC appreciates that PTIR provides invasives prevention and native revegetation support to
restoration projects across Jefferson County watersheds in Goodman Creek, the Hoh, Upper Bogachiel,
Queets,and Upper Quinault rivers, reducing management costs and improving restoration outcomes and
resource productivity; and contributes to restoration projects developed under the Hoh Restoration and
Resiliency Plan (#18-2005) including the Lindner Complex project (#22-1375) and Upper Hoh Riparian
Restoration project(#23-1140). Each year, PTIR contributes over a thousand restoration hours to protect
west county rivers and lands from degradation by non-native Scotch broom, knotweed, reed canarygrass,
blackberry, and toxic tansy ragwort-with trained local crews stewarding the natural resources that support
our county's economy. The program also expands relationships at west end sites for Jefferson County
programs including the Conservation District, Noxious Weed Board, Washington State University
Cooperative Extension, and Public Works/Roads.
Jefferson County roads carry visitors from around the globe to visit the world-renowned Hoh, Queets, and
Upper Quinault rainforests, rivers, and wild coastal beaches. Through coordination between the Jefferson
County Public Works staff and 10KYI in the Hoh watershed, county roads are models for weed-free
transportation corridors. And in the watershed, fish and wildlife enjoyed by recreational, hunting, and
fishing enthusiasts,the Hoh Tribe, and for local subsistence all depend on healthy native plant communities
which require the level of stewardship provided through the 10KYI's commitment to continuous invasives
prevention and control work.
WCRRI funding will enable 10KYI 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,
Kate Dean, Chair, Dist. No. 1 Heidi Eisenhour, Dist. No. 2 Greg Brotherton, Dist. No. 3
Phone (360) 385-9100 jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us
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: #24-1602, Pulling Together in Restoration—Phase 6
Project Sponsor: 10,000 Years Institute—Jill Silver
Supporting Organization: Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners
Signing Representative: Kate Dean, Board Chair
Title: District 1 Commissioner
Contact Information: kdean@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: 5/28/2024
The space below may be used by the supporting organization to provide comments, or additional
documents may be attached, if needed.
The 8OCC voted in approval at Commissioner's Meeting.