PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has renewed an annual agreement for the continued operation of the Clallam Marine Resources Committee.
The three commissioners Tuesday approved the one-year, $72,050 grant from the state Department of Ecology to fund the committee’s restoration, conservation and education projects.
Such projects include Olympia oyster restoration in Sequim Bay, marine debris removal, kelp monitoring and oil spill preparedness, prevention and response, according to the agreement.
The committee also sponsors community events and runs an internship program.
“This grant covers the projects that we do, and the administration,” county habitat biologist and Marine Resources Committee coordinator Cathy Lear told commissioners Monday.
The 15-member volunteer committee holds public meetings once a month to plan and coordinate with others on marine resource protection.
It was established in 1999 to “protect and enhance the local marine environment and contribute to the protection of the marine environment of the Northwest Straits region,” according to its website.
The Clallam Marine Resources Committee is one of seven in the Northwest Straits region.
Efforts guided
Its efforts are guided by the Northwest Straits Commission, a federally funded group that works to protect the straits region of the Salish Sea.
In other board action Tuesday, commissioners rescinded and replaced a resolution that provided approval authority for emergency warrants, or payments.
The word “emergency” was changed to “expedited,” automated clearing house payments were removed and minor administrative changes were made, officials said.
The changes were recommended by Auditor Shoona Riggs and Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis, who had raised concerns about the old resolution in a Sept. 22 Finance Committee meeting.
“I appreciate the work that the Finance Committee — the treasurer and the auditor, in particular — put into the revising this resolution,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said Tuesday.
“I just think it’s an excellent bit of work.”
Commissioners Bill Peach and Mike Chapman concurred.
“It’s a really, really good working team, and I appreciate being able to be a part of it,” Peach said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
