PORT ANGELES — The Makah tribe is inching closer to solving its water issues in Neah Bay and the Tribal Council is nailing down its plans for economic development.
At a two-day strategic planning conference held in Port Angeles this week, members of the Makah Tribal Council discussed the future of tourism, health care and renewable energy sources for the reservation at the northwest tip of the North Olympic Peninsula.
A lack of water in Neah Bay has hindered economic development since a moratorium was placed on residential and commercial building in 2000.
But after several years of tackling the issue, it looks like the moratorium could be lifted as soon as 2008, said Patty Manuel, assistant general manager for the tribe.
A $900,000 emergency water project is expected to be completed by late September, providing an additional 150,000 to 200,000 gallons of water daily from the Sooes Well.
The tribe also has secured $2.2 million in federal and tribal funds to build a new water treatment plant downtown.
Construction on the plant could start as soon as August and would take about a year to complete, Manuel said.
In addition, the tribe is looking to add three streams from Cape Creek to increase the water supply at the Educkett Reservoir.
However, the tribe needs to find $200,000 to complete an environmental assessment of the water source, and then $2.5 million for the infrastructure.
Unlike city governments, tribes can’t pursue tax dollars to fund projects and need to apply for competitive grants, said Julie Johnson, director of intergovernmental relations for the tribe.
However, securing the funding can be difficult because it’s not only tribes that compete for the grants, but nonprofits as well, Johnson said.
“We’ve had a really good team. We’re all in the same canoe to get this project going,” she said.
