PORT ANGELES — An infusion of state funds will accelerate restoration work on the lower Dungeness River in 2015, The Nature Conservancy and its partners announced this week.
The state Legislature has authorized $7.5 million for several projects that will reduce flood risk, conserve water and restore habitat, officials said Tuesday.
One such project is the long-planned relocation of a federal dike that has constricted the east side of the lower river for a half-century.
The state funding was secured through the Floodplains by Design initiative advanced by The Nature Conservancy in conjunction with the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, Clallam Conservation District, Clallam County and the North Olympic Lead Entity for Salmon.
The Lead Entity, a consortium of area governments, tribes, citizens and nonprofits, requested the funding.
“We are grateful for the recognition by the Washington State Legislature and The Nature Conservancy of the strong partnerships needed to advance large-scale restoration and their support of these multi-benefit projects,” Lead Entity Coordinator Cheryl Baumann said.
Here’s a breakdown of the grant:
■ $3.3 million for the North Olympic Salmon Coalition for restoration at the former site of the 3 Crabs Restaurant.
■ $1.5 million for design and engineering to move a 0.8-mile portion of a levee that constrains the lower Dungeness River.
■ $1.45 million for the Clallam Conservation District and local irrigation companies to pipe irrigation ditches to prevent water loss.
■ $530,000 for restoration of McDonald Creek by Agnew Irrigation, Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, Conservation District and other partners.
■ $100,000 to the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe for replanting and maintaining lower Dungeness floodplains with native vegetation.
■ $400,000 to purchase quality salmon habitat.
Clallam County commissioners on Tuesday approved the $1.5 million contract with the state Department of Ecology for the dike setback project.
The two-year contract includes engineering, design and permitting to move a portion of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers levee built in the 1960s.
“The idea would be to hire an engineering firm that is familiar with Army Corps requirements,” Community Development Deputy Director Steve Gray told county commissioners Nov. 17.
The affected part of the levee is south of Anderson Road.
Public access will be maintained once the project is completed in 2016.
The contract with Ecology also funds for right-of-way easements for levee access and maintenance through the 117-acre project area.
County officials have yet to decide whether to relocate Towne Road or to leave it where it is and instead build a dirt road on top of the relocated dike for access.
“Regardless of whichever alternative, we can make sure that there’s access to the farms on both sides,” Commissioner Jim McEntire said in a work session last week.
“That’s a given as far as I’m concerned.”
Dike relocation, which county officials have been discussing since the 1980s, hinges on a pending Army Corps feasibility study.
“Although the money was allocated, really we need that feasibility study done before we can do this,” Gray told commissioners.
Moving the dike away from the river will allow the Dungeness to slowly meander through its natural floodplain, reducing flood risks while providing off-channel salmon spawning and rearing habitat, county Habitat Biologist Cathy Lear said.
It will also improve water quality for shellfish in Dungeness Bay.
“I appreciate the support and understanding that The Nature Conservancy, Department of Ecology and state Legislature have shown for the complex work needed to restore floodplains,” Lear said in a news release.
“It gives us the opportunity to solve several problems at once.”
The 3 Crabs project covers more than 40 acres of shoreline, river delta, floodplain and estuary environments along Dungeness Bay and Meadowbrook Creek.
Nature Conservancy officials said the project will allow for greater public access by removing shoreline infrastructure, recreating lost wetlands and moving a bridge and roadway away from the shore.
The coalition plans to incorporate educational programs for area students as the restoration occurs.
“It’s a great opportunity for the public to experience the benefits of restoration for salmon and wildlife and their local community,” North Olympic Salmon Coalition Executive Director Rebecca Benjamin said.
In partnership with local irrigators, the Clallam Conservation District will use its share of the funds to pipe open ditches to keep more water in the Dungeness River.
The river tends to run low in the late summer and early fall to the detriment of irrigators and wildlife.
“The Floodplains by Design funding was critically important for the Dungeness Irrigation Group piping project, which is now a fully enclosed, on-demand irrigation water delivery system,” said Joe Holtrop, Clallam Conservation District manager.
“Without that funding, the project could not have been completed.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
