receive almost $1 million
Four conservation agencies across Clallam County will receive nearly $1 million from the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board.
A total of $982,000 will go to two Native American tribes, the state’s own Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Clallam Conservation district.
Recipients, amounts and projects include:
Without large woody debris in the creek, the waters flow too high and fast to create a diversity of habitat and to retain spawning gravel, said according to Cheryl Baumann, coordinator of the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity for salmon restoration.
Roots, branches and logs will be cabled together in “jams” and secured between rocks to slow the river so gravel can settle on the river bottom.
The tribe will contribute $57,000 in federal grant and donations of labor and materials.
The U.S. Forest Service will contribute staff time and $20,000 worth of donated trees.
The grant will allow the tide to open 50 acres in the estuary for salmon species. The tribe will modify saltwater levees built in the 1800s, allowing tides to extend the reach of saltwater.
Work will include designing and excavating tidal channels and creating a salt marsh.
The tribe will contribute $83,000 in federal grant funding.
This project is being co-led by the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, and Peninsula College is a project partner.
It includes $80,000 in donated labor.
The Cline Irrigation District, Clallam Ditch Co. and the Dungeness Irrigation Group will improve their irrigation systems and reduce the amount of water pulled from the Dungeness River.
The pipes also will eliminate spills and contamination of Dungeness Bay.
