FORKS – The West End of Clallam and Jefferson counties now have their own program to coordinate salmon recovery efforts.
Called a “lead entity,” the program was spun off from the North Olympic Peninsula Lead Entity that manages such programs in the Elwha and Dungeness watersheds of Clallam County.
The new group includes the Lyre-Hoko and Sol Duc watersheds.
Lead entities bring together cities, counties, tribes and citizens’ groups, coordinating their applications for state and federal funds to restore salmon runs.
The new lead entity comprises representatives from the two counties, the city of Forks and the Hoh, Quileute and Makah tribes, plus members of business, conservation and salmon-recovery organizations.
Jeff Koenings, director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, said, “Salmon cannot be recovered in Olympia, nor in Washington, D.C.
“It can happen only through local citizens setting local priorities for their watersheds. That’s the lead entity program.”
Lead entities also give citizens a forum on salmon-recovery issues and supports them with technical resources and money.
The western Clallam and Jefferson group is the state’s 27th lead entity.
