General Information
Shellfish Protection District Name
Sequim Bay Dungeness Watershed Clean Water District
County
Clallam
Websites and Links
Clallam County Commercial Shellfish Downgrade
Clallam County Marine Recovery Area
Clallam County Septic Systems (OSS Program)
Clallam County Conservation District
Clallam County Code Chapter 27.16
Clallam County Code Chapter 41.20
Clallam County Code Chapter 27.12.310
Geographic Boundaries
Extends from Bagley Creek to the Miller Peninsula. District (map available online) encompasses the eastern portion of the County in order to cover irrigation systems.
Primary Point of Contact
Name: Andy Brastad
Agency: Clallam County Health and Human Services/Environmental Health (EH)
Phone: 360-417-2415
Email: abrastad@co.clallam.wa.us
Year Created and Reason
2001 - 300 acres of shellfish beds were downgraded from Approved to Prohibited in 2000. (An additional 100 acres downgraded from Approved to Prohibited in 2013) (pursuant to RCW 90.72).
Members and Stakeholders
Appointed
No appointed board members.
Non-Appointed
A technical team known as the Clean Water Workgroup (CWWG) meets as needed to discuss water quality issues and cleanup progress, various agency actions, and coordination and collaboration on various water quality programs. The CWWG produces an annual work plan. Participants include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, local citizens, Battelle Marine Laboratory representative, Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology),Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Clallam County, Streamkeepers of Clallam County, and the Clallam Conservation District (CCD).
Funding Sources
Grants
Funded by grants only. Recent funding has included Centennial Grants and EPA funding for the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe and National Estuary Program funds issued through DOH. Numerous grant sources have been relied upon to pipe irrigation ditches.
Agency Funds
Clallam County was able to access EPA support through the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, who funded a position at the county for a number of years. When that funding ended, the position was eliminated. The county hasn't been able to determine whether there was a direct connection between the staff position and improvements in water quality data.
Clallam County has reviewed the following funding options:
Sewerage, Water and Drainage Systems (36.94 RCW)
Creates an OSS management utility, but this program is more appropriate for a sewer system, not an OSS. To establish this utility, the county would need to develop a plan, designate committee to review the plan, and then forward the plan to the county commissioners. This work would take about 1-2 years and require $40,000 to $60,000 to complete.
Stormwater Control Facilities (36.89 RCW)
Aquifer Protection Area (36.36 RCW). This provides for protection, preservation and rehabilitation of subterranean water. If an area is designated as a sole-source aquifer, fees can be collected to protect the area. To use this program, a county would need to make a strong connection between surface water and the function of the aquifer. Creating an aquifer protection area also requires a public vote.
Shellfish Protection Districts (90.72 RCW)
Conservation District Special Assessment (89.08 RCW). To create this assessment, the local conservation board develops a proposal, designates boundaries and describes the fee per parcel (up to $5.00 per parcel). The assessment can last for up to 10 years, and must be approved by the county legislative authority – in this case, Clallam County Board of Commissioners. CCD may provide funding to local health jurisdictions for OSS O&M and educational activities.
Annual OSS Operating Permit (246-272A WAC and 70.05.060(7) RCW)
Boards of health are authorized to charge fees to implement programs required under state law. These programs are implemented by the local health jurisdictions, and require the creation of an OSS Management Plan. In some counties, fees may be collected through the property tax statement.
The Clallam County OSS Management plan contains the funding recommendation that an annual operating permit fee for all OSSs in the County should be implemented and the collection of those fees should be through the property tax statement (via County Treasurer). Political will is critical to establishing these fee programs.
Taxes and Fees
n/a
Loans (including Craft3)
For the pollution control program targeted toward mobile home parks, the County offered park owners up to $5,000 to update their records and have their OSSs inspected and mapped, with funding available from the Craft3 loan program.
The Craft3 loan program is also available to residential and commercial OSS owners county-wide.