County outlines progress, federal push for Olympic Discovery Trail projects

Clallam County staff and trail partners told the county trails advisory committee on Aug. (date on file) that several Olympic Discovery Trail projects are advancing and that the county is working to secure federal and state funding before the end of the federal fiscal year.
Committee members heard updates on corridor surveys and land acquisition work on the Forks/La Push segment, grant timelines tied to Washington State Department of Transportation and federal reviewers, and a series of smaller construction and maintenance plans along the route.
The committee was told that Western Federal Lands has completed environmental and cultural surveys for most of the Forks–La Push corridor and that two small segments remain subject to additional Department of Natural Resources review. County staff said, however, that “we’ve got oh gosh, 98% of the corridor actually surveyed for environmental and cultural” work and that crews will return in September to finish field surveys and allow NEPA work to proceed.
County staff said the remaining issues include an outstanding DNR permission for access on one parcel and a second parcel where DNR review is required because the area overlaps marbled murrelet habitat. The committee was told that DNR’s current staff review will require more discussion before final permissions are granted and that those conversations are scheduled before field crews return.
On funding, county staff said they are pressing the Washington State Department of Transportation and federal reviewers to obligate a bundle of grant awards this federal fiscal year. Staff described recent exchanges with state reviewers and the federal program office: reviewers asked for minor scope changes (for example, removing the word “design” from some planning grants and adding termini descriptions) and have otherwise been “mostly okay” with the scopes. County staff said they will submit revised language by the Friday deadline so the grants can be obligated before Sept. 30.
The committee was also briefed on property acquisition efforts tied to a Recreation and Conservation Office grant and other local match funding. Appraisals have been completed on several parcels and county negotiators plan to move into purchase discussions with private owners in the coming weeks. A local trust has committed multiple installments that staff said would be applied toward acquisitions or construction once designs are further along.
Carlsberg Road was discussed as an example of an upcoming construction-ready project. Wendy Clark Edson of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe described the Carlsberg Industrial Park crossing as “ready to go forward into plan specifications and estimates” and said the crossing will include added lighting, flashing beacons, pavement markings and an ADA‑compatible approach so people on the trail can cross in accordance with state traffic rules.
The county also described a modest paving strategy for sections of trail with root-related pavement damage: instead of full removal of the base, crews plan to cut out failed areas, install root barriers in targeted locations and overlay with new asphalt to save money while extending pavement life.
Discussion only: committee members and partners raised questions about wetland and cultural resources in western segments and emphasized coordination with DNR, Western Federal Lands, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and local municipalities.
Direction/next steps: staff said the county will submit amendments to WSDOT/federal reviewers by the Friday deadline, bring a local agency agreement to the county commissioners for signature at the upcoming board packet and continue negotiations with private landowners on purchases supported by RCO funds. Field crews are expected back in September for final surveys on the outstanding parcels.
Formal action: none on grants or acquisitions was taken at the committee meeting; the committee received the staff reports and recommended continued coordination.
Funding and approvals still pending from state and federal agencies could change schedules, staff said. The committee will review progress at the next meeting and watch for formal obligating notices from WSDOT and federal grant offices.