Clallam County staff to recommend ending pursuit of FEMA grant for off‑channel reservoir

Clallam County staff said they will recommend to the Board of County Commissioners that the county end efforts to pursue the current FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant application tied to a proposed off‑channel reservoir.

"We will be recommending that the county end any further effort to pursue this current FEMA hazard mitigation grant application," said Steve Gray, deputy director for public works. He told the Dungeness project workgroup staff had met with the Washington Emergency Management Division and that FEMA's newer benefit‑cost expectations and a freeze on large‑project funding make a favorable outcome unlikely.

Gray said FEMA now places greater emphasis on potable aquifer benefits in its benefit‑cost calculations and that the detailed, site‑scale groundwater data FEMA would require are not readily available and would be costly and time‑consuming to produce. As a result, he said, pursuing the current FEMA path is unlikely to lead to construction funding in the near term.

The staff recommendation does not end other funding paths. Gray and other staff said the county will use existing Ecology grant money to complete a 30% design reset for the reservoir and to fund feasibility work, and they will pursue other sources—NRCS, WaterSMART and future hazard mitigation rounds—for construction funding if needed.

The county plans to present the recommendation and accompanying analysis to the county commissioners in March; staff named March 9 and March 16 as possible work‑session dates and said they will notify the workgroup. Steve Gray urged the workgroup to review and sign off on outstanding scope documents so staff can present a clear package to the commissioners.

Next steps include compiling the county's benefit‑cost materials, confirming outstanding ownership and permitting questions for the headgate and reservoir footprint, and tracking other funding offers Ecology has earmarked for construction pending design and permitting.