Clallam County MRC
Clallam MRC web site: http://www.clallam.net/ccmrc/
Clallam County’s 254 miles of shoreline stretch from the northern third of Washington’s rugged outer coast and the length of the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the middle of Discovery Bay. Its rich nearshore and marine waters are entry to the Northwest Straits, transited thousands of times each year by container ships, tankers and barges bound for Puget Sound ports. This geography fuels marine economic activity—commercial and sport fishing, marine transportation services, ship building, tourism and a strong Coast Guard presence.
Much of the county is rural, with westernmost marine waters bounded by Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and its southern border cutting across Olympic National Park. Home to 71,000 people—nearly 20,000 of whom are in the county seat of Port Angeles – Clallam County boasts a mild marine climate and unique blend of native and non-native cultures.
The MRC holds 15 seats representing the fishing industry, local government, Makah Tribal Council, Lower Elwha Klallam and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribes, science and conservation interests, the National Marine Sanctuary and residents of the county’s varied geographic areas.
Clallam MRC has strength in its scientific and technical capacity. Collection of information on the nearshore environment and coastal processes remains a high priority, and the MRC participates in the Elwha Nearshore Consortium, in support for nearshore restoration associated with the pending removal of two dams on the Elwha River.
Field surveys of kelp and eelgrass beds continued this year, and the MRC monitored water quality at 25 well sites (linking groundwater with the quality of water in Dungeness Bay); researched seabird mortality and sediment transport; and held oil spill emergency response trainings attended by 58 people. They also hosted a booth at the popular two-day Dungeness River Festival, which drew more than 3,000 people to learn about natural history of the area.
The MRC’s stated purpose is “to discover collaborative ways to improve shellfish harvest areas, protect marine habitat, support salmon and bottomfish recovery and examine resource management alternatives. Ultimately, we will recommend remedial actions to local authorities. In meeting these goals, we hope to address and rectify the many serious threats to the Northwest Straits, its natural resources and human residents.”
Clallam MRC recent projects include:
- Beach Clean Up - 1.9 tons of debris removed from six beaches by 40 volunteers
- Education and Public Outreach - Dungeness River Festival with 3,000 attendees; supported visits by 1,262 4th and 5th grade students to the Feiro Marine Life Center
- Groundwater Contamination Monitoring - Monitored 25 wells to find links to marine water quality
- Oil Spill Response Training - HAZWOPER & Oiled Wildlife Training/ Certification for 58 total participants
- Marine Population Trends - Research on Elwha nearshore and comparable drift cells prior to dam removal
- Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Monitoring - Volunteer sampling effort informs State shellfish harvest openings
- Student Intern Program - Documenting fish use and subtidal vegetation prior to Elwha River dam removal
- Subtidal Aquatic Vegetation - Surveyed six study areas to create map of aquatic vegetation
Click here to see a list of reports in our bibliography by the Clallam MRC.
MRC Members
- Paul Blake
- Ed Bowlby
- Brad Collins
- Don Hatler
- Randy Johnson
- Doug Morrill, Vice Chair
- Lyn Muench
- Andrew Shogren, Chair
- Arnold Schouten
- Andrew Stevenson
- Bob Vreeland
- Jeff Ward
- Michael Blanton, ex officio
Contact
Cathy Lear
223 East 4th Street, Suite 5
Port Angeles, WA 98362
360-417-2361
clear@co.clallam.wa.us
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative, authorized by Congress, is nationally recognized as an innovative approach to bring sound science and an ecosystem perspective together with citizen energy and entrepreneurship.