Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz has announced the approval of a land transfer to benefit Clallam County. The 404.1-acre parcel, previously state Trust Land, is located south of Highway 101 near Sequim. The Board of Natural Resources unanimously approved the Direct Transfer Agreement at its meeting on June 4.

 

Clallam County plans to use the property to construct the future Dungeness Off-Channel Reservoir and county park. The $1,240,100 proceeds from the parcel sale will allow DNR to purchase replacement lands to fund the Common School Trust.

 

“Clallam County has been working with a variety of local and statewide partners to pursue this critical regional project – a unique Off-Channel Reservoir to help improve fish habitat in the Dungeness River, support the needs of our agricultural producers, improve existing in-river fish gate infrastructure and provide our region with a hedge against climate change,” said Clallam County Commissioner Mark Ozias.

 

“Strategies like this Reservoir will be vital to the future of our community. We appreciate the Department of Natural Resources, with whom we have worked closely and collaboratively to secure the parcel near Sequim on which the Reservoir will be sited,” Commissioner Ozias continued.

 

The county has previously relied on the annual snowpacks in the Olympic Mountains to support its water needs. However, a future of unpredictable and dwindling snowpacks led to pursuing strategies like an off-channel reservoir.

 

The project also includes a new county park with hiking, biking, wildlife viewing, and river access opportunities in addition to the reservoir.

 

“I’m extremely pleased and grateful to have worked with Clallam County to complete this transfer, and I thank the Board of Natural Resources for its unanimous approval,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “This reservoir and park will provide much-needed mitigation for climate change's future impacts and provide conservation and recreation to our community members for generations to come.”

 

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Ryan Rodruck

Communications Manager