Hood Canal Coordinating Council 
News
Keep up to date on HCCC highlights
Learn about HCCC’s most recent progress and achievements toward our mission to recover and protect Hood Canal’s beaches, forests, streams and wildlife for the benefit of our communities.
HCCC Welcomes New Executive Director David Dicks
The Board of Directors of the Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC) is excited to announce their hiring of David Dicks as HCCC’s new Executive Director.
David has a deep passion for protecting and restoring Hood Canal stemming from spending every summer of his childhood swimming, fishing, and crabbing on this unique fjord. His connection to the Canal spurred David to become an environmental lawyer focusing on Puget Sound and Hood Canal restoration, salmon recovery, environmental mitigation, Clean Water Act disputes and hazardous waste clean-ups.
David has helped clients across the West achieve major successes and was selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in 2007 and 2008, before leaving the practice of law to become the inaugural Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership from 2007-2010. In that role he was instrumental in the start-up of the new state agency and the development of the first Puget Sound Action Agenda - the science based and prioritized roadmap for Puget Sound cleanup and recovery. After returning to legal practice he played a major role in the cleanup of Port Gamble Bay. Recently, he played a key role in the permitting and development of the Blue Heron Slough restoration project in Everett. The project restores 357 acres of former farmland to estuary habitat that is crucial for the recovery of threatened Chinook salmon. Further details of that project available at: - https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/puget-sound-salmon-habitat-restored-with-tribes-leading-the-way/
David’s success stems from his deep understanding of environmental law and policy, and his ability to work effectively with scientists, governmental agencies, and Native American Tribes to craft durable and scientifically based solutions to environmental problems. He is excited to join the staff and Board at the HCCC as we work to protect and restore the ecological gem that is Hood Canal.
David received his BA in political science with honors from Stanford University and his JD and Environmental Law Certificate from UC Berkeley's School of Law. He was an Affiliate Associate Professor in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington from 2013-2021.
Please join HCCC in welcoming our new Executive Director.
HCCC Board of Directors Elects New Officers
At its Annual Meeting in January, the Hood Canal Coordinating Council elected new officers. Commissioner Kate Dean of Jefferson County was elected as the new Chair, and Chairwoman Amber Caldera of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe was elected as the new Vice Chair. They will serve a one-year term. HCCC Board and staff thank outgoing officers David Herrera, Policy Advisor with the Skokomish Tribe’s Department of Natural Resources, and Commissioner Kevin Shutty of Mason County. Both have been generous with their time in serving additional terms in recent years to allow new Board members time to get better acquainted with HCCC. We appreciate the dedication of our Board and thank them all for their service.
More information about HCCC's Board of Directors can be found here on our website.
CLOSED - HCCC is hiring a temporary Administrative Manager
The Hood Canal Coordinating Council has an immediate opening for a temporary Administrative Manager to operate administrative programs during a period of staffing transitions, Executive Director recruiting, and strategic planning. This position will be focused on day-to-day office administration, support of the HCCC Board of Directors, human resource management, support of contracting procedures, and records management. The position is temporary in anticipation of administrative staffing needs being reassessed by a new Executive Director. The ideal candidate will be comfortable exercising patience and flexibility, and will take a problem-solving approach to new challenges. Training and support will be provided. The anticipated duration is 3-5 months, working at least 24 hours per week, up to 40 hours per week.
Please refer to the Job Opening Announcement for details including compensation, benefits, qualifications, and how to apply.
CLOSED: HCCC seeks a new Executive Director!
The Hood Canal Coordinating Council is excited to announce an opening for Executive Director.
The Executive Director is responsible for the overall operations, supervision of staff, program development, funding development, budget and financial management, strategic direction, working with the Board of Directors to meet objectives, and representing the Council before agencies, forums, and the general public. This is a regular, full-time, exempt position with benefits.
Please refer to the Job Opening Announcement for details including compensation, benefits, qualifications, and how to apply.
HCCC is a watershed-based council of governments consisting of Jefferson, Kitsap, and Mason counties, the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, and the Skokomish Tribe. Through its programs, HCCC facilitates implmentation of salmon recovery plans, serves as Lead Entity, represents the Hood Canal Action Area as the Local Integrating Organization under the Puget Sound Partnership, facilitates adaptive management of the Integrated Watershed Plan and related initiatives, and manages an alternate voluntary mitigation program.
CLOSED - RFP Open for Hood Canal Landscape Assessment & Prioritization Tool Development Support
RFP linked here. Closing COB August 23, 2022.
Direct questions to Haley Harguth, Watershed Program Manager, hharguth@hccc.wa.gov
CLOSED - RFP: Organizational Strategic Planning
HCCC is seeking support to conduct an internal organizational strategic planning process, to begin immediately.
Please see the Request for Consultation Services document linked here for more details. Proposal review will begin July 11, 2022.
Hoodsport water quality upgraded!
The recent updgrade of the 66 acre shellfish bed in front of Hoodsport was highlighted in local and regional news. Shellfish harvest in the area had been prohibited for over three decades due to poor water quality, but thanks to the collaboration of HCCC and many partners in the Hood Canal Regional Pollution Identification and Correction Program it is now upgraded to "Approved."
Read more about this work in the Puget Sound Institute article from Chris Dunagan, linked here.
Our Hood Canal: 2020 Ecosystem Report Card
HCCC is excited to share the new Our Hood Canal: 2020 Ecosystem Report Card. The report card provides a snapshot of the health of Hood Canal's ecosystem and showcases some of HCCC's highlights over the past biennium, all of which benefited from the support of our many partners.
Hood Canal Shellfish Initiative Action Plan Now Available
The Hood Canal Shellfish Initiative (HSCI) supports and expands Hood Canal’s thriving shellfish populations by identifying coordinated and mutually beneficial strategies and actions that honor Tribal treaty rights, build resilience, pursue ecosystem protection and restoration, and support careful stewardship of commercial shellfish activities and recreational harvest now and into the future.
The HCSI Action Plan operationalizes this goal and guides shellfish planning and funding efforts across Hood Canal. The Action Plan contains a comprehensive review of the barriers to and opportunities for sustaining robust Hood Canal shellfish resources and supporting a healthy ecosystem and community. Objectives, focal policy areas, and priority actions identified in the Action Plan serve to support the ecological, commercial, recreational, and human wellbeing dimensions of Hood Canal shellfish.
Hood Canal Summer Chum Recovery Featured on Local News!
Hood Canal nearing a potential ‘first’ for salmon recovery
Watch the video from KIRO7 News, linked here. You can also read the full text, at this link.