News

Keep up to date on HCCC highlights

Photo by Haley Harguth

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.

Summer Chum Symposium Presentations & Summary Notes

Hood Canal Coordinating Council's Summer Chum Symposium was held June 28th, 2017.  Click below to view meeting materials.

 

HCCC supports legislative requests

The Hood Canal Coordinating Council supports legislative requests that further HCCC's and our partners' work and investments toward Hood Canal's environmental and community wellbeing.

Hood Canal Bridge Impact Assessment Plan Completed

Download the full plan and fact sheet.

The Hood Canal Bridge carries traffic across the northern outlet of Hood Canal.  Because of its location, all salmon and steelhead must pass the Hood Canal Bridge on their migration to and from the Pacific Ocean. Recent studies indicate the bridge is a barrier to fish passage.  Slower migration times, higher mortality rates in the vicinity of the bridge relative to other areas on their migration route, and unique behavior and mortality patterns at the Bridge suggest the bridge is impeding steelhead migration and increasing predation. Additionally, recent research modeling the potential impact of the bridge suggests that the bridge may disrupt water circulation.

In 2015, federal, state, tribal, and nonprofit partners convened to develop the Hood Canal Bridge Ecosystem Impact Assessment Plan. The plan is designed to pinpoint how the bridge is negatively affecting ESA-listed juvenile steelhead survival; determine whether other salmon may also be affected; and determine whether, and if so, to what extent the bridge is impacting the health of the Hood Canal ecosystem.  The document describes the overall plan framework, its adaptive management structure, and the details of the first phase of the assessment.

Learn more about the Hood Canal Bridge Ecosystem Impact Assessment on the Long Live The Kings project webpage.

2016 Salmon habitat projects ranked and submitted for final funding decision!

The project list reviewed and ranked by the HCCC Lead Entity Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and Citizens Committee has been submitted to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) for their final review and funding decision.   View the 2016 LE Habitat Project List which includes links to project descriptions in PRISM snapshot. 

HCCC Environmental Award Winners Announced!

Join us November 4th for the Hood Canal Environmental Awards Program and Poster Session. 

Awards will be presented to the following individuals/organizations:

  • Mike Anderson, for his role in forming and coordinating the Skokomish Watershed Action Team (SWAT) and his continued support of restoration activities in the Skokomish Watershed. 
  • Shore Friendly Kitsap & Shore Friendly Mason for making significat gains in changing public perception about bulkheads and nearshore barriers using a variety of education and outreach techniques.
  • Thom Johnson, Point No Point Treaty Council, for his many years of work supporting salmon  recovery and conservation efforts in Hood Canal.

These nominees are also recognized as Honorable Mentions:

  • Roma Call, Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe
  • Student Garden Project, sponsored by Barbara Bromley, 4th Grade Teacher, Clear Creek Elementary
  • Kitsap Forest & Bay Coalition
  • Michelle Myers, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group
  • Jay and Susie Allen (Tahuya River residents)

 

Event information:  10am - 2pm on Friday, November 4th at the Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside. 

Interested in attending?  Please RSVP on whoozin or contact rlawlis@hccc.wa.gov for more information. 

Interested in displaying a poster?  contact rlawlis@hccc.wa.gov

HCCC Achieves 1st ILF Program Credit Release in WA State!

Please find attached the IRT co-chair letter releasing initial credits for the Irene Pond ILF Site.  The first such letter for any ILF Program in Washington State!  Congratulations to HCCC for being the first to start the fulfillment process for ILF credits sold!

Gail Terzi Mitigation Program Manager Seattle District Corps of Engineers

 

In-Lieu Fee Program Acquires 2nd Wetland Mitigation Site!

HCCC partnered with the Great Peninsula Conservancy to acquire a 22.9 acre wetland parcel in the Gamble Creek watershed. This property will fulfill credits sold to the Navy for the Explosives Handling Wharf 2 impact project.

RFQQ Project Schedule Extension

In March 2013 HCCC issued a request of qualification and quotation (RFQQ) for various (GIS, wetlands, cultural and historic properties, environmental site assessment, eelgrass and macroalgae habitat survey), engineering and geological on-call support services.  Selections of firms responsive to the RFQQ were made in May 2013. The RFQQ stated that the project schedule for on-call services would be up to three years with the possibility of extension of up to five years.  HCCC is announcing that it will extend the project schedule for on-call services for the five year period, ending in May 2018. HCCC will reevaluate the need for on-call services in early 2018 and publish a RFQQ as needed. Contact Patty Michak with any questions, e-mail: pmichak@hccc.wa.gov or phone 360 930 8634.

Hood Canal Bridge Impacts Assessment Highlighted

Steelhead could be running into a trap at the Hood Canal Bridge

by Christopher Dunagan

HCCC In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Program Kicks-off First Mitigation Project!

HCCC partnered with the Great Peninsula Conservancy to acquire 17 acres of wetlands to be restored and protected in perpetuity.