Kelp surveys find healthy beds at Freshwater Bay; committee notes potential to inform SMP shoreline protections
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Summary
Clallam MRC reported robust kelp beds and forage-fish presence at Freshwater Bay and Clallam Bay during recent surveys, and discussed adding sea‑otter sighting forms and feeding results into local monitoring; members also flagged preparing updates to the county Shoreline Master Program (SMP) to better protect kelp and eelgrass.
Clallam County MRC members reported strong kelp beds in recent surveys at Freshwater Bay and Clallam Bay and discussed opportunities to use that monitoring to inform local shoreline protections. Chelsea Korbulic reported, "the main freshwater bay kelp bed was super healthy, really thick, giant kelp, bull kelp" and noted the team observed forage fish — "herring and surf smelt and sand lance in the bed." Members said the data are valuable to regional partners and could support additional monitoring layers. Chelsea told the committee she had spoken with Amy Olsen of the Seattle Aquarium regarding a raft of male sea otters observed off Clallam Bay; Chelsea said Olsen "really appreciates any observations that we make of those animals" and is exploring a simple reporting form that the MRC could add to kelp surveys. The committee also discussed the county Shoreline Master Program update scheduled for 2030 and a staff contact, Cynthia, who has been reaching out to planning staff; members asked to prepare a list of kelp and eelgrass protections the MRC would like considered during the SMP update. Ending: Members asked staff and project leads to continue kelp and forage-fish monitoring, to share observations with partner agencies, and to compile suggested shoreline-protection items for the SMP review next year.