Clallam County Charter Review Commission members voted March 27 to authorize Commissioner Paul Pickett to draft a problem statement and a proposed charter amendment recommending creation of a county water-resources information officer, often described in the meeting as a “water steward.” The commission said the position would focus on collecting and organizing countywide water data and making that information available to planners, utilities and the public.

The commission said the proposal responds to continuing data and coordination gaps across county agencies, declining groundwater levels reported in parts of the Dungeness Valley, uncertainty about how paper water rights match actual water availability, and climate-change impacts including reduced snowpack and lower summer streamflows. Commissioners also noted Clallam County no longer has an in-house hydrogeologist, a longtime source of continuity that has not been replaced.

Commissioner Paul Pickett moved to let him prepare the draft problem statement and a proposal to present to the Board of County Commissioners; the motion passed 3–1, with Ron Richards opposing. The commission directed Pickett to present the draft to the full commission on the next scheduled meeting. Pickett said he would keep the draft general and return with a more detailed proposal later if the commission wanted it.

Commissioners debated alternatives before the vote. Some members argued for a single paid position that would gather, curate and publish information; others raised the option of a water advisory board or a volunteer corps working with a paid staffer. The majority said they feared creating a larger regulatory bureaucracy and favored a single, nonregulatory position. Commissioners discussed where the position should sit in county government (for example, under the Department of Community Development or reporting directly to the Board of County Commissioners) and discussed several options to preserve independence, including a community nominating committee or periodic retention review. The commission did not adopt any final language about appointment or reporting lines at this meeting.

Public commenters who addressed the commission supported the idea that Clallam County needs improved water data and a dedicated point of contact. Robert Beck, identified as a tribal water resources manager, said: "I think having a water a water steward would be favorable." Craig Smith, a Dungeness Valley resident who said he represents local citizens, urged the commission to “better define the urgency and priority of the problem.” Tony Corrado described a volunteer advisory group his previous county used to secure USGS monitoring funds and said, "The data is clear. It's old. The report clearly says it needs to be updated."

Commissioners and staff reviewed items the draft will address: (1) water data collection and management, noting there is no single county repository and multiple agencies collect unintegrated data; (2) long-term sustainability, including uncertainty about how development will affect supply and the difference between paper water rights and actual availability; (3) climate impacts, including declining snowpack, reduced recharge and increased summer shortages; and (4) monitoring gaps in basins such as the Dungeness Valley. Commissioners also noted other counties (Thurston, Kitsap and Mason were discussed at the meeting) maintain some dedicated monitoring or coordination roles that Clallam currently lacks.

Next steps: Pickett will prepare and present a draft problem statement and a general recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners at the commission’s next public meeting. Commissioners emphasized keeping the initial presentation concise and focused on the problem and the single-position alternative rather than detailed job descriptions or funding mechanisms. The commission also discussed scheduling a follow-up internal meeting to refine language before wider public presentation but resolved to move forward with Pickett’s draft after the 3–1 vote.

Ending — the commission recorded public comment and adjourned. Members signaled that more detailed policy and drafting work will continue in subsequent meetings if the Board of County Commissioners requests further detail or if the commission chooses to advance a formal charter amendment.