Clallam County staff outline La Push trail route options and federal NEPA steps; ask landowners for access

Clallam County staff briefed the Trails Committee on plans for the La Push section of the Olympic Discovery Trail and said Western Federal Lands will lead federal environmental review and preliminary design while the county seeks landowner cooperation.

County staff described a neighborhood meeting planned for the Three Rivers area to walk residents through route alternatives, explain rights-of-entry letters and request permission for cultural and environmental teams to access private property for field surveys. Steve Gray, Clallam County Public Works, said the meeting is intended to inform residents rather than make decisions: “No decisions being made, just presenting information to the group,” he told the committee.

The nut of the discussion was process and timing: Western Federal Lands will deliver the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) review and preliminary design work; a separate RAISE grant that Clallam County applied for includes money to study a separated crossing at the bridge but does not include funds to build a separated bridge. Gray said the Federal Lands Access Program funding will help with design and right-of-way work and that the county hopes to have NEPA and design advanced by 2026, which would make it easier to apply for construction grants.

Committee members discussed route alternatives through the Moore Road/Old Ballard Road corridor and options to avoid or minimize impacts to private front yards by using county right-of-way where available. Gray said one alternative could route the trail around the Moore Road neighborhood and connect to county roads, which would reduce the amount of private acquisition needed. He also said the project team expects to use previously collected county survey data to reduce duplication during design and acquisition.

Members raised concerns about construction delivery if federal partners are slow or costly to contract. One committee member expressed skepticism that Western Federal Lands should be paid for construction overhead and urged the county to consider taking on construction delivery if the county can secure additional funding. Gray responded that Western Federal Lands brings federal relationships that are useful for coordinating with Olympic National Park and tribal lands, and that the county will evaluate delivery options as the project becomes shovel ready.

Committee discussion also covered match requirements and deadlines. Staff said that the Federal Lands funding carries a roughly 86.5% federal share with a 13.5% local match and that the county is exploring Washington State Department of Transportation credit and Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant funds to cover the match. Gray noted an internal deadline from Western Federal Lands that corridor acquisition should be completed by February 19, 2028, or the federal funding mechanism could be at risk. He said the county is applying for an RCO extension (RCO deadline June 30) and expects an answer from the RCO board in April on that request.

Background: the county’s intent is to make the segment shovel ready (design and NEPA complete) so it can be competitive for additional construction grants. Staff emphasized that while some construction funds may be available for limited trail segments, the full route will require additional funding and likely a phased approach.

Ending: Staff asked committee members to help notify neighborhood landowners about the upcoming meeting and to encourage cooperation with rights-of-entry. The committee agreed to publish maps and hold the targeted neighborhood meeting with an online option for those who cannot attend in person.