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Sequim to move fireworks launch site farther from bald‑eagle nest after staff monitoring
Summary
City staff showed drone footage of a nest with two fledglings near the existing launch area, said moving the professional fireworks discharge to a different city right‑of‑way puts it more than half a mile from the nest, and proposed ongoing monitoring and public outreach.
Public Works staff told Sequim City Council on April 28 that they will relocate the city’s professional Fourth‑of‑July fireworks discharge to a different city right‑of‑way farther from a newly documented bald‑eagle nest.
Public Works Director Paul Busich and Parks Manager Hannah Merrill described drone footage showing a nest with two fledglings near the Gary Oak restoration area and said a revised launch point on city property would be about a half mile or more from the nest.
Busich and Merrill described the city’s review and said staff concluded the new launch location remains on city property but is substantially farther from the nest. “We’re just going to transition where the fireworks are let off. It’s still on our property. It’s going to be over half a mile away,” Busich said. Staff said that change eliminates the need to water down the oak restoration site as part of the professional display and reduces direct proximity to the nest.
Merrill said Parks and Events planned public outreach and surveys about events through June and July and noted the city had contacted other jurisdictions: of 25 peninsula and Puget Sound municipalities surveyed, 15 still do fireworks activities (13 over water), and 10 have never had or have discontinued fireworks.
The council discussion included concerns about climate, drought risk and air quality raised by Councilor Harmony Redder. Redder said, while the relocated launch point is a good near‑term fix, broader questions remain about summer fire risk and public‑health impacts of fireworks smoke. Busich and Merrill said staff will continue weekly or biweekly monitoring of the eagle nest ahead of and after the July 4 display and will fly drone checks before and after the event.
Outcome and next steps: Staff recommended and council accepted (no formal ordinance or vote required) moving the professional launch point on city property to the alternative right‑of‑way and continuing wildlife monitoring and public outreach. Staff also proposed to pursue a community survey on city‑run events later in the summer to gather broader public input about events such as the July 4 display.
Ending: Staff will brief the council on monitoring results as the season approaches; no formal policy change or ban on fireworks was proposed at the meeting.
