Clallam County pursues FEMA scoping grant to study repeated flooding on 3 Crabs Road

Clallam County is preparing an application for a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Program scoping grant to analyze options for the stretch of County Road known locally as 3 Crabs Road (county road identifier referenced in the meeting packet) that periodically goes underwater.

County public works staff told the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 3 that emergency-management and state partners recommend seeking a scoping grant first, to fund engineering analysis — for example, whether to raise the road and by how much — before applying for a larger construction grant.

The scoping grant would pay for data collection, alternatives analysis and the engineering work needed to define a construction project. Staff said scoping would assess the exact segment(s) of roadway affected, how high a rebuilt section should be, and possible downstream effects of raising the roadway. County staff said a scoping study typically includes a planning horizon (they referenced standard design planning out to 75 years).

County staff described a tight timeline: a pre-application was submitted in 2022, and the current scoping-grant application deadline was initially Feb. 7; the county requested an extension and was granted until Feb. 17. Staff said they will bring a formal agenda item and a resolution authorizing submittal and naming an applicant agent to the county’s regular meeting next week for approval.

Staff and commissioners emphasized that local funding for “local access” roads is limited. Public works staff outlined that only a portion of the county’s road mileage is eligible for standard transportation grants and that local-access roads typically must compete for rarer funding sources. Commissioners said securing scoping funds is strategic: an externally funded scoping study increases the likelihood of later construction funding.

Staff described two implementation paths after a successful scoping award: (1) proceed without a consultant if county resources suffice, which staff estimated could take roughly 12 months to collect data and prepare a scoping report; or (2) hire a consultant, which would add time for procurement and contracting. Staff said the county will decide whether to hire a consultant before the award is announced.

Next steps: staff will present the scoping-grant application and a resolution designating the applicant agent on the board’s agenda next week, with the county aiming to submit materials by the Feb. 17 date. Commissioners asked staff to continue coordinating with the Department of Community Development and state emergency management contacts to align scope and data needs.