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Clark County to begin Lower Salmon Creek stormwater management action plan; two-year contract to conclude by March 2027
Summary
Staff told the Clean Water Commission on April 2 that Clark County will sign a county-funded contract in May for a two-year stormwater management action plan (SMAP) for Lower Salmon Creek. The study will prioritize infiltration feasibility, retrofit opportunities and sediment-reduction measures to help salmon habitat.
Clark County staff said on April 2 that a two-year stormwater management action plan (SMAP) for Lower Salmon Creek will begin this spring under a county-funded contract and must be completed by March 2027.
Devin (Clean Water Division staff) said the county will bring the contract to County Council in early May and expects to execute a two-year agreement that will require field reconnaissance, data collection and recommendations to prioritize capital and maintenance projects. The contract will examine infiltration feasibility, retrofit opportunities and locations of greatest sediment loading — a key limiting factor for salmon spawning habitat.
Why it matters: Lower Salmon Creek includes heavily urbanized areas upstream of Interstate 5 where older infrastructure, high imperviousness and sediment loading are concentrated. County staff told the commission the SMAP is intended to guide six-year capital priorities and a 20-year plan that integrates monitoring, maintenance and land-use data to improve water quality and salmon-supporting habitat.
Devin said the SMAP work is a permit-driven priority under the county’s Phase I stormwater obligations and will include recommendations on monitoring modifications so the county can better measure the effectiveness of implementation actions (for example, changes to street sweeping or pipe asset management). The commission identified a work group that will be asked to advise staff on priorities during the study; staff named Jeff and Rod as the division contacts leading the contract effort.
Timing and engagement: staff said the contract would go to council around May 6 and that SMAP consultants will start data collection after contract execution. The project must be completed by March 2027; early progress reports could be provided to the commission in August or October, with regular updates available at commission meetings.
Funding and scope: county staff said the SMAP contract is solely Clark County–funded through the county’s clean water fee; no external grant funding was identified for the contract during the meeting. The plan will address both capital project identification and maintenance prioritization to reduce sediment and other limiting factors for salmon habitat.
Staff follow-up: county staff will return to commission meetings with contract milestones, opportunities for commissioner involvement in the advisory work group, and interim updates on field and monitoring results.
