Residents urge study of Forks'Neah Bay route; county defends fish-passage priorities

A town-hall audience urged Clallam County to revisit a long-discussed route linking Forks and Neah Bay, and pressed the county on culvert replacements tied to fish-passage work.

A former commissioner urged the board to begin a feasibility assessment for a road between Forks and Neah Bay, saying a largely existing route could be upgraded and that a private landowner has sought federal legacy-forest funding. "I'm recommending and suggesting the county enter into an assessment of a new route, new road to go from Forks to Neah Bay," the speaker said, asking the county to at least place the route on the unfunded list so it could be used in advocacy to federal lawmakers.

On culverts and fish passage, county engineer Joe D'Nissi said the projects are not being done in reaction to a court order but rather to "improve fish passage across the county." He acknowledged some culverts are structurally sound but said larger structures can improve maintenance safety and reduce risk to maintenance crews when pipes plug. D'Nissi said funding for many of those projects is grant-dependent and that the county sometimes commits right-of-way or other local resources to advance them.

A resident criticized a proposed culvert replacement at mile 18.5 on a local road as unnecessary and as benefiting private property rather than county interests. County staff said field inspection and project-specific review determine whether replacement is appropriate and that the county is trying to prioritize projects where maintenance, fish passage and safety align.

No formal policy change or funding commitment was made at the meeting. Commissioners and staff said they would include suggested projects on the unfunded TIP list when appropriate and encouraged residents to work with staff to refine project descriptions that could be used in grant applications.