Forest and park officials brief commissioners on road repairs, fire readiness and Hurricane Ridge plans
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Summary
U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service representatives told the county they expect $3.4M in emergency road repairs from the 2021 storm, plan $200,000 in local annual maintenance, anticipate roughly $4.7M of investments across the next years, and raised wildfire staffing and drought concerns; National Park staff previewed summer road work and Hurricane Ridge day‑lodge design outreach.
Kelly Lawrence (speaker 18) of the U.S. Forest Service told the board the Forest Service will begin emergency relief road repairs this spring related to the 2021 atmospheric river, representing roughly $3.4 million in investments. She also said the forest intends about $200,000 of annual maintenance work in Clallam County this year and that the regional office and partners are coordinating a Western Washington strategy to document deferred maintenance needs.
Lawrence discussed Good Neighbor Authority options for county-forest cooperation on road maintenance, noted a Suite of trail and campground projects (including Klahanie Campground relocation in partnership with the Quileute Tribe and an effort to reimagine the Snyder Work Center), and said about $4.7 million of forest-service and partner investments are expected in Clallam County over the next several years.
Ty Crow (speaker 6), deputy fire staff for the Olympic interagency fire zone, delivered a fire‑season readiness briefing: 23% of Washington is in drought and 47% abnormally dry; the Forest Service seeks to staff three Type‑6 engines on the peninsula and a 10‑person wildland module, and plans regional coordination and reconnaissance flights for hotspots. Crow highlighted efforts to standardize a Western Washington fire danger operating plan and to coordinate campfire bans, and he cited a May 11 public meeting on the county CWPP to engage residents.
Superintendent Jacobs (speaker 13) from Olympic National Park said 2025 visitation was about 3.6 million and emphasized the park’s economic impact (about $380 million in visitor spending). Jacobs previewed summer road projects (the Mora road closure to Rialto Beach July–early fall for storm damage repairs, lane work at "the Ho," and Hurricane Ridge water‑system and day‑lodge design activities). Jacobs said the park received hundreds of public comments on Hurricane Ridge day‑lodge design and will continue design and public outreach.
Commissioners asked about coordination for emergency management and visitor surges; Park and Forest representatives said interagency training, search-and-rescue coordination and shared exercises improve readiness and that inviting the Coast Guard and other partners to planning sessions could strengthen responses. No formal board action was taken; staff will continue interagency coordination and public outreach steps.