County approves contract amendment to study fish‑screen at Dungeness off‑channel reservoir amid public concern for salmon access

Clallam County commissioners on April 28 approved an amendment to an existing contract with Anchor QEA Inc. to carry out a feasibility study assessing whether a fish screen can be installed at the head gate of the Dungeness off‑channel reservoir.

The amendment revises the contractor’s scope of work and extends the agreement’s term so the firm and its subconsultants can evaluate the site and report on the suitability and capability of installing a screen. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the amendment passed unanimously.

Public commenters urged the county to consider fish passage when planning reservoir improvements. “I have a lot of concerns that we will permanently block the fish access from the Dungeness Hatchery to Bell Creek,” John Worthington of Sequim told the commissioners, urging officials to avoid any permanent barrier that would prevent juvenile salmon movement.

County staff explained the amendment shifts the project from previous design work to a targeted feasibility study focused on screening at the head gate. The scope will include technical analysis and consultation with subconsultants, county staff said during the presentation.

Commission discussion focused on procedural clarity and how the feasibility work fits into the larger reservoir project. The amendment does not itself authorize construction; it funds evaluation to inform next steps and any follow‑on permits or design work.

Next steps: Anchor QEA will complete the feasibility study and return findings to staff and the board; any proposed construction or permitting decisions would come back to the board for separate approval.