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Council authorizes two ESRP grant applications to study shoreline road realignment feasibility
Summary
After extended discussion on trade-offs between shoreline restoration and maintaining critical roads, the council authorized Environmental Stewardship to apply for two Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program grants (about $575,000 total) to study Blind Bay and False Bay road realignments and community engagement.
San Juan County Council authorized staff to pursue two Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) grant applications to advance feasibility design and community engagement for possible backshore road realignments at Blind Bay and False Bay.
Tyler Davis, a project manager with the Department of Environmental Stewardship, asked the council to authorize two applications totaling roughly $575,000 ($350,000 for Blind Bay and $225,000 for False Bay). He described the work as an exploratory next step to develop higher-fidelity designs, engage landowners and communities, and assess restoration opportunities without promising a particular outcome.
Council discussion focused on competing priorities: environmental restoration to improve forage-fish and salmon habitat versus the county's obligation to maintain critical transportation links. Several council members stressed the need to coordinate closely with the Public Works department so that studies account for road function, maintenance needs and CIP timing. Others argued that existing community workshops and momentum around Blind Bay made the site a logical near-term candidate for further study.
Councilmember (S7) moved and the council seconded authorizing Environmental Stewardship to submit the two ESRP grant applications; the motion passed by voice vote.
What this means: If funded, the grants would support more detailed feasibility and conceptual design (including consideration of alternatives where roads are either realigned or protected in place), continued public workshops, and early outreach to affected landowners and agencies. Staff committed to integrating Public Works in the study design and to clearly describing that feasibility work may conclude certain options are not feasible.
