Clallam county will implement a water conservation and diversion improvement project to improve flows in the dungeness river near the city of sequim in northwest washington

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation awarded Clallam County, WA a $2,434,622 Project Grant under the WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) program (CFDA No. 15.507) to implement a water conservation and diversion improvement project. The project will pipe 2,900 feet of an open canal, install an automated headgate at the intake, and upgrade a flow control structure to allow for responsive management based on water demand. The project will also upgrade existing fish screens to reduce mortality. Conserved winter/spring water will be stored in an off-channel reservoir and released during peak irrigation season to improve flows in the Dungeness River, which supports endangered Puget Sound Chinook, Puget Sound Steelhead, Hood Canal/Strait of Juan de Fuca Summer Chum, and Bull Trout. The project stems from multiple prior planning efforts and involves partnerships with the Clallam Conservation District, Dungeness Water Users Association, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, and state agencies.

The dungeness river supports endangered species act listed puget sound chinook, puget sound steelhead, hood canal strait of juan DE fuca summer chum, and bull trout. However, populations have declined and drought conditions in the late summer have impacted migration and spawning habitat. The project will pipe 2,900 feet of an open canal, install an automated headgate at the intake and upgrade a flow control structure at an irrigation split, allowing for responsive management based on water demand. Water conserved through the project during the winter and spring will be held in an off-channel reservoir and released during summer months to help meet instream flow needs during peak irrigation season. The project will also upgrade existing fish screens to reduce fish mortality. This project stems from multiple planning efforts, including the elwha dungeness watershed plan and the comprehensive irrigation district management plan. Project partners include clallam conservation district, dungeness water users association, jamestown sklallam tribe, sequim, washington department of ecology, washington department of fish and wildlife, and washington water trust.