Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Small Communities Cohort Program
Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Vulnerability Assessment
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is a federally recognized Tribe that has conducted subsistence and commercial fishing along the northern shorelines of what is now Clallam County for millennia, and this treaty-protected right continues today. The Tribe has invested extensive time and resources to protect, restore and enhance shoreline function and nearshore ecosystems that support this traditional lifeway. Some of the successful efforts to improve shoreline and nearshore function include large estuary restoration projects, native Olympia oyster restoration projects, shoreline armor and other shoreline development removal, waste and septic system management, and countless monitoring efforts throughout.
Flooding of the 3 Crabs community, Clallam County from December 2024 [John Gussman]
Sea level rise is a major concern for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Clallam County. Additionally, this shoreline has historically been extremely dynamic – often shifting dramatically over short time periods and the areas of active erosion are encroaching on private structures. The combination of a naturally dynamic shoreline, rising sea levels, and stronger storms have resulted in homes, septic systems, and wells being flooded on an annual basis – threatening the viability and integrity of coastal communities, impacting shoreline function and degrading water quality.
The Small Community Cohort Program Project
Through participation in the Small Communities Cohort, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is working with the Collaborative to develop foundational information and engagement materials regarding county code-supported sea level rise adaptation approaches for low-lying coastal zone communities in Clallam County. Products from this project will support ongoing dialogue between the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Clallam County, residents, and other partners on managing the impacts of sea level rise.
Project Goals
01
Assess sea level rise impacts focused predominantly around the Dungeness River Delta in Clallam County.
02
Develop proactive and strategic adaptation approaches to addressing sea level rise impacts, inclusive of information on the relative strengths, weaknesses, effectiveness, and costs of different strategies.
03
Create and develop outreach materials summarizing key findings from the project to support ongoing public and partner engagement.
