County Briefs

Mason County issues burn ban

Mason County Fire Marshal Randy Collins has issued a burn ban for permitted land clearing activities until further notice.

According to a news release, the ban is in concert with the state Department of Natural Resources burn ban. Recreational fires can continue as long as they meet the guidelines for outdoor burning in the county. Those guidelinesare at tinyurl.com/5c5bwrp6.

For more information, contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-427-9670, ext. 352.

Hammer the Inlet race July 24

Hammer the Inlet short and long paddling and rowing races are scheduled for 9 a.m. July 24 at the Shelton Yacht Club and Oakland Bay Marina.

According to a news release, the race is a nonmotorized human-powered race sponsored by the Salmon Bay Paddle Co. of Seattle. Standup paddleboards, row boats, kayaks and canoes are used by competitors.

The short course is 2.5 miles around Oakland Bay and the long race is about a 15-mile race paddling and rowing in swift tidal currents, which means getting to the end of Cape Horn before the 2.5 knot flood prevents racers from getting there, and then riding the tidal current back to Shelton. Catching the returning flood current properly makes the race shorter and easier.

For more information, visit tinyurl.com/5n966xdr.

Applications open for federal relief funding

Commercial fishing, shellfish, charter and seafood sector industry members who have been negatively affected by COVID-19 can apply for a second round of federal assistance relief funding with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.

According to a news release, there is $40 million in relief money. This is part of $300 million in federal funding from Congress approved in December 2020 and it follows an initial $300 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in the summer of 2020. The two rounds of money is $600 million, including $90 million each for Washington and Alaska.

Industry members who had a gross revenue loss between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, that was more than 35% of their 2015-2019 average are eligible for the second round of relief funding. Applications are open through Oct. 14 and can be found at relief.psmfc.org.

Mason County Public Works schedules community meeting

Mason County Public Works is hosting a community meeting at 2 p.m Saturday at The Agate Grange Hall to discuss updates for the Agate Loop Road and Uncle John Creek bridge project.

According to a news release, the timeline for the project is to continue with designing and reviewing ideas with agencies through 2022, and project construction planned for 2023 or 2024. The county received feedback from more than 100 community members through a public open house and the county website. Commenters raised numerous concerns around permanent removal of the stream crossing and there was overwhelming support for an alternative that would keep the road open to traffic. Based on the input, Public Works developed a third design alternative involving a four-sided concrete box culvert that would improve hydrological processes and restore fish passages but at a lower cost.

The alternative was evaluated for its ability to meet project goals, provide fish passage and be an effective solution, and it is now Mason County’s preferred design alternative.

For future updates, go to tinyurl.com/2p8vsmmy.

Shelton port director named to statewide economic board

Port of Shelton Commerce Director Lisa Brown appointed Wendy Smith to a three-year term to the state Community Economic Revitalization Board.

According to a news release, Smith is the executive director of the Port of Shelton and will serve as the port representative. Smith’s term begins Sept. 3 and will continue through Sept. 2, 2025.

CERB is a 20-member state board focused on economic development and job growth through public infrastructure investments in partnership with local governments.

DNR study details effects of tsunami

The state Department of Natural Resources has released a study about the effects of a tsunami produced by a major earthquake on the Seattle Fault.

According to a news release, the study was prepared by geologists within the Washington Geological Survey division of DNR. It was conducted to help local and state emergency managers and planners develop and refine response and preparedness plans for a tsunami in the middle of the state’s largest population area.

The report finds that waves would reach the shoreline in fewer than three minutes in many places on the east side of Bainbridge Island, Elliott Bay and Alki Point. A tsunami exceeding 20-feet high could strike along the shore of the greater Seattle area.

While the tsunami would have the most effect on the Seattle area, the release said shoreline flooding and increased currents would occur throughout the Salish Sea from Blaine to Olympia.

The study can be found at tinyurl.com/bdek2b9t and a video simulation can be found at tinyurl.com/2p84awp7.