Posted on March 19, 2025
As summer fades into fall, Chinook salmon, pink salmon, and steelhead make their way back to the Dungeness River to spawn. Unfortunately, their journey isn’t easy. By mid- to late August, water levels drop, making passage difficult and threatening both the salmon and the communities that rely on the river. For years, Dungeness irrigators and basin partners have worked to conserve and enhance the river’s flow. But in low-snowpack years, there is not enough flow to meet everyone’s needs.
An off-channel reservoir is a solution that will help water managers meet needs in a changing landscape. Preserving this resource while water is flowing during the winter and spring will result in higher flow levels and benefits for all, including stream-flow restoration for salmon, long-term agricultural viability, aquifer recharge, stormwater management, and recreational opportunities.
Working alongside Clallam County Public Works Department, Anchor QEA provided design and permitting support, helping define site constraints, conduct site investigations, and develop detailed designs for the reservoir. Projects like these are about more than infrastructure—they’re about building climate resiliency and protecting the future of our environment and communities. By investing in water, we invest in life.
