Ilwaco, Washington, Receives $2.17 Million for Storm Water Improvement Project
Pacific County, Washington’s Ilwaco City Council authorized Mayor Gary Forner to enter into agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology to secure $1.85 million in grant funds for a storm water improvement project along Baker Bay.
According to The Chinook Observer, the funding for the project is in addition to the city’s required 15% match of $325,000, which comes from the Natural Resource Damage Assessment settlement the city received Dec. 2014 due to an oil spill.
The project, totaling $2.17 million, was the result of the aftermath of the oil spill and intends to decrease storm water pollution discharge to the bay.
According to city documents, the project will: install permeable pavements; bio-retention facilities and compost-amended vegetated filter strips; remove pavement; and construct storm water BMPs along and adjacent to Howerton Avenue in Ilwaco, reported The Chinook Observer.
The project aims to provide treatment for total suspended solids, dissolved copper and zinc, and reduce flows through storm water infiltration. Storm water runoff from the project site flows untreated directly into Baker Bay. The storm water BMPs aim to capture and treat most of the runoff from streetscape and parking areas, which covers about five acres.
According to The Chinook Observer, the city hopes to secure an inter-local agreement with the port over the next six months to manage the project.
According to Ilwaco City Treasurer Holly Beller, the hope is to advertise for construction bids by the fall of 2022 and the deadline for the grant is June 2023.
The project was proposed by the Port of Ilwaco and the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership.