In 2014, Loving Engineering managed a $750,000 Debris and Piling Removal project located within Port Gamble Bay in Kitsap County, Washington. The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe implemented a Debris Removal Plan focused on improving the health of Port Gamble Bay, especially removing brownfields identified on Point Julia, where tribal members regularly gather to harvest shellfish. The tribe had been working through a list of more than 400 items for removal, including old creosote pilings and derelict fishing gear. But the Tribe didn’t have the manpower and resources available to make much a of a dent in the list. Fortunately, funding was secured from legislative funds via the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology).
The WA State Legislature approved funds to be distributed by Ecology through its Toxics Program. Ecology provided funds to support the Port Gamble Bay project, one of fourteen projects approved throughout Puget Sound. Loving Engineering prepared a Derelict Debris Removal Work Plan and received plan approval from Ecology. Loving Engineering provided project oversight, contractor negotiations, contractor selection support, management of on-call staff and coordination of volunteers at two community cleanup events. Loving Engineering performed door-to-door, in-person visits to community members to provide information on the project and to receive approval to remove derelict debris from private properties. Altogether over half a million pounds of debris were removed from the shores of Port Gamble Bay.