Public Notice: Water Quality Certification of the Quillayute River Oxbow Restoration on the Quileute Reservation

Water Quality Certification of the Quillayute River Oxbow Restoration on the Quileute Reservation
How to Comment
Comments Due

Please submit your comments by email to R10-401-Certs@epa.gov on or before January 13 at 5pm (Pacific time).

If you are unable to submit comments by email, or if you need other assistance, please contact Jeff Brittain at 206-553-0532.

Do not submit any information you consider to be confidential business information. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make.

Publish Date

Summary

On December 18, 2025, EPA received a request from Quileute Natural Resources for a water quality certification for the Historic Oxbow Restoration and Steep Hill Road Rehab and Re-Route Project [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District project number NWS-2025-819].

Section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires applicants for federal permits and licenses that may result in discharges into waters of the United States to obtain certification that the discharge will comply with applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act. Where no state agency or Tribe has authority to give such certification, EPA is the certifying authority.

In this case, a portion of the proposed project is located within the Quileute Reservation meaning that EPA is the certifying authority for that part of project. The Washington Department of Ecology is the certifying authority for project activities occurring outside of the Quileute Reservation, so Ecology will be responsible for providing a separate certification decision for that part of the project.

According to the application, Quileute Natural Resources proposes to impact wetlands and waters in order to conduct aquatic habitat restoration and improve Tribal fishing access. The project is located in the Quillayute River and adjacent wetlands in Clallam County, Washington (latitude 47.902905, longitude -124.579790).

EPA is requesting comments on its Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification for this proposed project.

Project description

Quileute Natural Resources proposes to impact approximately 0.83 acres of wetlands and 0.88 acres of waters by excavating approximately 6,600 cubic yards and discharging approximately 20,036 cubic yards of fill material. The project will restore and activate a former oxbow meander bend of the Quillayute River to increase off-channel wetland and fish habitat, improve hydraulic complexity and refugia for juvenile salmonids, and enhance Tribal fishing access. Project elements include placing large wood structures, grading within channel, and installation of a temporary cofferdam.

A copy of the application is available upon request by contacting Jeff Brittain (brittain.jeffrey@epa.gov), 206-553-0532.

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Last updated on January 14, 2026