County calls for bids for extraction of surplus gravel on Waldron; public bid begins Oct. 1

The County will also negotiate a Gravel Extraction Lease with the successful bidder for the purchase of the gravel

||| FROM SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS |||

San Juan County is holding a bid opening for the extraction of surplus gravel from the Waldron Island Gravel Pit. The awarded bidder will be responsible for obtaining all the necessary permits to conduct gravel extraction operations at the site at its own risk and expense, with the length of the lease to be valid until whichever occurs first of a ten-year agreement term, or until one-thousand cubic yards of gravel has been extracted from the site.

Find the bid documents here: https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/2074/Current-Bid-Documents

Following procedures set out in SJCC Chapter 2.104, the Public Works Department will conduct a sealed bid opening on October 1, 2025 for the public sale of up to one-thousand cubic yards of bank run gravel to be extracted in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations at the Waldron Gravel Pit Lease Area. 

The County Manager will then negotiate a Gravel Extraction Lease with the successful bidder for purchase of the gravel. 

Background

Residents of Waldron Island have been seeking a local solution to their need for gravel for many years. Most recently, Council approved a plan to make gravel available for public sale from the County’s gravel pit on Waldron Island. 

• During the March 31, 2025 Council meeting, staff presented a conceptual plan to County Council to make gravel from the County’s gravel pit available for public sale on Waldron Island. 
• On April 12, 2025, staff attended a community meeting on Waldron Island to discuss the conceptual plan with residents.
• Councilmembers discussed the potential plan during the April 15, 2025 meeting along with the feedback received from Waldron residents, the possible impacts to Public Works operations, and the state of the Road Fund.
• During the July 1 Council meeting on Waldron, the Council set a public hearing for August 5 to further discuss the plan.   
• During the August 5 meeting, Council passed a resolution authorizing the disposal of surplus gravel by public bid and the negotiation of a multi-year gravel extraction lease.  

Contact: Colin Huntemer, Public Works Director, colinh@sanjuancountywa.gov

About San Juan County’s Public Works Department    

San Juan County’s Public Works Department constructs and maintains county roads. The department offices are located at 1609 Beaverton Valley Rd, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. For more information about San Juan County’s Public Works Department, visit www.sanjuancountywa.gov/277/Public-Works .