Clark Regional Wastewater District, Washington 2026–2035 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Alert
FirmoGraphs monitors Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) from utilities and municipalities across the United States to help architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms and infrastructure businesses identify and pursue project opportunities. This CIP Alert covers Clark Regional Wastewater District (CRWWD), a special purpose district serving Clark County in southwestern Washington State—one of the fastest-growing counties in the Pacific Northwest.
In the CIP covering the 2026–2035 fiscal years, CRWWD details plans to spend $159.2 million on capital projects, a 3.4% decrease from $164.9 million in its 2025–2034 CIP. The current CIP contains 81 distinct projects, compared to 75 distinct projects in the prior CIP—an increase of 6 projects even as total planned spending decreased modestly.
ⓘ All dollar figures in this post are rounded. Numbers may not sum exactly due to rounding.
How Did Clark Regional Wastewater District’s Capital Spending Change Between the Last Two CIPs?
| Metric | 2025–2034 CIP (Prior) | 2026–2035 CIP (Current) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total CIP Value | $164.9 million | $159.2 million | −$5.7 million (−3.4%) |
| Distinct Project Count | 75 | 81 | +6 projects (+8.0%) |
| Average Project Value | $2.20 million | $1.97 million | −$0.23 million (−10.6%) |
The 2026–2035 CIP reflects a modest 3.4% reduction in total planned spending compared to the prior cycle—a $5.7 million decrease that reflects project completions, scheduling shifts, and funding realignments rather than a significant pullback in infrastructure investment. Notably, the project count grew by 6 (to 81 projects), meaning the average project size declined slightly from $2.20 million to $1.97 million, pointing to a broader distribution of smaller initiatives alongside marquee capital projects.
A key structural change between the two CIPs is the continuity of business area structure. Both CIPs organize projects under the same three top-level business areas: Central Service Area, Ridgefield Service Area, and a district-wide grouping (labeled Fleet and Facilities in the prior CIP and renamed District-Wide in the current CIP). The shift in total spending is driven primarily by a $9.1 million reduction in Ridgefield Service Area investments, partially offset by a $3.8 million increase in Central Service Area projects.
Which Departments and Business Areas Drive Spending in CRWWD’s 2026–2035 CIP?
| Business Area | 2025–2034 CIP (Prior) | Projects (Prior) | 2026–2035 CIP (Current) | Projects (Current) | Change ($) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Service Area | $100.9 million | 44 | $104.8 million | 53 | +$3.8 million | +3.8% |
| Ridgefield Service Area | $52.6 million | 22 | $43.5 million | 19 | −$9.1 million | −17.3% |
| Fleet and Facilities (prior) → District-Wide (current) | $11.3 million | 9 | $10.9 million | 9 | −$0.4 million | −3.4% |
| Total | $164.9 million | 75 | $159.2 million | 81 | −$5.7 million | −3.4% |
The three business areas above reflect the exact categories used in the source CIP files. The prior 2025–2034 CIP uses Central Service Area, Ridgefield Service Area, and Fleet and Facilities. The current 2026–2035 CIP renames the third area to District-Wide, consolidating fleet, facilities, and technology projects under a single district-wide umbrella rather than a separate functional bucket.
The most significant shift is in Ridgefield Service Area, which declined 17.3% (−$9.1M) as several large conveyance projects — including the Neil Kimsey Force Main Upgrade — moved from the planning pipeline into funded construction status or were reprogrammed. Central Service Area grew modestly by +3.8% (+$3.8M), adding 9 net new projects, reflecting continued investment in pump station replacements and expanded restoration programs. The District-Wide / Fleet and Facilities area held nearly flat at −3.4%.
What are the Largest Projects in CRWWD’s 2026–2035 CIP?
Clark Regional Wastewater District’s 2026–2035 CIP includes several large and strategically important projects that will shape the District’s infrastructure for decades:[2]
- Neil Kimsey Force Main Upgrade — $21.6 million (Central Service Area — CIP General Facilities)
Increases the capacity of the Neil Kimsey pump station system by constructing 17,040 feet of 22-inch force main to accommodate additional wastewater flows resulting from the redirection of flows from Ridgefield. - Gee Creek Facilities Upgrade — $14.7 million (Ridgefield Service Area — CIP General Facilities)
Upgrades Gee Creek Meadows Pump Station, constructs a new force main to Gee Creek Plateau, and builds the Gee Creek Plateau Pump Station and force main tying into existing 12-inch force mains. System design capacity is 1,500 gpm for Gee Creek Meadows and 1,800 gpm for Gee Creek Plateau. - DCWTS Phase 2B — $5.85 million (Central Service Area — CIP General Facilities)
Upgrades the capacity of the Legacy pump station and force main system by installing a new 20-inch force main to improve wastewater treatment infrastructure. - Gravity Repair Program — $5.75 million (Central Service Area — Restoration & Replacement)
An annual multi-year program for maintaining reliable sewer service by restoring and replacing localized hot-spot areas in gravity sewer infrastructure across the District’s service area. - Septic Project Allowance — $4.76 million (Central Service Area — CIP Septic Elimination Program)
Funds the District’s ongoing Septic Elimination Program (SEP), with approximately $600,000 invested annually to identify and construct infrastructure that converts properties from septic systems to public sewer service.
How is Clark Regional Wastewater District’s CIP Governed and Approved?
Clark Regional Wastewater District is governed by a Board of Commissioners, a publicly elected body that oversees the District’s policies, budget, and capital programming. The District develops its Capital Improvement Program starting from a 20-year planning horizon established in its General Sewer Plan, refining this into a detailed 10-year program and an annual capital budget. The Board reviews and approves the CIP as part of the annual budgeting process, which includes public notice and meeting opportunities for community input.[3]
General Facilities Projects (major trunk sewers, pump stations, force mains) are funded through System Development Charges (SDCs)—connection fees paid by developers and property owners connecting new units to the system. Restoration & Replacement (R&R) projects are rate-funded through customer service charges. The District’s Capital Program Manager (currently Vanessa Johnson, PE) oversees planning and delivery of the full capital program.[1]
What is the History of Clark Regional Wastewater District and Clark County?
Clark Regional Wastewater District traces its roots to 1958, when it was established as the Hazel Dell Sewer District (later Clark County Public Sewer District No. 1). Over the decades, the District grew alongside Clark County — today managing more than 775 miles of pipe, 77 pump stations, and 891 STEP (Septic Tank Effluent Pump) systems across both its Central and Ridgefield service areas.[5]
Clark County itself is Washington State’s southernmost county, situated between the Columbia River and the Cascade Range. It was the first county established in Washington, originally created as Vancouver County in 1845 and renamed in 1849 to honor William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. As of the 2020 Census, Clark County’s population was approximately 503,000 — Washington’s fifth-most populous county and one of its fastest-growing — driven in large part by its proximity to Portland, Oregon, and the absence of a state income tax in Washington.[6] This rapid population growth is a primary driver of CRWWD’s ongoing capital investment in both system expansion and infrastructure renewal.
Fun Facts About Clark County and the Clark Regional Wastewater District
- 🌊 Clark County sits at the confluence of the Columbia and Lewis Rivers — a region that drew Native peoples for thousands of years before becoming the site of the first permanent non-Native settlement in the Pacific Northwest.[7]
- 🗺️ Clark County was the very first county created in Washington State, established by the Provisional Government of Oregon on August 20, 1845 — making it older than Washington’s statehood itself (1889).[6]
- 🏔️ The county is framed by the Columbia River to the south and west and the Cascade Range to the east, giving it dramatic scenery and making it a popular destination for outdoor recreation.[7]
- 🚰 CRWWD has earned APWA (American Public Works Association) Accreditation — a nationally recognized mark of excellence in public agency management and operations.[8]
- 🏙️ Vancouver, WA — Clark County’s county seat and largest city — had a population of approximately 190,000 as of recent estimates and has seen rapid growth as a bedroom community for Portland, OR workers who cross the Columbia River daily.[6]
- 📈 Clark County’s population grew from 425,363 in 2010 to 503,311 in 2020 — an 18.3% increase — making it one of Washington’s fastest-growing counties and a primary driver of demand for expanded wastewater infrastructure.[6]
How FirmoGraphs Can Help
FirmoGraphs is a business intelligence and data science firm serving the United States heavy infrastructure and AEC markets. FirmoGraphs systematically tracks, maps, and analyzes Capital Improvement Plans from counties, cities, utilities, and public agencies across the United States — turning raw CIP data into structured, searchable intelligence for construction and engineering firms.
For AEC firms, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers active in Clark County and the broader Washington market, FirmoGraphs CIP intelligence helps identify upcoming project opportunities by sector, geography, and value — well ahead of formal solicitations. Whether you are tracking force main upgrades, pump station replacements, septic elimination programs, or district-wide technology and fleet investments, FirmoGraphs provides the early-stage visibility your business development team needs.
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Clark Regional Wastewater District CIP Alert — FAQs
References
- Clark Regional Wastewater District — 2025–2034 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) data export: project list, business areas, and project values used as the prior-cycle baseline for this analysis. Source file: crwwd.com_cip_2025-2034_mapped.xlsx-cip-projects.csv. 75 distinct projects; total planned value $164,897,200. Retrieved from CRWWD capital program records via FirmoGraphs data pipeline, May 2026.
- Clark Regional Wastewater District — 2026–2035 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) data export: project list, business areas, project descriptions, justifications, and year-by-year planned values used as the current-cycle source for all metrics, tables, and project details in this report. Source file: crwwd.com_cip_2026-2035_mapped_v2.31.csv. 81 distinct projects; total planned value $159,235,805. Retrieved from CRWWD capital program records via FirmoGraphs data pipeline, May 2026.
- Clark Regional Wastewater District — Capital Program: Board of Commissioners governance, General Sewer Plan, 10-year CIP development process. crwwd.com/projects/capital/ ↩
- Clark Regional Wastewater District — Capital Program: System Development Charges (SDC) funding for General Facilities Projects; Restoration & Replacement (R&R) rate-funded program; Capital Program Manager contact. crwwd.com/projects/capital/ ↩
- Clark Regional Wastewater District — Capital Program R&R section: “Established in 1958 the District now has over 775 miles of pipe, 77 pump stations, and 891 STEP systems.” crwwd.com/projects/capital/ ↩
- Wikipedia — Clark County, Washington: southernmost county in Washington; 2020 Census population 503,311; fifth-most populous; first county established in Washington (created August 20, 1845 as Vancouver County; renamed Clark County 1849); one of the fastest-growing counties in the state; 2010 population 425,363. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_County,_Washington ↩
- Clark County official website — About Clark County: “the area was both a gathering place for native tribes and the site of the first non-native settlement in the Pacific Northwest”; Columbia River and Cascade Range geography. clark.wa.gov/county-manager/about-clark-county
- Clark Regional Wastewater District homepage — APWA Accredited Utility designation. crwwd.com
