The Forks City Council unanimously approved the Quillayute Airport Master Plan during their July 22, 2024, meeting. The 20-year plan includes the goals of developing instrument approach capabilities and restoring the existing WWII Quonset hangar to create rentable hangar storage, which may also provide an opportunity to provide basic facilities such as an indoor restroom and a pilot lounge. The plan concludes that future improvements in the terminal area “will provide the most cost-efficient development opportunities for incremental or phased facility development.”

As part of the phased development, the Three Rivers Fire Department, in partnership with the City of Forks, has submitted a pre-application to the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program for a $225,000 grant to build a 30kW microgrid that will power an existing well at Quillayute Airport to provide water and emergency communications power for firefighting and support of other public services during emergency events. This application is a direct result of the Revitalizing the Quillayute Airport for Community Resilience study performed last year under the auspices of the Washington Department of Commerce Solar Plus Storage grant program.

The proposed microgrid comprises a Clallam PUD-linked battery energy storage system charged by a solar panel array and a backup stationary generator for occasions of short days and heavy cloud cover. More information is available at QA4CR.org.