July 26, 2001

The July 26, 2001 meeting of the Kittitas County Water Purveyors was called to order by Chairman Pat Clerf. Those in attendance were Carol Ready, Barbara Pettit, Roger Satnik, Jack Carpenter and Jim Schnebly, Kittitas Reclamation District; Jack Clerf, Cascade Irrigation District; Pat Clerf, Ellensburg Water Company; Jane Creech, Washington State Department of Ecology; Kevin Eslinger, Denmark Irrigators; Anna Lael, Kittitas County Conservation District; Steve George, Hop Growers of Washington; Tom Myrum, Washington State Water Resources Association.

1. Call to order

Pat Clerf, Chairman, declared the agenda for the July 26, 2001 meeting approved as presented. Chairman Pat Clerf requested the minutes of May 31, 2001 meeting be reviewed for approval at the September 2001 meeting.

2. Staff Update

Carol Ready presented a staff update explaining a grant application was submitted to Bonnevile Power Administration for screens, fish barriers and on farm projects. Carol continued explaining the grant application is receiving positive comments in the review process and is continuing through the process. Carol explained she has submitted a grant to DOE for funding in 2002-2004 to continue the water quality monitoring.

Carol, Steve George and Tom Myrum discussed the Lead Entity Status explaining there is still a lot of controversy regarding establishing Lead Entity.

Carol apprised the KCWP she is drafting a Ditch Line for publication and distribution in September and requested input on information to appear.

Carol explained KCWP will have a display in conjunction with the Kittitas County Conservation District at the Kittitas County Fair.

Carol explained she is scheduling a Congressional Tour of the Kittitas Valley and has been requested to include Western Washington Officials.

Steve George explained the composition and goal of the Yakima Basin Storage Alliance.

3. TMDL – Workgroup Update

Jane Creech, Washington State Department of Ecology, presented charts and graphs with data from the Upper Yakima River Basin Suspended Sediment and Organochlorine Pesticide Total Maximum Daily Load Evaluation explaining the members of the technical work groups have the draft report. Jane explained the criteria for establishing background and meeting water quality criteria and timeline for compliance. Jane continued explaining the water balance is great on Upper Yakima River but there is a discrepancy with the TSS. Jane explained Joe Joy, Department of Ecology, applied different scenarios to identify the TSS on the Upper Yakima River. With the TSS unidentified source it could keep the Main Stem of the Yakima River from meeting water quality standards. Jane explained the TSS unidentified source will be the main focus of the Department of Ecology. Discussion followed regarding background and what is used and how it is determined. Jane suggested comments be directed to DOE and members of the workgroups.

Tom Myrum, Washington State Water Resources Association, presented information on the Endangered Species Act explaining one of the best ways to work with ESA is to start planning for it. Tom explained NMFS is developing a Biological Opinion for the Yakima Project and the Columbia Basin Project is included in the Biological Opinion for the Main Stem of the Columbia River. Tom explained there are many smaller irrigation districts with limited funding, therefore WSWRA formed a committee of Irrigation District Managers to start working with various State Agencies involved with the ESA through a process called Ag, Fish and Water. Tom explained working with AFW allowed them the opportunity to get to know individuals with the various agencies and there perspectives and were able to get them to look at various districts and the scope of district operations and get a sense for some of the good things district are doing. Tom explained he was hopeful this gave the agencies an opportunity to get a good view of irrigation districts and make a positive impact on the good things districts are doing. Tom explained the main focus was on irrigation district water conservation, delivery systems and water quality. Tom explained the main focus of ESA is instream flows.

Tom explained the AFW group put together the Comprehensive Irrigation District Management Plan with allows districts the flexibility to address ESA and CWA issues in an individualized manner specific to its operation. With the planning manual complete, the missing element was funding for pilot projects. Tom explained the last Legislative Session made some money available. The 2001 earthquake had a direct impact on the reduction in funding with additional funds tentatively obligated. Tom further explained there are districts aggressively seeking independent funding. Discussion followed with Tom explaining following the development of the plan the next step is making the plan fit an agreement within the ESA context.

5. Additional Topics

Anna Lael, Kittitas County Conservation District, explained KCCD received funding for survey crews to assess diversions in Kittitas County for screens or rebuilding. Anna further explained 48 diversions have been assessed.

Steve George discussed temperature monitoring of the Yakima River. Jane Creech explained DOE is scheduled to use FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) technology to measure water temperatures of the Yakima River explaining it checks temperature on the top ¼ inch of water and a video camera is recording the same time so the two tapes can be played simultaneously to coordinate and review the location and conditions.

6. Meeting Schedule

Chairman Pat Clerf announced the next meeting is scheduled for September 27, 2001.

Respectfully Submitted

Pat Clerf, Chairman