July 27, 2000

KITTITAS COUNTY WATER PURVEYORS

The July meeting of the Kittitas County Water Purveyors was called to order by Chairman Pat Clerf. Those in attendance were Roger Satnik, Barbara Pettit, Jack Carpenter, Kittitas Reclamation District; Jim Milton, PE-Manager, Tri County Water Resource Agency; Henry Fraser, Yakama Nation Fisheries; Perry Huston, Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners; Ben George, Taneum Ditch Co.; Tony Jantzer, Jack Clerf, Cascade Irrigation District; Anna Lael, Kittitas County Conservation District; Pat Monk, Joint Board Fish Biologist; Carol Ready, Kittitas County Water Purveyors; Jay Anderson, Westside Ditch Co.; Allen Aronica, David Chain, Natural Resource Conservation Service; Richard Bain, PE Consulting Engineer; Jeff Bruson, Bull Canal Co.; Pat Clerf, Ellensburg Water Co.; Jane Creech, Department of Ecology.

Item 1. Call to order

Pat Clerf declared the agenda for the July 27, 2000 meeting approved as presented. The minutes of the May 25, 2000 meeting were approved as presented.

Item 2. KCWP Staff Activities Update

Carol Ready presented information on the Fish Screen Workshop scheduled for August 1, 2000 at the R&R Resort. Carol further explained National Marine Fisheries, Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Yakama Nation will be at the workshop. Information on why you need to screen diversions, what it entails available assistance, funding sources and consequences to those not screening. Carol explained the Water Line and KCWP Brochure are being distributed.

Item 3. Water Conservancy Board

Perry Huston, Kittitas County Commissioner, presented information on the Kittitas County Water Conservancy Board explaining a public hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2000 to discuss the formation of the Water Conservancy Board. Mr. Huston explained the purpose of the Water Conservancy Board is to hear water rights transfer, change of use, and other water issues, which are then subject to final approval by Department of Ecology. Mr. Huston explained the Water Conservancy Board couldn’t grant new water rights. The Water Conservancy Board will be staffed out of the Kittitas County Commissioners Office. Fees are currently being discussed at the reimbursement level. The process for selection of Board members has not been determined. Carol Ready questioned if a person could go before the Conservancy Board and request transfer of their water right to instream use. Mr. Huston explained a request for transfer of water rights to instream use would probably be through the Department of Ecology. Mr. Huston explained decisions by the Water Conservancy Board are sent to Department of Ecology and can be denied or sent back to the Water Conservancy Board. Mr. Huston explained the Water Conservancy Board does not determine third party impacts.

Item 4. Tri County Update

Jim Milton, PE – Manager, Tri County Resource Agency presented information on his qualification for the position with Tri County explaining his education and 30 years with Department of Ecology and is excited to have the opportunity to work with Tri County. Mr. Milton explained he is a strong advocate for watershed planning because it provides the opportunity to make that connection between the citizens, water users, government and the government processes. Mr. Milton explained HB 2514 is the legal authority for doing the local planning. Mr. Milton presented information from the Tri County final review document, which covers the entire Yakima Watershed from the headwaters on Snoqualmie Pass to the Columbia River in Richland. The Planning process in divided into three phases; organization, assessment, scoping and development of the plan. The plan, as approved by the Tri County general membership, will go to the three counties Boards of County Commissioners for their adoption. Mr. Milton explained, with surface water, one of the requirements of the law is that Tri County not impact existing water rights. Mr. Milton explained there were issues with the habitat portion with a very limited amount of information delivered a week ago but was not in time for the planning unit subcommittees to deal with the information. Work is continuing to get the habitat committee caught up with the other committees. Carol Ready questioned what the process means regarding lead entity status and funding. Jim Milton explained in order to establish a lead entity you need a concurrence of the parties involved. Mr. Milton further explained Yakima County passed resolutions with the City of Selah and the Yakima Nation to establish a lead entity, which is only a portion of the watershed. Mr. Milton expressed frustration in not being able to do the Yakima Watershed as a complete system and it should be treated as a complete system. Mr. Milton explained Governor Locke has offered to hire a negotiator to work with the parties and try to establish a lead entity for the Yakima Watershed explaining there are hard feelings over past actions. Mr. Milton explained to go forward entities would need to forget the past and focus on the future, agree on a target and everybody work toward that target. Carol Ready asked about getting information to the negotiator. Jim Milton explained suggestions or comments should go through your County Commissioners.

Continuing under Tri County Update Dick Bain, PE Consulting Engineer presented information on an Upper Kittitas County watershed project he worked on explaining a portion of it is sub basin related. Mr. Bain further explained he is the new consultant with Tri County Water Resource Agency Habitat Committee and will work with the committee in preparing a plan for presentation and approval by the general membership. Mr. Bain explained the areas of study and sources for gathering information and preparing the plan. Mr. Bain presented information on Recovery Plans with the recommendation Kittitas County start working toward a Recovery Plan for protection under the 4(d) Rule. Carol Ready presented information from a discussion with Dr. Kate Vandemoer, National Marine Fisheries, regarding Recovery Planning explaining Dr. Vandemoer encourages drafting a proposal for recovery planning and presenting it to National Marine Fisheries. Discussion followed with Carol Ready requesting a work group be appointed to further discuss recovery planning.

Item 5. Washington Conservation Corps

Carol Ready presented information on the Washington Conservation Corps explaining staff and crews, 5 corps members and a supervisor, are available for environmental work on a cost share basis of $1,000.00 per week.

Item 6. Meeting Schedule

Chairman Pat Clerf announced the next meeting is scheduled for September 28, 2000.

All Business having been concluded the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,
Pat Clerf, Chairman