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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 6.D.
For Meeting of: January 8, 2019
ITEM TITLE: Resolution authorizing an I nterlocal Agreement with Yakima County
for design and construction associated with the Nelson Dam
Replacement
SUBMITTED BY: Scott Schafer, Public Works Director
David Brown,Assistant Public Works Director, 509.575.6204
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The City of Yakima (City) desires to enter into an I nterlocal Agreement(ILA)with Yakima County
(County)to transfer$4,734,723 Department of Ecology Floodplains grant funds from the County
to the City to complete the cooperative design and construction of the Nelson Dam and By-pass /
Rambler's Park project. No City matching funds are required.
Nelson Dam is located just upstream of the twin bridges on SR 12 where the City diverts water
for irrigation. It was damaged during the 1996 and 2011 floods and is nearing the end of its life-
expectancy. Stall will replace the existing Nelson Dam and the connected fish by-pass. This
work will reduce flood risk, impact flood risk maintenance and improve fish habitat conditions,
particularly for Endangered Species Act listed Steelhead and Bull Trout, by improving the natural
physical processes of the river. The project consists of:
• Demolition of existing site floodplain and channel structures
• Demolition of a portion of the existing Nelson Dam
• Construction of the new 2 acre Nelson Dam boulder by-pass and upstream weir
• Excavation of 2,500 feet of floodplain dam approach channel
• Placement of a road protection structure just upstream of the new Powerhouse Bridge
The City owns the current structure while the County owns the land. Since the structure design
was established with basin cooperation and physical model studies, this ILA eliminates conflicts
associated with having separate consultants and contractors working on this project. County staff
would remain involved in the design and inspection. The ILA is attached for City Council review.
ITEM BUDGETED: Yes
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Partnership Development
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APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Resolution
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
D reso 12,21001B Cowr Memg
Agreement 12/14/2015 Contract
draft memo attaLl lent tc cuntraLt 12t26,2015 Guyer Men iu
D Lkavoggs 12,142018 Backup Material
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RESOLUTION NO. R-2019-
A RESOLUTION authorizing an interlocal agreement with Yakima County for design and
construction associated with the Nelson Dam replacement.
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima Water/Irrigation Division requires the replacement of
Nelson Dam, flood by-pass structures, fish passage, fish screens, and associated piping; and
WHEREAS, the interlocal agreement allows for a single entity to control the design and
construction to lessen the risks: and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima Water/Irrigation Division representatives have conducted
many stakeholder meetings to develop the design concept; and
WHEREAS, the County has agreed to supply over $4,700,000 from Floodplain by Design
Ecology Grant G1600008 and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029 for this project; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima Water/Irrigation Division representatives will continue to
work with the County to develop the design and to construct the project; and
WHEREAS, the City Council deems it to be in the best interest of the City to enter into an
interlocal agreement with Yakima County for the design and construction of the replacement of
Nelson Dam, flood by-pass structures, fish passage, fish screens, and associated piping; Now,
Therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the attached and incorporated interlocal
agreement with Yakima County for the replacement of Nelson Dam, flood by-pass structures, fish
passage, fish screens, and associated piping.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 8'h day of January 2019.
Kathy Coffey, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sonya Clear Tee, City Clerk
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INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE CITY OF YAKIMA AND YAKIMA COUNTY
RAMBLERS PARK FLOOD CONTROL— NELSON DAM REPLACEMENT PROJECT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered between Yakima County and the City of Yakima,
pursuant to RCW Chapter 38.34-The Interlocal Cooperation Act, and is for the following purpose
and on the following terms:
The parties agree as follows:
1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this agreement is to define the responsibilities and
duties of the City and County for the management of the design and construction
of the Nelson Dam replacement projects defined in Floodplain by Design
Ecology Grant G1600008 (tasks 4a) and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029
(tasks 7 through 9), and in the 2017 NHC Nelson Bypass Channel Design
Project, Physical Modelling and the 2017 HDR Preliminary Design Report"
(Preliminary Design Report), developed for the dam and by-pass structures to
allow fish screens, and associated piping comprised as follows:
a. Demolition of existing site floodplain and channel structures such as old
abandoned Powerhouse Road approach and bridge abutment.
b. Demolition of a portion of the existing Nelson Dam necessary for completion
of the new dam and boulder by-pass.
c. Construction of the new 2 acre Nelson Dam boulder by-pass structure and
upstream weir.
d. Excavation of 2,500 feet of floodplain dam approach channel to allow
activation of the floodplain as part of the dam.
e. A road protection structure just upstream of the new Powerhouse Bridge.
The design of these will follow the 2017 NHC Nelson Bypass Channel
Design Project, Physical Modelling and the 2017 HDR Preliminary Design
Report" (Preliminary Design Report), developed for the dam and by-pass
structures to allow fish screens, and associated piping. Design, demolition
and construction will be in concert with the above studies and the 2018
Yakima County "Environmental Memo" (Draft Memo attached)] developed
during the design phase under Floodplain by Design Ecology Grant
G1600008, to meet needs of the City and basin partners related to structure
performance. Funding for this project is provided by a State of Washington
Floodplain by Design Grants G1600008 and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-
00029 (tasks 7 through 9), City of Yakima funds and other sources that are
secured. The project includes necessary fish screening structure and
associated piping, funded separately.
2. YAKIMA COUNTY RESPONSIBLITIES
a. Provide the overall management, coordination, and accounting for the
Floodplains by Design grants, designated asG1600008 and SEAFBD-2017-
YaCoOPS-00029.
b. Provide the balance of task funds from the Floodplains by Design grants
G1600008, task 4a and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029, tasks 7 through 9,
of$4,734,723, as of December 1,2018, for work defined in Paragraph 1
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above to be allocated to City and County staff and contractors for the design
and construction of the Ramblers Park Flood Control and Nelson Dam
replacement project. Reimburse the CITY through monthly invoicing and
reporting that will draw from the above tasks Floodplains by Design grants
G1600008 and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029 until such funds are
exhausted or the grant defined work is complete.
c. The County will process and submit grant draws from Floodplains by Design
grants G1600008 and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029 upon receipt of
invoice from the City of Yakima.
d. County receives payment from Floodplains by Design grants G1600008 and
SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029 upon submittal of City invoice and a
progress report.
e. All Reimbursements to the City will be processed in the next available
warrant issue from the date of receipt of Ecology's reimbursement to the
County of City invoices.
f. Provide design, engineering and project management review for the
construction of the dam by-pass structure design and elements in paragraph
1 a. through 1 e. above to meet the Preliminary Design Report and
Environmental Memo goals and requirements for the dam approach
channels, flood bypass and roughened channel Nelson Dam replacement.
g. Act as lead agency for SEPA:
h. Provide necessary information required to obtain project permits and obtain
all necessary permits for items in paragraph 1 a. through 1 e. above.
i. Provide necessary permission for the revised aerial coverage of the
enlarged Nelson bypass and dam structure on county land.
j. The County will relinquish all claims of ownership of and responsibility for
the Nelson Dam, diversion and intake once constructed, and it is complete
and functioning.
k. The COUNTY wiIl retain ownership of the Nelson Dam by-pass structure
and approach channels from the current fish ladder to Powerhouse Road
and Powerhouse Road protection structures.
I. Yakima County will be responsible for the closeout of the Floodplains by
Design grant G1600008 and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029.
3. CITY OF YAKIMA RESPONSIBLITIES
a. Provide to the COUNTY, through contracting of their design CONSULTANT,
the ability to perform task No. 2 above in conformance with the grant and
stakeholder directions as provided in the 2017 NHC Nelson Bypass Channel
Design Project, Physical Modelling and the 2017 HDR Preliminary Design
Report. Such services will be reimbursed by the county monthly invoicing and
reporting and will draw from Floodplains by Design grants G1600008 and
S EAFB D-2017-YaCoO PS-00029.
b. Provide final drawings, cost estimate, permitting and bid ready documents
c. Contract and construct the dam bypass and related elements, so that the
Ecology grant G1600008 and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029 deliverables
are met.
d. Submit to the County for reimbursement by monthly invoicing and reporting
that will draw from Floodplains by Design grants G1600008 and SEAFBD-
2017-YaCoOPS-00029 until such funds are exhausted or the grant defined
work is complete.
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e. Take ownership of the bypass dam from the current fish ladder south to the
intake diversion, the diversions, screen structures and associated piping.
f. Relinquish all claims of ownership of the approach channels to the new
Nelson Dam by-pass structure and any Powerhouse Road protection.
4. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. The period of performance of this Agreement will
commence with Floodplains by Design Ecology award of the grant and funding
becomes available to the County through the end of the grant including any
extensions granted. Financial performance will not continue past grant expiration.
County will provide assistance should grant be cancelled.
5. GRANT MATCH REQUIREMENT. The Ecology grant does not require match
funding.
6. BILLING PROCEDURE. The CITY shall submit monthly bills on the project
elements in 1 above to the County to reimburse work until Floodplains by Design
grants G1600008 and SEAFBD-2017-YaCoOPS-00029 funds are exhausted or
the grant defined work is complete.
7. AMENDMENTS. This Agreement contains all the terms and conditions agreed
upon by the parties. No change or addition to this Agreement is valid or binding
upon either party unless such change or addition is in writing and agreed to by
both parties.
8. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. The parties agree that, for the purposes of this
agreement, the City is acting as an independent contractor and neither the City
nor any of its employees is entitled to any benefits that the County provides its
employees. The City hereby waives its immunity under workmen's compensation
laws, Title 51 RCW, for claims or lawsuits where the City or its employees or
subcontractors brings a legal action against County and/or its elected officials,
employees, agents or volunteers regarding injuries or damages that resulted
from the City or its employees and subcontractor's employees negligence
pertaining to this Agreement.
9. TERMINATION. Neither party shall terminate this agreement unless agreed to in
writing by the other party; and only following negotiations and agreement for the
completion or removal of any portion of the construction or the project that has
already commenced. The City and County acknowledge that each will be
benefited in the completion of the entire project and early termination will result in
consequential damages to the non-terminating party and the respective
communities that are to be benefited by the project. Such damages or claims will
be the responsibility of the terminating party.
10. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the event of a dispute between the Parties
regarding their respective rights and obligations pursuant to this Agreement, the
disputing Parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute by negotiation. If a
dispute is not resolved by negotiation, the issues in dispute may be resolved
through mediation or arbitration, the cost to be shared equally.
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11. GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE. This Agreement shall be governed by the
laws of the State of Washington. Venue for any action or proceeding shall be in
the Superior Court of Yakima County.
12. ASSIGNMENT. The work to be provided under this Agreement, and any claim
arising thereunder, is not assignable or delegable by either party in whole or in
part, without the express prior written consent of the other party, which consent
shall not be unreasonable withheld.
13. INSURANCE. Each Party shall obtain and maintain in full force and effect for the
term of this Agreement, at its own expense, comprehensive general liability and
automobile insurance policies for bodily injury, to include death and property
damage including coverage for owned, hired or non-owned vehicles, as
applicable, for the protection of the Party, its elected and appointed officials,
officers, agents, employees and volunteers. The policies shall be primary
policies, issued by a company authorized to do business in the State of
Washington, or in City or County Risk Pool and providing single limit general
liability coverage of $2,000,000 Each Occurrence, $5,000,000 General aggregate
and separate automobile coverage of$2,000,000 Each Occurrence or the limit of
liability contained in State law, whichever is greater. If either party is unable to
obtain insurance as required by this paragraph, the Parties shall cooperate on
amending this Section to require types and levels of insurance that are available.
The certificates shall provide that the other Parties will receive thirty (30) days
written notice of cancellation or material modification of the insurance contract at
the address listed below. Each Party shall provide certificates of insurance to the
other Parties prior to the performance of any obligation under this agreement. If
requested, complete copies of insurance policies shall be provided to other
Parties. Each party shall be financially responsible for their own deductibles,
self-insurance retentions, self-insurance, or uninsured risks.
14. INDEMNIFICATION/HOLD HARMESS. Each Party shall defend, indemnify and
hold the other party, its officers, officials, employees and volunteers harmless
from any and all claims, injuries, damages, losses or suits including attorney
fees, arising out of or resulting from the acts, errors or omissions of the other
party in performance of this Agreement, except for injuries and damages caused
by the sole negligence of the other party. Should a court of competent
jurisdiction determine that this Agreement is subject to RCW 4.24.115, then, in in
the event of liability for damages arising out of bodily injury to persons or
damages to property caused by or resulting from the concurrent negligence of
the other party, its officers, officials, employees, and volunteers, the County
liability, including the duty and cost to defend, hereunder shall be only to the
extent of the County negligence. It is further specifically and expressly
understood that the indemnification provided herein constitutes the County's
waiver of immunity under Industrial Insurance, Title 51 RCW, solely for the
purposes of this indemnification. The waiver has been mutually negotiated by
the parties. The provisions of this section shall survive the expiration or
termination of this Agreement.
15. ATTORNEY'S FEES. If any legal action of proceeding is commenced relating to
this Agreement, each party will be responsible for its own attorneys' fees.
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16. INTEGRATION. This Agreement contains all of the terms and conditions agreed
on by the parties. No other understandings, oral or otherwise, regarding the
subject matter off this Agreement, are deemed to exist or to bind either of the
parties.
17. SEVERABILITY. If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any part, term or
provision of this Agreement illegal, or invalid in whole or in part, the validity of the
remaining provisions shall not be affected, and the parties' rights and obligations
shall be construed and enforced as if the Agreement did not contain the
particular provision held invalid.
If any provision of this Agreement is in direct conflict with any statutory provision
of the State of Washington, that provision which may be in conflict shall be
deemed inoperative and null and void insofar as it is in statutory conflict, and
shall be deemed modified to conform to the 19.1aw.
18. WAIVER. The waiver by either party of any term or condition of this Agreement
shall not operate in any way as a waiver of any other condition, obligation or term
or prevent either party from enforcing such provision.
19. SURVIVAL. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive its termination and
completion of Services where appropriate.
20. NONDISCRIMINATION. The County and the City acknowledge that they will not
discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, creed, color, religion,
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, political affiliation or
belief, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical handicap in violation of
the Washington State Law Against Discrimination (RCW chapter 49.60) or the
Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) or any other applicable
state, federal or local law, rule or regulation.
21. ASSIGNMENT. The duties and obligations of the County and City under this
agreement are not subject to assignment without obtaining prior written approval.
22. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION. Unless otherwise stated herein, all notices and
demands are required in written form and sent to the parties at their addresses
as follows:
TO CITY OF YAKIMA:
Scott Schafer, Public Works Director
City of Yakima
2301 Fruitvale Blvd.
Yakima, WA 98902
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COPY TO: CITY OF YAKIMA
Cliff Moore, City Manager
129 North Second Street
Yakima, WA 98901
TO YAKIMA COUNTY:
Matt Pietrusiewicz
County Engineer
128 North Second Street, 4'h Floor
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 574-2300
CITY OF YAKIMA
Signature
Printed Name: Cliff Moore
Title: City Manager
Date:
Attest
Sonya Claar Tee,City Clerk
City Contract No. 2018-
Resolution No. R-2018-
DONE this day of , 2018
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BOARD OF YAKIMA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Ron Anderson,Chairman
Michael D. Leita,Commissioner
Attest: Rachel Michael J. Rand Elliott, Commissioner
Clerk of the Board Constituting the Board of County Commissioners
for Yakima County, Washington
Approved as to form:
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
DONE this day of , 2018
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Environmental Memo
Nelson Dam Replacement
Ramblers' Park Reach
Naches River
Yakima County Water Resources Division
Yakima County Public Works
In Cooperation with
City of Yakima Public Works Department
Water and Llrrigation Division
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page No.
Table of Contents 1
List of Figures 2
1. Historical Background 3
2. Altered Riverine Processes and Consequences 7
3. Planning Processes and Recommendations 19
Relevant Planning Processes 19
CFHMP 19
Salmon Recovery Plans 22
Site Specific Studies 22
National Flood Insurance Program 22
Evaluation of Fish Passage at Nelson Dam 23
4. Related Past and Future Actions 23
Lower Naches River Coordination Partnership Plan 23
WSDOT Chronic Environmental Deficiency Project 19
City of Yakima Application to Move Point of Diversion 23
Land Transfers, Purchases and Dedications 23
Powerhouse Road Bridge 24
Lower Yakima CFHMP 24
DHI Rambler's Park Hydraulics Report 24
Lower Rambler's Park Levee Setback 25
Upper Rambler's Park Levee Setback 25
City of Yakima Nelson Dam Alternative Report, Nelson Bypass Channel Design 25
Future Actions 29
5. Summary 32
References 33
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LIST OF FIGURES
No. Title Page No.
1 1865 General Land Office Cadastral Survey 3
2 2017 Orthophoto of Lower Naches River 4
3 Undated Photo of Second Pacific State Highway 5 Bridge 5
4 1949 Sketch of Infrastructure at Nelson Dam 6
5 May 2012 Photo of Rambler's Park Levee Undercut and Collapse at 2 Year Flow 8
6 1996 Flood Photo Two Days after 50 Year Peak Flow 9
7 Original Flood Insurance Rate Map Effective 1984-2008 10
8 Flood Insurance Rate Map Effective 2009-Present 11
9 Aerial View of Nelson Dam Vicinity 12
10 Fish Ladder Entrance at Nelson Dam 2018 13
11 Fish Bypass Discharge Pipe Below Powerhouse Road Bridge 15
12 1927 Aerial Photo of Cowiche Creek, Naches River, Fruitvale and Old Union Ditches 16
13 1947 Aerial Photo of Cowiche Creek, Naches River, Fruitvale and Old Union Ditches 16
14 1971 Aerial Photo of Cowiche Creek, Naches River, Fruitvale and Old Union Ditches 17
15 Dam and Fishway at Cowiche Creek Mouth 18
16 Old Union Diversion in 2018 19
17 The Lower Valley River Coordination Project 21
18 Recommended Configuration of Nelson Dam 27
19 Schematic of Necessary Pipeline Improvements 28
20 Aggraded Bar, Rambler's Park 2015 30
21 Aggraded Bar, Rambler's Park 2017 31
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1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In the Yakima River Basin, the first recorded irrigation diversions were by Chief Kamiakin and
Catholic Priests at the St. Joseph Mission on Ahtanum Creek. The second diversion was at the
Nelson Homestead, located downstream from the current Nelson Dam.
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Figure 1-1865 General Land Office Cadastral Survey showing Nelson Homestead, Naches River,
unnamed stream meandering in SW of Section 9 is Cowiche Creek,orange star indicates approximate
current location of Nelson Dam.
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Figure 2-2017 Orthophoto of lower Naches River,same extent as map above.
The original diversion was located in the numerous side channels that existed just downstream of
the Cowiche Creek confluence. These springfed channels provided a year-round supply of water to
the Nelson Farm. Over time, the Nelson ditch was combined with other diversions and moved
upstream, the first cooperative irrigation ditch associations in the basin —the Union and Schanno
ditches, now the Old Union and New Schanno ditches — started in these same channels just
downstream. Collectively these irrigation diversions and their related infrastructure are the oldest
of their kind in the Yakima Basin,old enough to make evident the changes in channel process which
have been caused by those diversion structures, related levees, as well as highways and
urbanization. The proposed replacement of Nelson Dam with another structure should be viewed
in the context of these changes in riverine processes and the multiple types of infrastructure and
multiple agencies which manage that infrastructure.
The earliest USGS maps from 1906 show that the Naches Cowiche Canal Company ditch begins at
the current Nelson Dam Location, and the current structure serves the Naches Cowiche to this day.
Given the priority date of the Naches Cowiche water right as 1880,there has likely been some type
of irrigation diversion at this location since that time. The dam also serves the City of Yakima,with
a majority of the water diverted at this location having a priority date of 1896 and 1878,a significant
combined irrigation diversion, having near the current diversion quantity of over 60 cubic feet per
second (cfs), has existed at this location since at least 1906.
Geologic and topographic conditions in the vicinity on the Naches River and floodplain were
favorable at this location for the establishment of both the early road and irrigation diversion
structure. More than two million years ago, an andesitic lava flow erupted in the Cascade
Mountains and flowed down the channel of the current Tieton River and into the floodplain of the
Naches River, flowing across the top of the alluvial gravels and halting at the current location of
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Cowl che Creek,just downstream of the dam, where the lava flow came into contact with older,
uplifted basalts. Ongoirg upbRtg of basalt ridge on the north side of the valley keepsthe river'
south bank hard against those Tieton Andesites, a gentle curve above Nelson Dam concentrates
flows on the south side of the channel (see Figure 10)
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Figureundated photo (likely prior to 1950) of second Paoficstate Highway 5 bridge,this bridge
remained in use until ID07
Other nfastructure in existence by the early 1900's was Powerhouse Road, then called the Neches
Highway. It was constructed as a county Road,the original wooden bridge was damaged in the 1910
Flood and replaced just downstream with a bnce that continued in use until 2007. The Neches
Highway later became incorporated into Pacific State Highway 5/Inland Empire Highway in the 1920's,
and then becoming Powerhouse Road (reverting to the County) in the 1950's when US 12 was
constructed north and just downstream of the Powerhouse Road and Nelson Dam. Downstream of
the diversion, the Railroad Brig e had been constructed in 1895, it was apparently salvaged by the
NPRR from another location in and constructed on this site. It isworth nodrg that old photos of
the NPRR bridge straw the western (upstream) approach was originally a trestle structure
approximately 450 feet lorg, constructed over the gravel bar that existed at that location. Only after
US 12 was constructed and that portion of floodplain cut off by the road prism of US 12, was the
western approach converted to compactedfill.
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The oldest air photos available are from 1927, showing the arched diversion dam, Powerhouse
Road, and the Railroad. We know that the 1933 flood severely damaged the road and the Nelson
Dam, the 1947 photos show a linear diversion dam just downstream from the location shown in
1927,indicating a replacement of Nelson Dam sometime between the two photos. Another change
on visible in the 1947 photos is the presence of an armored levee, shown more clearly in the map
below, generated two years later in a report to the State Department of Conservation (predecessor
to Ecology) reporting flood damage and repair.
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Figure 4-1949 Sketch of infrastructure at Nelson Dam. South Naches Road is located on a shelf cut
into the Tieton Andesite. Most of State Highway No.5 lies in a very active floodplain and regularly was
flooded due to its location,the narrow bridge constriction,and the raised water surface elevation as a
result of Nelson Dam.
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2. ALTERED RIVERINE PROCESSES AND CONSEQUENCES
According to studies performed by Golder (2004) for the City of Yakima, it is about this timeframe,
that the changes in riverine processes associated with Nelson Dam and transportation
infrastructure first became problematic for infrastructure managers. The major effect of this
infrastructure was to interrupt sediment transported by the Naches River, causing the bed of the
river upstream of the dam/Naches Bridge to rise as sediment accumulated over time, with large
accumulations of sediment associated with large peak flows and long duration flood events such as
1933 (still the flood of record), 1948 (long duration spring flood), 1971, 1974, 1996,and 1997. This
resulted in the construction of the levee system to reduce the frequency of flooding of the road,
and adjacent land uses which by the 1930's included the'Rambler's Park" Camp (primarily migrant
labor), hotel,store,gas stations, tavern etc.
The Wright Noble levee as shown in Figure 4 above in turn created another constriction (between
the levee and the Tieton Andesite valley wall)on the river,which raises the water surface elevation
upstream during high flows-17,000 cfs or approximately 10-year frequency or higher. This in turn
further interrupts sediment transport, causing large amounts of material to accumulate upstream
of the narrowest constriction point in the levee,you can see this aggradation in plan view in Figure
4 as the braided nature of the channel upstream of the angled change of alignment in the levee.
The sediment accumulation upstream leads to:
1. Relatively Expensive Emergency Efforts to Extend the Levee Upstream During or
Immediately After a Flood Event as the Levee is Flanked by Floodwaters:
The Wright Noble levee above is approximately 1,000 feet in length. By the end of the
1996 flood, emergency repairs to the "Rambler's Park" levee had increased levee
length to over 3,000 feet.
2. Frequent Levee Failure During Minor Flood Events:
During larger floods when the levee constriction causes a large pool of slower moving
water to form upstream, coarse and fine sediment settles out in that pool. The
greatest depth of sediment deposition is at the lower end of the pool. As floodwaters
recede gravel bar is left in the river with a relatively steep scarp at the lower end of
the gravel bar, this scarp can be from 5 to 10 feet high and span most of the channel
width. Depending on how fast the flows recede from a given flood event, the river
will begin to cut a new channel at some location along that scarp, usually this occurs
at the next flood (1 or 2 years later) when the river first reaches bank full flow again,
but can happen in the same flood if the flood duration is very long. When this occurs,
at about 7000 cfs or approximately a 2 year discharge, a narrow channel with a very
steep slope and high velocity—i.e a water jet- develops. If this jet is directed at the
levee, it causes erosion of the channel/loss of the levee toe in a small area, and then
proceeds to undercut the levee prism itself,eventually causing the levee to collapse in
250 to 350-foot sections, similar in terms of position (upstream of the narrow point)
and length of failure shown in Figure 4. The only known repairs to that structure were
the 1949 repair(the year after the very long duration 1948 flood),and after enrollment
in the Corps of Engineers levee maintenance program in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, and
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1977 repairs, two separate repairs in 1996, one inl 2006, and the last failure and
collapse in 2012. That last failure ultimately resulted in setting back of the lower
portion of the levee in 2013.
•
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Figure 5- May 2012 Ramblers' Park levee undercut and collapse at 2i year flow, the year after 2011
approximately 15 year peak flow. In foreground in 1996 failure,car in background is parked just
upstream from 2006 failure.
8
20
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Figure 6-1996 Flood 2 days after 50-year peak flow, river is at about 25-year flow in photo. Red arrow
shows flanking path upstream of Ramblers' Park levee, Corps and County extended the levee 450 feet
upstream in the ensuing weeks. Just above the blue line in the development of the"jet"as the flow falls,
area where the "jet" hits the levee would fail and collapse 3 days later. Yellow circle is second failure,
approximately a month later as the "jet" reformed downstream. Note also the fresh gravels depositing
upstream of the blue line,along the red line and continuing upstream off the photo.
3. Ongoing Sediment Accumulation Upstream:
As sediment deposits in the channel and floodplain upstream of the Ramblers' Park
levee, not all of that sediment is later remobilized and transferred downstream. In a
situation such as the 1948 flood-several months of sediment transport flow,and then
no major floods occurring for more than a decade-much of the sediment is colonized
by vegetation and becomes a permanent rise in floodplain and channel elevation. This
rise, in turn, creates a reduction in slope or gradient of the channel, and since slope is
proportional to stream power and the ability of the stream to transport sediment,that
reduction in slope increases sediment deposition upstream of the sediment that was
deposited upstream of the levee. If that sediment then is colonized by vegetation,the
deposition moves farther and farther upstream over time. As the channel and the
floodplain next to the channel rises, the river may also avulse (change course
dramatically during a flood event)as is beginning to occur in Figure 6 above, increasing
risk to public and private structures.
A good measure of this increased risk is to note the changes in calculated flood height
and the extent of floodways and floodplains as the National Flood Insurance Rate Maps
(FIRMs) are updated. The original FIRMs for Yakima County were developed in 1984,
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based largely on 1979 topography and some surveyed cross sections, the updated
2009 FIRMS were based on LIDAR topography from 2005, verified by surveyed cross
sections. Both models used the same estimated 100-year flow, 27,700 cubic feet per
second. The only difference in methodology was a difference in methodology for
mapping the floodway downstream of Nelson Dam. The original maps did not have a
floodway mapped, the updated maps did. For the most part, in comparing the two
datasets, the expansion and contraction of the floodplain matches known changes in
the channel and floodplain between 1979 and 2005,expanding where the channel and
floodplain have risen, such as at Ramblers' Park, and contracting where the channel
has incised,such as in areas 12 miles upstream,just downstream from the confluence
of the Tieton and Naches Rivers. The graphics below compare the old and updated
FIRMS for the Gleed/Ramblers' Park areas.
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Figure 7 — Original Flood Insurance Rate Map which was in effect from 1984 to 2008. Dark Blue is
Floodway, Light Blue is Floodplain, Orange line is extent of Ramblers' Park levee when the hydraulic
model for the map was developed,and Yellow Circle is location of Nelson Dam.
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22
a a .a •...
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Figure 8—Flood Insurance Rate Map in effect since 2009. Dark Blue is Floodway, Light Blue is Floodplain,
Orange line is extent of Ramblers' Park levee when the hydraulic model for the map was developed,and
Yellow Circle is location of Nelson Dam.
As noted above, in comparing the two maps the change in the extent of floodway downstream of
Nelson dam was due to a change to a "detailed study area" which mapped a floodplain. The
methodology for the overall floodplain width in that area was the same. As you can see the extent of
the floodway in the area of the Ramblers' Park levee is much larger, even with the longer levee. This
is because the modeled elevation of the water surface at the 100 Year flow is three to five feet higher
in this area on the updated map,that elevation overtops the levee. This rise in water surface elevation
at Ramblers' Park also causes the Naches River to flow across US 12 to a depth of a little over 4 feet in
the updated hydraulic model, while in the original model there was only shallow backwater flooding
on the highway as well as downstream of the highway. Water surface elevations are also much higher
approximately 1.5 miles upstream of the dam,and also shift from a shallow backwater across US 12 in
the original model,to the river flowing eastward across US 12,causing a dramatic increase in the extent
of the floodplain northeast of the highway in the updated maps. These altered riverine processes also
effect the river and riverine infrastructure at and below Nelson Dam.
At Nelson Dam the variability of sediment loads that occur due to periodic interruption of sediment
transport during larger floods, and the increase in sediment transport as that flood recedes or in the
next minor flood (potentially) years later creates unique challenges to maintaining upstream and
downstream fish passage at the current facility. The fish passage facilities at Nelson are so-called
Phase II facilities(compliant with early'90s fish passage best practices)and that maintenance is funded
by the Bonneville Power Administration, who provides funds for this structure and other large
irrigation diversions in the basin to the Bureau of Reclamation, which has the legal responsibility to
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maintain passage at large diversions facilities such as Nelson Dam. Washington State Department of
Fish and Wildlife performs for more or less routine maintenance of the fish ladder and Naches Cowiche
screens, larger periodic maintenance of sediment accumulation or channel shape and the City of
Yakima Screen is performed by Reclamation.
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Figure 9—Aerial view of Nelson Dam vicinity with infrastructure labeled. The photo was taken during
the very low flow of summer 2015. Note that the river tends to hug the Tieton Andesite wall near S.
Naches Road, which provides good flow to the irrigation diversions and fish screens, but poor flow to
the fish ladder. Note channel cut across bar to improve flow to the ladder.
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Figure 10—Fish Ladder Entrance at Nelson Dam, 2019
Upstream fish passage at the dam is provided by a fish ladder constructed when the dam was last
reconstructed in 1985, there was no passage structure prior to that time. As shown in Figure 9
sediment tends to accumulate just upstream of the dam,especially on the inside of the river bend near
the fish ladder. This can cause the ladder exit ladder to be plugged,or for sediment to enter the ladder
and fill the pools in the ladder during sediment transport events. Downstream of the ladder, sediment
can accumulate near or in the ladder entrance, plugging the entrance and/or changing the attraction
flow to the ladder. Management of this structure to maintain fish passage has included closing the
upper ladder entrance during sediment transport events (typically in the spring when the ESA-listed
Steelhead are migrating) and excavation of the channel at the upstream exit, excavation of material
from the pools in the channel itself,and excavation of sediment near the downstream ladder entrance.
Fish Passage Effectiveness
Depending on sediment conditions in the channel,the dam itself mayor may not be passable for large,
upstream migrating fish in any given year. Typically,the fall from the plunge pool to the water surface
above the ladder is 2-3 feet. If there has been a sediment starvation event/large long duration flood,
the plunge pool and downstream channel can be much lower in elevation, creating an impassable 5 to
7-foot difference in water surface elevations. When that impassable condition exists, and the fish
ladder is plugged,the dam can be a full fish passage barrier. Such an event occurred in the fall of 2011,
the spring flood was followed by consistent high flows well into the end of August, which prevented
both maintenance of the fish ladder, also prevented the development of a large water surface
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difference at the dam over the summer due to backwater from the bridges downstream. During the
fall Coho migration, which began in late October when flows are at their lowest, the dam was
impassable. Coho accumulated at the dam, which provided opportunity for poaching the fish with
weighted treble hooks,and also caused unusually high concentrations of spawning in the less suitable
habitats of Cowiche Creek/Fruitvale Diversion channel downstream. This situation required the
stationing of a Washington State Patrol officer at the dam to discourage poaching and the application
by Reclamation for emergency permits to perform ladder maintenance outside of the normal "fish
window", as passage at this facility is ultimately Reclamation's responsibility.
Farther downstream, the current fish screens at the irrigation diversions are designed to keep
migrating fish, primarily juvenile salmonids, from being entrained into the City of Yakima and Naches-
Cowiche Canal Company irrigation systems. As the fish are screened out in the forebay of those
facilities, there is a fish bypass pipe that carries fish from the forebay back to the river. The pipe
terminates in the river underneath the new Powerhouse Road bridge, near the central bridge pier.The
construction of the bridge likely exacerbated the already less than ideal channel stability conditions in
the vicinity of the fish bypass. As discussed above the configuration of the dam and levee results in a
large variability in sediment transport conditions,which in turn causes the bed elevation downstream
of the dam to fluctuate within and between years. Before bridge construction,and certainly after the
bridge was constructed,this could lead to the fish bypass discharge being suspended above the channel
bed and exposed to damage from bedload, or completely buried by sediment which prevented
outmigration from the forebay and likely greatly increased mortality as fish we trapped next to the
rotating screen drums. In order to resolve this problem, Reclamation began a program of armoring
the outfall with riprap to protect the discharge. These structures failed annually. Reclamation then
constructed a series of "ecology block" structures, with the last structure reinforced with steel
strapping having stayed in place since 2010.
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26
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Figure 11 — Fish bypass discharge pipe location beneath Powerhouse Road Bridge. "Ecology Block"
structure and racked woody material shown. (downstream US 12 bridge is sheathed in plastic for
painting)
The structure shown in Figure 11 has a hydraulic and sediment transport effect of its own as can be
seen in Figure 10. This structure tends to reduce water conveyance thorough this section of the bridge,
forcing it to the north and forming a baron the south bank, with the trickle of water flowing from the
bypass pipe flowing across the bar and downstream. The bypass pipe was located in this area because
it was thought that the dominant channel location would be on the south side, below the channel that
runs along the andesite wall below S. Naches Road. This loss of conveyance capacity and resultant bar
formation also encourages sediment to accumulate on the downstream side of the dam, plugging the
fish ladder entrance. Maintenance of that entrance by sediment removal must be balanced with the
need to not over-excavate the sediment and destabilize the "Ecology block" structure which protects
the fish bypass discharge.
The accumulation of sediment upstream of the dam and levee can be expected to result in sediment
starvation downstream of the dam and levee. Just as Figure 4 shows the existence of the Wright Noble
levee and the need to repair after the 1948 flood, infrastructure managers downstream of the dam
were also having to respond to sediment starvation.
15
wjF
27
Aft. Fiwerson ructures x",
x ,: . t
K•
A. . ' . ,''4 , ea. ':••
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Figure 12 1927 Aerial Photo, Cowiche Creek, NecesRixr Frw[vale and Old Union Ditches
" •s •
a Firvernon structures _t{' 1
' •ri""„tea'... 1: _fy"." /a��N :••d.
8,.::ez.,a.»t'r'.; ' w_.:.i: 4..a: ; :%i �'..., 7.. .':. 14 . :"r 4
,'M'^.:f``.: '(::,' 1"'i;5: :lt ,"w. Ow.FfJ.++. .. .• 1
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Figure 13—1947Aenal Photo, Cowiche Creek, NatlmsRiverr FrviCale and Old Union Ditches
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28
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sdx xex' . '+ �.A..M %.%..,.:..i...:id..w�.:.n.a.:..:..:::.:�.
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.:,':: .s'm.. ' ".. _..'f"„oR :;, .k . fix, .:M.
..... a a.. .y.'''}}++��;;����,, '•i"'i *..:"'AA ::Diversion Structures . :,t:;:<':;
n
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v y �
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Figure 14-1971 Aerial Photo, Cowiche Creek, Naches River, Fruitvale and Old Union Ditches.
Downstream Sediment Effects
The figures above show the efforts of the infrastructure managers to cope with ongoing lowering of
the channel and institutional change around them. In the 1927 photo,the Fruitvale ditch appears and
is a consolidation of previously existing diversions and a new diversion for power generation from
which Powerhouse Road got its name. The two in-river diversion structures are clearly visible, and
Cowiche Creek, its course already heavily modified by the irrigation and the railroad flows into the
Naches River just upstream of the Fruitvale Diversion. By 1947, the Fruitvale was no longer used for
power, and largely owned and controlled by the City of Yakima. The Naches river diversion weir is
gone, replaced with a diversion dam at the very bottom of the Cowiche Creek channel, with the entire
mouth heavily modified including a constructed connection (shown in yellow) from the Naches River
to Cowiche Creek. Similarly,Old Union has also tied into a side channel and moved its point of diversion
upstream as well. By 1971,the facilities and infrastructure are much as they exist today. The City has
constructed a series of levees on the bar at the confluence, constricting the river to raise the upstream
water level, in later years the City would once again construct a large weir in the river even further
upstream. Too small to be seen on the photo is another diversion dam (orange star on Figure 14)
constructed at the diversion point on Cowiche to raise the water surface and backwater flow into the
Fruitvale Ditch. This dam is equipped with an Alaskan Steep Pass/Denil Fishway to provide fish passage
over this low head dam. The ditches are equipped with fish screens, and fish bypass returns (shown
in green)flow from the Fruitvale screens to the Old Union inlet, and from the Old Union Screens back
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to the river. The Old Union has constructed a new, higher dam just downstream of their diversion.
These interconnections of the Naches flowing into the Cowiche, and thence into the Fruitvale, and
from there to the Old Union create several false attraction flow paths for species such as Steelhead
and Spring Chinook which migrate during the irrigation season.
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,.tt w . f� A if 4� 'I't. '•b.' n'ft.t ` �yj�x�e'!^y"':.^ M1''�tt' } ! -
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Figure 15—Dam and Fishway at Cowiche Creek mouth.
The Alaska Steep Pass Fishways generally require frequent (weekly) maintenance in the form of
maintaining upstream and downstream water surface elevations to maintain fish passage velocities
required for passage. City of Yakima staff checks the dam for blockage or material buildup, WDFW
does not currently make regular weekly visits to the fishway to ensure upstream passage is maintained.
The modification of the Cowiche Creek channel for irrigation diversion, in combination with
modification of the channel at the US 12 and Railroad Crossings, and the construction of private and
public levees in this lower reach does not allow the channel to respond to changes in the elevation of
the Naches River or natural channel processes such as channel migration. This type of artificial
confinement only allows response of the channel in a vertical direction by channel rise, or infrequently
by concentrating energy against a levee and causing levee collapse. These predictable responses to
vertical and lateral confinement have been evident during the winters of 2016 and 2017 as relatively
minor flood events exceeded channel capacity upstream of US 12, and flowed overland into the City of
Yakima, closing 40th Avenue and the 40th Avenue interchange of US 12, and in 2017, causing severe
damage over several days of flooding as waters penetrated well into the City of Yakima.
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30
;ti • ':rtie . . YJrw "s. ::. vy •.,.K•' �� ;'h a._ a:af;°$5h5'.;'^':'::>
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Figure 16—Old Union Diversion in 2018.
Finally, as the channel in the downstream portion of this reach continues to lower, the Old Union
Irrigation Company continues an annual battle to maintain the flow of water to their point of diversion.
The photo above shows the upstream end of a constructed side channel that is heads 800 feet
upstream of their diversion point and check dam structure, which requires annual excavation and
armoring to keep up with the declining bed elevation. The diversion works also includes another 600-
foot-long constructed side channel downstream pf the check dam to take excess flow and the fish
bypass flows back to the Naches River. This maintenance causes significant amounts of disturbance
each spring and is a very large maintenance load for a small and underfunded private irrigation
company.
3. PLANNING PROCESSES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The area of Nelson Dam, including the reaches for 3 miles upstream, downstream to the confluence of
the Naches and Yakima Rivers,and lower Cowiche Creek have been the focus of several planning efforts
due to the large amount of riverine infrastructure, the high maintenance cost/history of damage to
that infrastructure,and its location adjacent to the City of Yakima and within the Yakima Urban Growth
Area. The most relevant planning processes for the purposes of this memo are the Comprehensive
Flood Hazard Management Plan (CFHMP) processes; planning processes directly related to Salmon
Recovery and Endangered Species Act Recovery Plans; and Engineering analyses associated with the
construction of the new Powerhouse Road Bridge,the updated FIRMS,and condition/poor fish passage
performance of Nelson Dam.
CFHMPs - The crossing of US 12 just below Nelson Dam marks the boundary of the Upper
Naches CFHMP and the Lower Yakima CFHMP. The first CFHMP to be completed (1998)was
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the Upper Yakima which placed much more focus on the Gap to Gap reach of the Yakima River
and did not examine this reach in much depth. The Upper Yakima did recommend the
establishment of the Yakima Countywide Flood Control Zone District and that
recommendation was acted on in 2000, with staff hired in 2001. The Lower Naches CFHMP
was finished in 2006,and the recommended actions for Ramblers' Park are the highest ranked
structural recommendations in the plan. These recommendations include buyout of
vulnerable properties, moving Powerhouse Road upland as far as possible, and setting back
the Rambler's Park Levee as much as possible. After the formation of the Flood Control Zone
District, the FCZD undertook to amend the Upper Yakima CFHMP; during that same time the
Washington State Legislature passed the Salmon Recovery Act (RCW 77.85); and WSDOT,
Yakima County, and the City of Yakima were all proposing fairly significant infrastructure
modifications in this reach. To coordinate infrastructure and Salmon Recovery planning in this
reach, the Lower Naches River Coordination Partnership Plan was developed by the
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife,Yakima County Flood Control Zone District,
and the City of Yakima. Out of that document came the first fairly specific recommendations
relating to the proposed Powerhouse Road Bridge, Nelson Dam Replacement and
consolidation of the Fruitvale and Old Union at Nelson Dam, restoration of lower Cowiche
Creek and other actions in the reach. That document,in its entirety was incorporated into the
Upper Yakima CFHMP amendment, approved by WDFW and Ecology, and adopted as policy
guidance by Yakima County and the City of Yakima. That document also helped to spur
development of related fish passage restoration plans and projects in the remainder of
Cowiche Creek which were implemented over the next decade.
With the recent flood events in 2016 and 2017, the City of Yakima, Yakima County Flood
Control Zone District and Washington State Department of Transportation have developed an
amendment to the Upper Yakima CFHMP specific to lower Cowiche Creek. This amendment
has been approved by the City and County and has been forwarded to the Department of
Ecology for approval, expected in early 2019.
20
en
en
._ ....
The Lower Nackes River Coordination ProjectList of Projects-2005
Naches River Coordination Group
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33
Salmon Recovery Plans - Already mentioned was habitat restoration planning under the
Washington State Salmon Recovery Act, which was followed by development of the Yakima
Sub-Basin Plan for Northwest Power Planning Council (now Northwest Power and
Conservation Council),and the ESA Salmon Recovery Plan for the Yakima Basin. Both of those
efforts were led by Yakima County. Recommendations in those documents were for larger
scale floodplain restoration efforts that would have watershed or reach-scale effects, and
specifically the restoration of cold side channel habitat such as those that existed at the site of
the original Nelson diversion back in 1859.
Site Specific Studies - Powerhouse Road Bridge was replaced in 2008 as a component of a
larger project to improve freight (fruit truck) mobility and safety in this area. The hydraulic
and hydrologic analysis used to design the bridge recognized its location in relative to other
pieces of infrastructure upstream and downstream and was the first hydraulic analysis to
identify that the estimated water surface elevations of the 100-year flood were much higher
than those shown on the FIRMS. The degree to which the new bridge could reduce those flood
elevations was limited as the presence of Nelson Dam and fish ladder downstream of the old
Powerhouse Road bridge prevented the removal of that bridge's abutment and a portion of
the road approach to the bridge as that would likely destabilize the foundation of the fish
ladder downstream and cause failure of the dam. Likewise, the US 12 bridges downstream
began to backwater at approximately the 50-year flows,so regardless of the length of the new
bridge, hydraulic and sediment transport conditions in the vicinity of the new bridge were fixed
in place by this adjacent infrastructure.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) map update - The development of the hydraulic
model for updating the Flood Insurance Rate Maps was undertaken by the Flood Control Zone
District in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This development
occurred simultaneously with the latter stages of the Lower Naches CFHMP, and the model
construction and analysis was geared to not only look at the 100-year discharge but to
characterize the hydraulic conditions in the river and floodplain and evaluate some of the
proposed actions in the CFHM P. This analysis first indicated that the Ramblers park levee was
overtopped at less than the 50-year flood, and toward the upper end of the levee,
accumulation of gravel in the channel was so severe that the gravel bars in the river were
higher than the levee crest. This analysis also included a visualization of a 100-year flood,
from normal base flow to the peak and back down again, that (along with the modeled cross
sections) showed how the hydraulics in the reach changed as flows changed and identified of
flow thresholds where constrictions began to backwater. Also, this analysis resulted the
dramatic expansion of the size of the mapped and regulated 100-year floodplain and floodway
with associated land use effects, as well as the risk to infrastructure of the modeled overflow
paths across US 12. All of these results added up to the conclusion that aggradation upstream
of the dam and levee, and degradation downstream, were ongoing processes, and unless
changes to infrastructure were made, there was every reason to believe that flood hazard
would continue to increase in the Ramblers Park area and several miles upstream. The related
conclusion that these changes in riverine processes were causing ongoing habitat degradation
over a several miles of the river was upstream and downstream of Ramblers' Park was
confirmed by that analysis.
22
34
Evaluation of Fish Passage at Nelson Dam - The need for this evaluation resulted from the
recommendations in the Lower Naches River Coordination Partnership Plan (also included in
the Upper Yakima CFHMP) to evaluate the potential for consolidation of the Fruitvale and Old
Union diversions at Nelson Dam, as well as the increasing difficulty in maintaining upstream
and downstream fish passage at Nelson Dam, and the effects of management actions, such as
the "Ecology Block"structure,on flood conveyance. In 2010 the City of Yakima, North Yakima
Conservation District,the Bureau of Reclamation, WDFW, and the Flood Control Zone District
partnered to hire the Bureau of Reclamation's Denver Technical Services Center to undertake
an analysis of those two issues — expansion of diversion capacity for consolidation and
modification to that facility to improve passage. The report concluded that modifying the
structure to increase diversion capacity was feasible, but that improving fish passage,
especially the fish bypass from the screens could not be assured due to the chronic channel
instability for a substantial distance downstream of the dam. The plan estimated the cost to
improve passage efficiency at $1.5 million, with no guarantee of success from year to year.
This study also cited back to a study from 2000 that evaluated the structural stability of the
dam. That study found that most of the energy-dissipating dentated baffles at the base of the
dam had been eroded away, and areas beneath the dam had been eroded away. Discussion
of the report raised the worst-case scenario that if a major flood occurred and the dam partially
or fully failed, it was the desire of all the partners that the facility be replaced in-kind. In order
to prevent that occurrence, a design for a new dam needed to be developed and ideally
constructed.
4. RELATED PAST AND FUTURE ACTIONS
Over time, actions based on the recommendations from plans above have been implemented. This
section discusses those actions.
Lower Naches River Coordination Partnership Plan —Actions that have been implemented from this
plan include:
WSDOT Chronic Environmental Deficiency Project(2006)—while the WSDOT in-river work for this
project occurs a half mile below this reach at the 16th Avenue interchange,this project included the
removal of a large amount of levee material and old fill on the "island" shown in Figure 15 at the
confluence of Cowiche Creek and the artificial channel. This project anticipated that someday,after
the recommendation for the diversion to be consolidated at Nelson Dam,these structures could be
fully removed.
City of Yakima Application to move Point of Diversion for Fruitvale and Old Union — the City
applied for these permits in 2011 and received them in 2016. This action also required a SEPA
analysis that described a future series of actions to accomplish the consolidation and the
environmental benefits that would accrue. This SEPA will be amended as a portion of the permitting
process for Nelson Dam.
Land Transfers, Purchases and Dedications (2006-2012) — There was an emphasis on land
acquisition in this plan and the CFHMP as much of this area lies within the City of Yakima or the
Urban Growth Area. Any action to restore floodplain and riverine processes in this reach would be
much more difficult to implement if use changed from agriculture and open space to urban uses.
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The plan recommended securing agricultural easements on existing ag land to retain those ag uses;
the purchase of several parcels of private land by FCZD and transfer of parcels owned by WSDOT to
FCZD which would then dedicate those parcels to public purposes of flood hazard reduction,habitat
enhancement and public recreation; and the future dedication of land at the Fruitvale diversion
owned by the City to those same purposes. These recommendations have largely been
implemented and the vast majority of property in the reach below Nelson Dam to the confluence
with the Yakima River is in public ownership. Those portions of the Squire-Ingham orchards have
been constrained by conservations easements that retain agriculture, protect the riparian zone
along the river, and allow for realignment and restoration of Cowiche Creek north of US 12. In
Ramblers Park itself, these same recommendations have been implemented to purchase lands in
association with the construction of the new Powerhouse Road Bridge and setback of the Ramblers'
Park Levee (discussed below).
Powerhouse Road Bridge (2008) —The design for this bridge attempted to maximize conveyance
through the bridge and across the floodplain where possible. The bridge is constructed with the
western abutment being a pier, which would allow for extension of the bridge if and when the US
12 bridges downstream are replaced and lengthened. Because the abutments of the old bridge
had to be retained to protect the fish ladder at Nelson Dam, maximizing floodplain width and
conveyance was limited to how the floodplain was re-contoured once the former road alignment of
powerhouse was abandoned, the removal of all of the adjacent residential structures on lots
purchased for the project,and allowing for floods above the 50 year return interval to inundate the
road and maintain a flow route between the new bridge and the US 12 bridges,which was a major
flow path in the 1996 flood. The project was able to implement the recommendation to move
Powerhouse Road away from the River when possible with the realignment of over 1000 feet of
road away from the river. Even with those actions, the new, much wider bridge opening only
resulted in 0.4 feet of decrease in the Base Flood Elevation upstream of the new bridge. Major
improvement in reduction of the Base Flood Elevation is dependent on the reconfiguration of
adjacent infrastructure such as Nelson Dam.
Lower Yakima CFHMP— Prior to the CFHMP, Yakima County had taken some actions to purchase
property in Ramblers Park after the 1996 flood with the purchase of several residential properties
near the US 12 bridges and the Ramblers Park Tavern. After completion of the Lower Naches
Partnership Plan and the Lower Yakima CFHMP,the FCZD attempted to purchase the Wells property
consisting of 3 parcels totaling 12 acres which lay between the Naches River and Powerhouse Road
from Nelson Dam Upstream, upon which was the lowest portion of the Ramblers' Park Levee and
the Wells Residence. The County was able to purchase the most downstream 4 acres, but the high
appraised value of the residence prevented purchase of the other two parcels. In 2006,the lowest
300 feet of the Ramblers' Park levee collapsed and was repaired since the FCZD lacked the real
estate interests needed to set the levee back.
DHI Ramblers Park Hydraulics Report 2011—with an emphasis on beginning to look at the effects
of modifications to the Ramblers Park Levee and Nelson Dam, the FCZD contracted with Danish
Hydraulic Institute (the contractor for the FIRM update) to evaluate different scenarios for
reconfiguration of both the levee and dam. This report showed that the Base Flood Elevations
upstream of the dam were really controlled by the topography of the floodplain and channel, and
(since the levees were overtopped by the 100 Year flood and the US 12 bridges constricted the river
24
36
at the 50 year flood) removal of the levee, the old Powerhouse Bridge Abutments and the dam did
not have much of an immediate effect on flood heights. Scenarios which modeled the effect of
lowering the channel upstream of the dam did have some effect, but the distance that the channel
had aggraded was so far upstream, and so much was trapped in the riparian zone, that any
reasonable level of removal (i.e. less than 500,000 cubic yards) would not yield a large benefit in
flood reduction. The most effective configuration of infrastructure modeled in the scenarios was
to remove not only the dam and abutments, but to lower the floodplain in the vicinity of the dam
and gain flood conveyance width. While this study did not include sediment transport analysis,the
steepness of the local water surface slopes generated by that scenario also indicated that type of
action would begin a regrade/sediment evacuation process upstream of the dam even a fairly low
flood flows.
Lower Ramblers Park Levee Setback (2012)—with the sudden collapse of the levee at a relatively
low flow during the Spring 2012 runoff- shown in Figure 5 —the adjacent landowner, the County
and the Corps of Engineers agreed that the best course was to purchase the remaining property,
relocate the residence and belongings in accordance with State and Federal Law, and implement
the CFHMP recommendation to set back or remove the Ramblers' Park Levee. With financial
assistance from the Department of Ecology's Flood Control Assistance Account Program and the
Corps of Engineers acceptance,design,and implementation of a non-structural(setback)alternative
to repairing the levee in place, that recommendation — setting the lowest 1200 feet of the levee
back to the edge of the Powerhouse Road Right of Way- was implemented in the summer of 2013.
Upper Ramblers Park Levee Setback(2013-2018)—In 2013 Yakima County applied for and received
a Floodplains by Design Grant from Ecology for design of Nelson Dam and implementation of a
proposal to reconfigure the Weber Wrecking Yard and setback the remainder of the Ramblers' Park
Levee. This project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2018 and will set the levee back
between 400 and 800 feet, substantially widening the current constriction and reducing the
backwater/interruption of sediment transport significantly.
City of Yakima Nelson Dam Alternative Report, Nelson Bypass Channel Design Project (2015-17)
With the successful award of the Floodplains by Design Grant to FCZD, the City of Yakima and the
FCZD entered into agreement to begin designs for Nelson Dam. The City retained HDR Engineering
to evaluate the diversion structure with special emphasis on fish passage and screening, irrigation
water conveyance facilities,and eventually documentation of the alternative development process
that the City and FCZD took with their cooperators. The City funded these efforts and will fund the
eventual construction of the facilities with a municipal bond. Early analysis of existing irrigation
conveyance capacity by HDR lead to the conclusion that the project would also need to include the
construction of at least one new 32-inch pipeline to convey the additional water (from the
consolidation of the Fruitvale and Old Union) from the dam into the city, even when additional
capacity available in the Naches-Cowiche canal was used. The FCZD hire Northwest Hydraulic
Consultants (NHC) to develop preliminary designs for the dam, and to construct a physical scale
model of a selected alternative. Both sets of analysis were performed concurrently with meetings
of the partners or stakeholders in the project including the Yakama Nation, WDFW, NOAA, USFWS,
North Yakima Conservation District,WSDOT,the Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board and
recreational and conservation interest to help set the goals for the project and guide the scope of
the consultants. This process is thoroughly documented in the HDR and NHC reports. The resultant
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recommendations for the Nelson Dam was to allow for removal of the abutments and creation of
approach channels in the left overbank floodplain, similar to the scenario in the DHI study. Dam
width goes from the current 180 feet to over 480 feet of crest length greatly reducing the backwater
effect associated with the dam. The structure also includes 3 separate fish passage channels to
allow for fish migration at a variety of flows, especially higher spring runoff flows when both
Steelhead and Spring Chinook are migrating.
26
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Norts :ao-.L66b4U NELSONBYPASSCHANNELDESIGNPROJECT-
YAKI MA COUNTY ' r. eaiwnar wuExsews nar tYEN w rnomrm aar nrv9 rNcucs ..;
H. _t FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT vLxwlgIRINRI �IlY6 z TME NnEPwee �Nb aliN rcr Fwomrm[r[[r Arm REtanK ID HYDRAULIC DES IGN AND MODELING
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Figure 18— Recommended configuration of Nelson Dam.
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HDR's Dam Report focuses on the suitability of fish passage of the recommended structure and the design of the diversion including the flat
plate fish screens, the bypass and gate structure to ensure proper submersion of the screens, and the irrigation conveyance pipe sizing and
alignment shown below.
General aversion.
&4 cf (r - Nelson Dam
r I City et Yakima Pipeline
12 cfs
(32 HOPE)
Psi
Naches Cowtche Diversion
29 cis trtrbb
RP"HOPE) AybP
l eA Oki Union Canal
6°y North hot Lateral
X ebtr
neneche Creek. ,,,,.+ 2l c voteakmaP setae
'® m s
ba 2 cfs 132 HOPE City Of eak.na Pipeline l2 11 cfs TH d
n ba Ipined in 3r Cent) (30 Hopp cfs Orlon FP bbb
as}b'fyncJ
aGRoAas aedeaP 4 ettaya
FmHa aDdOnlan Did Un neeA
a
btr4
Legend: Ppe.ne 43 cis PE)
..
Erwtvate Canal
(42' HOPE) y
Pipeline Pm wale Canal Ar
Canal 32 cfs TcC
Fruitvale Cana( �� a�.E
Creek
0
Note:Dashed Ones indicate New EIDIEg
Figure 20—Schematic of necessary pipeline improvements. Note that the project will require routing new pipelines below Cowiche
Creek, likely just upstream of US 12, and the area of new piping past the 32 cfs to Fruitvale Canal will all occur in the developed
portions of the City of Yakima.
28
40
Future Actions
Once completed, the proposed new dam and diversion structure will allow the removal of the Fruitvale
and Old Union diversion structures, clearing the way for full restoration of lower Cowiche Creek and
restoration of the high value floodplain/side channel habitats along the Naches River now occupied by
those facilities. Due to the recent flood events of 2016 and 17, the City and FCZD have undertaken a
process to amend the Upper Yakima CFHMP to deal with flood hazard reduction in the reach of Cowiche
Creek upstream of US 12, and other recommendations to mitigate future flood damage in the City of
Yakima. The addition of the flood conveyance goals for that stream reach will likely influence aspects of
the restoration of Cowiche Creek and the Naches River downstream of US 12. Full implementation of the
Nelson Dam will require the new pipelines under Cowiche Creek, with another pipeline — the City's
drinking water supply main—needing to be lowered underneath Cowiche Creek to meet flood conveyance
goals for the channel and restore natural channel dimensions.
A Recent Geomorphic Assessment of the entire reach affected by Nelson Dam was undertaken by NHC to
examine degree of hazard—downstream aggradation, head cutting upstream—which may be associated
with replacement of Nelson Dam with a structure such as shown in Figure 19 above. This analysis indicates
that those dangers are minor,with an initial flush of sediment from the area immediately upstream of the
dam producing a rise of approximately 1.5 feet in the severely incised channel (near Old Union Diversion)
downstream of the dam within the first 5 years of construction. Absent other action the downstream
river would slowly aggrade as sediment loads returned to normal. That scenario would leave the river
channel for 2 miles upstream of the dam in a "perched"condition (likely to avulse,channel "losing"water
in a reach that should be "gaining" cold water, unstable, enlarged regulatory floodplain) for the
foreseeable future. In other locations in the basin, the FZCD has implemented projects to restore these
normal sediment connections between channel and floodplain through the use of"pilot channels"which
focus stream energy and are designed to encourage erosion and increase sediment transport locally. The
FCZD has applied for and received another Floodplains by Design grant to implement a series of pilot
channels in the reach upstream of the dam to encourage transport of those accumulated sediments to
move downstream.
29
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30
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31
43
The constructed pilot channels in the upstream reaches would be somewhat different than those shown
above,as the example above is located in the area with the highest potential energy/slope,where channel
regrade would be expected in most spring runoff. There was no effort to install woody material in these
channels as we did not want to encourage salmonid spawning in areas of rapid regrade. Farther
upstream, Steelhead and Coho channels could be constructed with woody material, or woody material
placed after the first flood, to encourage spawning or resting in those much lower gradient lower energy
channels.
5. SUMMARY
The proposed replacement of Nelson Dam isa component ofa large,multi-project,multi-reach,and multi-
jurisdictional flood hazard reduction and habitat process restoration program. While there have been
some restorative actions taken in this reach to improve floodplain function and riverine processes, much
remains to be done, and with the largest single action in the near future is to replace Nelson Dam. The
effect of Nelson Dam and related infrastructure have expanded to upstream and downstream reaches
over time,even extending into a tributary downstream. Replacement of the dam with a structure similar
to the one proposed will change the sediment transport dynamics for this same large reach and allow the
retirement of related infrastructure and simultaneous processes of recovery to begin. Design of the new
structure was in recognition of the context of the physical and biological conditions in the reach with an
objective of restoring those physical and biological processes while maintaining the function of the
riverine infrastructure
32
44
References
Hyperlinks to
Golder 2004 Consolidation Memo
Lower Naches Cooperation MOU
DHI Ramblers 2011 Task 4 Memo
Subbasin Plan
Salmon Recovery Plan for Yakima Basin
NHC Physical Model Study
NHC Ramblers Park Geomorphic Assessment
NHC Naches River Atlas
HDR City of Yakima Nelson Dam Alternatives Report.
33
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