HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/04/2020 12B Update on Nelson Dam Removal ProjectB US INE S S O F T HE C I T Y C O UNC I L
YAK I M A, WAS HING T O N
AG E ND A S TAT E M E NT
I tem No. 12.B .
F or Meeting of: August 4, 2020
I T E M T IT L E :Nelson Dam Removal P roject: Water Supply, Riverine P rocess
and Fish P assage I mprovements Spring Update
S UB M IT T E D B Y:S cott S chafer, Director of Public Works
David B rown, Assistant Director of Public Works, 509-575-6204
S UM M ARY E X P L ANAT I O N:
The Rivers L egacy fund awarded $70,000 to Yakima County to help with public outreach for the
Nelson Dam Removal P roject: Water Supply, Riverine P rocess and F ish Passage
I mprovements. That money is being used by American Rivers to produce a quarterly project
update. T his is the spring 2020 project update produced by American Rivers with collaboration
from the City and the design engineering firm.
I T E M B UD G E T E D:NA
S T RAT E G I C P RI O RI T Y:P artnership Development
AP P RO V E D F O R S UB M IT TAL B Y T HE C IT Y M ANAG E R
RE C O M M E ND AT I O N:
AT TAC HM E NT S :
Description Upload Date Type
Update 7/22/2020 Backup Material
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Nelson Dam Removal Project: Water Supply, Riverine
Process, and Fish Passage Improvements Spring
2020
Update #3 July 20, 2020
OVERVIEW
This has been a challenging time for all of us, but the City of Yakima (City) and partners are
continuing progress on the development of a multi-benefit project on the Naches River, as a part of
the comprehensive Lower Naches River Coordination Partnership project efforts. The Nelson Dam
Removal Project: Water Supply, Riverine Process, and Fish Passage Improvements (hereafter
referred to as project) aims to improve fish passage for two ESA-listed species, bull trout and
Middle Columbia River steelhead, as well as Coho salmon and Middle Columbia River Chinook
salmon, improve sediment continuity to improve upstream and downstream habitat, increase flow
conveyance to decrease flood risk for nearby landowners, and improve water supply reliability for
four water purveyors. The project includes removal of Nelson Dam and the adjacent north bank fish
ladder and construction of a natural roughened channel for fish passage, lowering of the north bank
to reconnect the floodplain and decrease unnatural sediment retention thereby reducing upstream
flood risk, the creation of two secondary fish passage channels to provide alternate passage routes
during high flow events, consolidation of four existing water supply intakes into one newly
constructed intake facility with a fish screen, and conveyance improvements associated with that
water diversion consolidation. The project is currently progressing towards the 90% design level,
has secured a significant portion of project funding, but needs significant additional funding to be
implemented.
Spring 2020 (February – July)
• Funding –
o The overall project implementation cost at 60% design (Phases 1 and 2) is estimated to
be approximately $24.6 million.
$10,476,000 in construction funds have been secured from City of Yakima bond
funding ($7,500,000) and Ecology Floodplains by Design Program ($4,476,000).
A funding request for $4,134,000 was submitted to the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier
Removal Board in January 2020; the application is currently ranked 9th.
The current estimate of funding needed at 60% design is $8.5 million.
The City anticipates receiving at least $100,000 from the BOR f or removal of the
fish ladder.
Three federal agencies (USFWS, NOAA, BOR) have put Nelson forward in their
internal agency stimulus infrastructure funding requests, however, stimulus
infrastructure funding is speculative at this point.
• Permitting –
o The USACE is the federal lead. The need for additional federal coverage (NEPA) for
multiple federal nexus (including BPA and BOR) will require on-going coordination
and may impact the project schedule.
o HDR prepared a Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA), which contains
the following:
Wetland and Stream Delineation Report,
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Nelson Dam Removal Project: Water Supply, Riverine
Process, and Fish Passage Improvements Spring
2020
Update #3 July 20, 2020
Functional Lift Assessment to demonstrate that the project will result in a net
gain in ecological stream functions;
Water Quality Monitoring Plan;
JARPA Exhibits;
JARPA supplement including detailed in-water work plan, impact minimization
measures, and water quality protection measures.
o On February 28, 2020, the City submitted the following to multiple resource
agencies:
JARPA and aforementioned attachments to the USACE, DNR, and Ecology.
A Biological Assessment (BA) and Essential Fish Habitat Assessment to USACE.
The USACE submitted the document to the USFWS and NMFS approximately
one week following initial submitted by the City.
o The USFWS and NMFS have been reviewing the BA and anticipate issuance of
Biological Opinions in late summer 2020. A design documentation report will be
submitted in July 2020 to enable the Services to continue their review and
evaluation of project effects on ESA -listed species.
o The City submitted a SEPA Checklist to Yakima County in March 2020. The County, as
SEPA lead, published the checklist for public comment in April 2020. The County
issued a Determination of Non-Significance and a Shoreline Exemption on June 4,
2020.
o HDR has prepared draft responses and updated JARPA figures for the Hydraulic
Project Approval. The City will apply for the HPA in summer 2020, following planned
discussion with WDFW on specific project elements.
• Design
o Construction drawings are being prepared in two phases of work: Phase 1 includes
removal of Nelson Dam and existing facilities, construction of the roughened
channel, grading of the left overbank, and construction of the concrete intake and
sluiceway. Phase 2 includes construction of conveyance improvements required as
part of the surface water intake consolidation objectives.
o Design engineers have completed a number of documents commensurate with the
60% level of design including 60% construction drawings for Phase 1 and 2, updated
opinions of construction costs for Phase 1 and 2, the Final Design Criteria Report, the
Geotechnical Data Report, and the Geotechnical Design Criteria Report.
o Several 60% design review meetings were held with the City and County in June and
July 2019.
Summer 2020
• The City will apply for the HPA to WDFW.
• The City will continue to coordinate with Yakima County building department on
building permit requirements for the proposed utility building at the new intake
location.
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Nelson Dam Removal Project: Water Supply, Riverine
Process, and Fish Passage Improvements Spring
2020
Update #3 July 20, 2020
• The City, County, and Design team will host a virtual 60% Project Update meeting for
project partners, stakeholders, and interested parties August.
• Completion of the 60% Design Documentation Report will be completed by August .
• HDR will continue progress towards 90% design and environmental compliance
documentation. 90% design completion is anticipated by the end of August.
• The City will continue to solicit input from BPA and BOR regarding NEPA responsibilities for
each agency under the proposed action. BPA should evaluate if their responsibilities under
NEPA can be covered under a Categ orical Exclusion, or if project-specific NEPA
documentation is required. Similarly, BOR should determine their NEPA responsibilities and
engage with the City to work toward fulfilling them. The project schedule will be impacted if
NEPA is required and NEPA responsibilities are not fulfilled in a timely manner.
• An approach to project effectiveness monitoring will be discussed with the City, County, and
BOR this summer.
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