HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/13/2016 16A Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Workgroup Update xs .1
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 16.A.
For Meeting of: December 13, 2016
ITEM TITLE: Council information regarding Yakima Integrated Plan Project
Update
SUBMITTED BY: David Brown, Water/Irrigation Manager, 509-575-6204
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Attached is an update on the Integrated Plan (IP) activities listed by each element of the IP. The
Plan has seven elements. Yakima has direct involvement in three of the seven elements in the IP.
• Surface Water Storage Element—this is where the planned 50,000 acre feet of water for
municipalities were to come from
• Ground Water Storage Element—Yakima's Aquifer Storage and Recovery project is in this
element
• Enhanced Water Conservation Element— along with agriculture conservation there is a
specific municipal conservation committee.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
0 Cover Memo 11/29/2016 Cover Memo
0 Update memo 11%29/2016 Exhibit
Water/ Irrigation Division
Working Together Toward Excellence in Service and Quality
r 2301 Fruitvale Blvd.
Yakima, WA 98902
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DATE: November 29, 2016
TO: Honorable Mayor Kathy Coffey
Members of the City Council
Cliff Moore, City Manager
FROM: David Brown, Water/Irrigation Manager, 509-575-6204
RE: Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Workgroup Update
Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Workgroup, now called Integrated Plan (IP), is the
group of valley representatives working on an intergraded package of projects that improve
water supply while benefiting the river ecology. Councilman Lover is the City's representative
with David Brown, Water/Irrigation Manager as alternate. The workgroup has been meeting
regularly starting on June 30, 2009.
Attached is an update on IP activities listed by each element of the IP. The plan has seven
elements. Yakima has direct involvement in three of the seven elements in the IP. Surface
Water Storage Element—this is where the planned 50,000 acre feet of water for municipalities
we come from; Ground Water Storage Element—Yakima's Aquifer Storage and Recovery
project is in this element; Enhanced Water Conservation Element—along with agriculture
conservation there is a specific municipal conservation committee (I serve as the Chair of this
committee).
Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan
Project Activity Update
November 2016
Purpose: To provide updates on technical aspects of ongoing planning studies for the
Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (Integrated Plan)
Fish Passage Element
Cle Elum Dam Fish Passage Facilities and Reintroduction Project Reclamation.
The Phase 1 construction contract for an access road and bridge was completed in November 2016.
The Phase 2 construction contract for a portion of the juvenile fish passage facility was awarded in
July 2016, and work will begin in March 2017.
The juvenile fish passage facility has an innovative helix design to transport juvenile fish
downstream over 63 feet of fluctuation in the reservoir. The upstream adult passage facility
currently includes trap-and-haul in which the fish would be hauled in a fish transport truck for
release in the Cle Elum Reservoir or upstream tributaries. However, an innovative fish transport
system, Whoosh, is also being evaluated which may reduce the cost and time to implement the
adult passage facility. The Whoosh fish passage technology was tested during the summer 2016 for
Spring Chinook at the Roza Fish Trap as a surrogate for possible application at Cle Elum Dam. A
similar test was performed in fall 2016 at the Yakama Nation Fisheries Facility at Prosser Dam for
Fall Chinook and Coho Salmon. Data for both tests are currently being analyzed. Additional
studies are being planned for 2017.
Box Canyon Creek Fish Passage:
The Appraisal Report on Box Canyon passage and passage between Little Kachess and Big
Kachess was completed in February 2016. The passage review working group met in June 2016 to
discuss passage for Box Canyon Creek. Several options for passage were discussed and the group
decided to move forward with planning a roughened channel with channel control structures as the
preferred option at this time.
Clear Creek Dam Fish Passage
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in coordination with the Yakama Nation, Reclamation, and WDFW
completed a study of bull trout in Clear Lake Reservoir and in Clear Creek just below the Clear
Creek Dam. Ecology is requesting funding for fish passage improvements at this location for the
upcoming State funding biennium (2017-2019). Reclamation is coordinating with USFWS,
Yakama Nation and WDFW on design options for fish passage at Clear Creek Dam. Until passage
improvements are accomplished, USFWS plans to continue augmenting the bull trout population in
the North Fork Tieton River.
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Structural and Operational Changes Element
Keechelus-to-Kachess Conveyance (KKC) Project
The draft feasibility study addressing North Tunnel and South Tunnel Alternatives was completed
in May 2016, and is now being finalized. Reclamation drilled boreholes along the North Tunnel
Alignment in Fall of 2015. Geologic Report Documenting 2015 Investigations,for Keechelus
Reservoir to Kachess Reservoir Conveyance Project: Yakima River Basin Water Resources
Management Plan, Washington was completed April 2016. A KDRPP and KKC Supplemental
Draft EIS is being prepared for release in 2017. The SDEIS will also include new information that
has been gathered since release of the Draft EIS (DEIS) in January 2015 regarding project impacts,
as well as updated information on proposed Bull Trout Enhancement(BTE).
Cle Elum Pool Raise
Construction work on the radial gates was performed in Summer 2016 and is scheduled to be
completed Spring 2017. Shoreline protection will be performed with 6 contracts, over a period of
several years. Reclamation is working on the solicitation package for contract 1, improvements on
Forest Service facilities. Contract lis expected to be awarded Summer 2017.
Power Subordination
Roza Reach Smolt Survival Study
In September 2015 the USGS and Cramer Fish Sciences submitted to Reclamation and the Yakima
Basin Joint Board the final 3 year report entitled,Evaluation of stream flow effects on smolt
survival in the Yakima River basin, Washington, 2012-2014. This report was made available to the
stakeholder's group. The study was extended an additional year in 2016 to look at by-pass routes
and survival. The report will be available in early 2017.
Chandler Pumping Plant Electrification
Reclamation, Ecology and Kennewick Irrigation District are reviewing 2008 studies including
alternatives and cost estimates. In addition, Reclamation, HDR and KID are modeling return flows
in the lower Yakima System to determine impacts to KID from future conservation efforts.
Additional modeling to include the 2015 season is complete.
Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District Feasibility Study of Relocating Point of Diversion
Ecology is contributing $62,500 in YBIP funds to assist YTID explore the feasibility and cost of
changing its point of diversion from the headworks of the existing Tieton Canal near Rimrock
Reservoir to a new location on the Naches River opposite the Wapatox diversion. This would
require a pump station to lift water into YTID's storage reservoir. This change could be done either
in conjunction with YTID's existing storage facility or in a potential new reservoir(North Fork
Cowich Creek Reservoir)that is also under consideration. The project could offer benefits to
stream flow and fish habitat; water marketing opportunities, and supply reliability. The feasibility
study is scheduled for completion in 2017.
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Surface Water Storage Element
Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant(KDRPP)
Reclamation and Ecology are evaluating a floating pumping plant option for the Kachess Drought
Relief Pumping Plant. Like the deep-shaft pumping plant options analyzed previously, this would
pump up to 200,000 acre-feet of storage from the inactive pool of Kachess Reservoir in a drought
year to proratable irrigation districts to provide up to a 70% supply. A KKC and KDRPP
Supplemental Draft EIS (SDEIS) containing the new alternative is being prepared for release in
2017. The SDEIS will also include new information that has been gathered since release of the
Draft EIS (DEIS)in January 2015 regarding project impacts, as well as updated information on
proposed Bull Trout Enhancement(BTE).
Wymer Reservoir
Consideration of site requirements is ongoing.
Bumping Reservoir Enlargement Project
Geotechnical investigation of the Bumping Dam and Reservoir area continues. Geotechnical
investigation involving seismic blasting was completed in November 2015. One drill hole on the
southernmost dam alignment was completed in Spring 2016. Geotechnical investigations have been
completed and the final report will be available in December 2016.
Groundwater Storage Element
Groundwater Storage—Basin wide Analysis
A new Groundwater Storage Subcommittee was established, with co-chairs Danielle Squeochs,
Ecology, and Tom Ring, Yakama Nation.
In the Wapato Irrigation Project, additional monitoring well locations have been identified that will
help with observation of the aquifer system response to recharge activities from Toppenish Creek.
Reclamation is working with Yakama Nation Engineering to locate and drill the four(4) additional
wells in the Spring 2017. Pressure transducers will be installed by Ecology and the data will be
analyzed to determine the benefits of the recharge activities. Monitoring of existing sites continues.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
Ecology published a draft Report of Examination (ROE)in November 2016 in regards to a long-
term permit for the City of Yakima's proposed ASR system. Ecology is now continuing its process
towards issuing a permit for the system.
Habitat Protection and Enhancement Element
Targeted Watershed Protection and Enhancement
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife are working with the Teanaway Community Forest advisory committee to develop a
recreation plan for the TCF. Actions will be guided by the recently approved Management Plan.
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Mainstem Floodplain and Tributaries Fish Habitat Enhancement Program
Eight fish habitat improvement projects funded under the 2015-2017 State biennial budget are under
way at a total cost of approximately $4.5 million. These include projects being undertaken by Yakima
County, the Yakama Nation and its partners, the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office,
Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and
Kittitas County Conservation District.
Ecology is seeking similar funding for the 2017-2019 biennium,based on a list of projects the
Subcommittee recommended in June 2016.
Kittitas Reclamation District implemented its flow supplementation program for the second straight
year in 2016, to support stream flows in tributaries adjacent to its canal system.
Kittitas County Conservation District awarded a contract to remove Reed Diversion Dam. The dam
was removed in November 2016.
Enhanced Water Conservation Element
Several irrigation districts, conservation districts and the Yakama Nation are implementing or preparing
to implement water conservation projects as recommended by the Water Use Subcommittee during the
current(2015-2017) State funding biennium. These include Kittitas County Conservation District,
Roza, Kittitas Reclamation District, Wapato Irrigation Project, Kennewick Irrigation District and the
City of Yakima.
Ecology has contracted with the Benton Conservation District(BCD)to support the municipal subgroup
of the Water Use Subcommittee on a strategy to support local cities, water systems, and irrigation
districts with information resources to promote conservation practices. BCD plans to collaborate with
Conservation Districts in Kittitas and Yakima Counties to provide local participation in these efforts.
Market Reallocation Element
Ecology is starting the process for Request for Qualifications for a contractor to develop updated
information and recommendations to advance the Market Reallocation Element. The RFP is based on
a work plan that was reviewed previously with the Water Use Subcommittee. Ecology will continue to
consult with the Subcommittee as this effort proceeds in 2017.
Contacts for Information on the Integrated Plan:
Wendy Christensen, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area
Office, (509) 575-5848, ext. 203
Thomas Tebb, Washington State Department of Ecology, Office of Columbia River, (509) 574-3989
Project website: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/index.html
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