HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/20/2018 13B Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan Project Activity UpdateBUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDASTATEMENT
Item No. 13.B.
For Meeting of: March 20, 2018
ITEM TITLE: Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan
Project Activity Update
SUBMITTED BY: Scott Schafer, Director of Public Works
David Brown, Water/Irrigation Manager, 509-575-6204
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Quarterly update on Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (YB I P)
project activity.
ITEM BUDGETED:
NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Partnership Development
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date
i Project Actiuty Report 3/5!2018
Type
Coyer Memo
Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan
Project Activity Update
February 2018
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:
The construction contract for the access road and bridge was awarded in July 2015 and was completed
in October 2016. The construction contract for a portion (secant pile vault) of the juvenile fish passage
facility was awarded in July 2016; the onsite work began in April 2017. The secant pile drilling was
completed November 2017, and excavation of the secant pile vault began in November 2017. Due to
the mild winter conditions, vault excavation has continued through the winter months and is
approximately 40 feet deep (total depth per contract is 85 feet). The construction contract for the
tunnel bypass was awarded in August 2017. The contractor has begun to mobilize equipment and
construction will begin in March 2018. Reclamation continues to work through the award process for
the gate/helix and intake contract to be awarded later this summer
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 fish passage facility currently includes
trap-and-haul—fish are trapped at the base of the dam, loaded into a truck and then hauled for release
into Cle Elum Reservoir or upstream tributaries. Project managers are evaluating the Whooshh® —an
innovative fish transport system that can provide adult upstream passage. The Whooshh® fish
passage technology was tested at the Roza Fish Trap in summer 2016 for spring Chinook 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 being analyzed. A third test of the Whooshh® fish transport system was conducted in July
2017 at Cle Elum Dam. USGS has completed the draft report of the Whooshh test results and the
report is currently undergoing review by the Yakama Nation, WDFW, and Reclamation. A final
Report is expected at the end of March 2018. Reclamation and the Yakama Nation are planning to
conduct a Sockeye tracking test to understand Sockeye migration between Roza and Cle Elum Dam
and test the fish's ability to locate an attraction flow and enter into a trap system set up at the base of
the dam. Sockeye returns are expected to be low again this year so the tracking may be postponed
until 2019, depending on the number of fish that return.
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
A S H I N E T D N STATE
DEPARTPENT OF
ECOLOGY
Box Canyon Creek Fish Passage:
The appraisal report for Box Canyon Creek passage was completed in February 2016. The Passage
Workgroup met in June 2016 to review and discuss several passage options for Box Canyon Creek.
The workgroup decided to move forward with constructing a roughened channel with channel control
structures as the preferred option. WDFW is coordinating with Reclamation to complete preliminary
design for the Box Canyon Creek Fish Passage, Currently, WDFW has completed the 30% design.
Reclamation will work to finalize the design. Additional survey work is needed and is expected to be
complete by October 2018. The preliminary final design is anticipated to be completed by June 2019.
Clear Creek Dam Fish Passage:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Reclamation, and WDFW completed a study of fish passage at Clear
Creek Dam in 2015, finding that existing fish passage facilities were not functional and that Bull
Trout from the North Fork Tieton River were unable to reach critical spawning and rearing habitat.
Ecology received funding for fish passage improvements at this location in the State funding
biennium request (2017-2019). Reclamation is coordinating with USFWS, Yakama Nation, and
WDFW on design options for a fish ladder at Clear Creek Dam. Current schedule is 30% design by
the end of September 2018, final design complete by September 2019, and construction to begin in
2020. Until passage improvements are accomplished, USFWS, Reclamation, and other partners will
continue capturing Bull Trout from below Clear Creek Dam and transporting them around the dam so
they can reach spawning habitat in the North Fork Tieton River. Fish capture and transport was
conducted in 2016 and 2017 and to date, 36 adult Bull Trout have been transported above the dam.
Structural and Operational Changes Element
Keechelus-to-Kachess Conveyance (K KC) Project:
Refer to KDRPP project below.
Cle Elum Pool Raise: Radial Gate construction was completed in April 2017. Reclamation will
award several contracts over several years for shoreline protection actions. The construction contract
for improvements on U.S. Forest Service facilities (specifically, Cle Elum Campground) was awarded
September 2017 and construction was completed November 21, 2017. Reclamation and Ecology
anticipate awarding the construction contract for Speelyi Day Use Area shoreline protection in FY18.
Speelyi Day Use Area will be closed during construction, September 10, 2018 — December 31, 2018.
Reclamation and Ecology are meeting with local landowners. Additional public notices about the
timing of construction and informational meetings on existing shoreline designs will be mailed to
shoreline parcel owners and posted at USFS facilities.
Chandler Pumping Plant Electrification
Kennewick Irrigation District (KID) and their consultant developed a concept design for an electric
pumping plant at Chandler. Reclamation has reviewed the concept design and KID performed a
transient analysis which has been reviewed by Reclamation. Reclamation, Ecology and HDR recently
completed Phase 3 modeling, including examination of return flows in the lower Yakima System to
determine impacts on KID from future conservation efforts. Modeling is ongoing. Reclamation will
continue to coordinate with KID on review of Chandler Electrification project.
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Lower Yakima River Smolt Survival
Reclamation is coordinating with Yakama Nation, USGS, NMFS, USFWS, WDFW, Irrigation
Districts and others to develop a Lower Yakima River Smolt Survival Study in collaboration with the
Lower River Subgroup. The study will begin in Spring 2018.
Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District (YTID) Main Canal Repair/Replacement
YTID is nearing completion of a report that evaluates alternatives to repair or replace the YTID
main canal. Alternatives considered include:
1. Baseline Alternative (Tieton Main Canal Repair)
2. Tieton Main Canal Replacement
3. Diversion Relocation to Wapatox Diversion Dam (and associated new conveyance system)
4. New North Fork Cowiche Creek Reservoir, either with or without the Wapatox diversion.
YTID plans to begin environmental review under SEPA and NEPA, with possible participation by
Ecology and Reclamation as partners in the review.
Surface Water Storage Element
Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant (KDRPP)
Reclamation and Ecology anticipate releasing the Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Plant and
Keechelus to Kachess Conveyance Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement to the
public in 2018 in coordination with Roza Irrigation District. The SDEIS is currently under review
by the US Department of the Interior. A Notice of Availability will be published in the Federal
Register prior to the release of the SDEIS. Public meetings will be held following the release of the
SDEIS.
Wymer Reservoir
Consideration of site requirements is ongoing.
Bumping Reservoir Enlargement Project
Consideration of site requirements is ongoing.
Groundwater Storage Element
Groundwater Storage — Basinwide Analysis
A new Groundwater Storage Subcommittee was established with chair, Tom Ring, Yakama Nation.
The subcommittee is reviewing all ongoing groundwater storage projects and developing a mission
statement and objectives. The committee reviewed ongoing groundwater storage projects in
October 2017.
In the Wapato Irrigation Project, additional monitoring -well locations have been identified, which
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 three (3)
additional wells in 2017. Ecology will install pressure transducers, and data will be analyzed to
determine the benefits of the recharge activities. Monitoring of existing sites continues. Yakama
Nation is getting permitting for wells and coordinating with Reclamation drill crew to schedule
drilling.
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In spring 2018 the Committee anticipates reviewing research on the Yakima Basin conducted by a
graduate student in hydrogeology at Oregon State University.
The Lower River Subgroup is exploring opportunities to use groundwater recharge to improve
thermal refuges for migrating fish along the lower Yakima River. An initial study has been funded
to develop current information on temperature variations in the river from Wapato Dam to the
Yakima River mouth.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
The City of Yakima's Quality Assurance Project Plan was approved by Ecology in January 2018.
Additional documentation on the ASR program is now being finalized. The City plans to recharge
in the winter of 2018-2019.
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 (TCF) advisory committee to develop
a recreation plan for the TCF. Actions will be guided by the recently approved management plan.
Funding appropriated by the State for the 2017-2019 Biennium will be used for habitat, forest and
infrastructure projects. The primary focus of habitat projects will be continued removal of fish
passage barriers; and installation of fencing, stream crossings, and watering stations to keep grazing
stock out of sensitive riparian areas. In addition the Yakama Nation continues to work on wood
placement in TCF streams to improve habitat conditions and watershed functions.
Mainstem Floodplain and Tributaries Fish Habitat Enhancement Program
Recipients of funding from the State's 2015-17 biennium are continuing installation of fish habitat
restoration projects at several locations. Funding of $5.4 million for additional projects during the
2017-2019 biennium was appropriated by the State Legislature in January 2018. The Habitat
Subcommittee reviewed the proposed projects in February 2018 to bring information up to date.
Ecology is working with the funding recipients to establish contracts for these projects.
A stakeholder group consisting of the City of Richland, federal and state fisheries managers, irrigation
districts, environmental and commercial interests, the USACE Walla Walla District, and the Yakama
and Umatilla tribes has been working together on the Yakima River Delta Enhancement project. The
proposed project to breach a portion or all of the Bateman Island causeway will change flow patterns
and improve temperature conditions, instream water flows, water quality, and fisheries within the
Yakima Delta, and is viewed as critical to the long-term success of numerous upstream fisheries
projects being implemented as a part of the Integrated Plan. Additional project support has been
requested through the US Army Corp of Engineers 1135 Program, with a possible decision on support
anticipated soon.
The Yakama Nation and Kittitas County Conservation District are working to engage landowners and
farm and ranch operators in contracting funds awarded in 2016 by the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) through their Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The
"Yakima Integrated Plan — Toppenish to Teanaway Project" is funded through 2021. The RCPP funding
focuses on insufficient water/drought, water quality degradation, and inadequate fish & wildlife habitat
in priority areas in Kittitas County and on the Yakama Nation Reservation lands. The Yakama Nation is
working on "beaver based" restoration projects on Reservation land.
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The 5- year agreement between the Yakama Nation in September 2017, and a kickoff meeting was held
in October 2017. KCCD received 24 applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP). KCCD also held a meeting with partners and the NRCS staff knowledgeable about their
easement programs in order to prepare for implementation of that portion of this project. KCCD staff
are working with NRCS on conservation plans and contracting with 8 producers for sprinkler
conversion projects in priority areas. They received one application and will be working on the plan and
contract for stream habitat improvement. Construction of these projects is expected to begin in fall
2018. KCCD is also beginning to work on the easement programs with Forterra and local producers.
Enhanced Water Conservation Element
Funding of $5 million for additional projects during the 2017-2019 biennium was appropriated by the
State Legislature in January 2018. The Water Use Subcommittee reviewed the proposed projects in
February 2018 to bring information up to date. Ecology is working with the funding recipients to
establish contracts for these projects.
Market Reallocation Element
In September 2017, Kittitas Reclamation District was awarded Reclamation's WaterSMART Water
Marketing Strategies grant (https://wwwusbrgovinewsroonllnewsrelease/detaiLcfm?RecordlD=60457)
The funding from Reclamation are being matched with funding from Ecology's Water Resources
Program and Office of Columbia River to analyze issues that limit market transactions throughout the
Yakima River basin. KRD and Trout Unlimited are partnering in this study and will seek collaboration
with other entities in the basin.
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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