HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/13/1988 Adjourned Meeting ADJOURNED MEETING 223
JANUARY 13, 1988
On January 13, 1988, at 1:00 P.M. City Council met in special session with
' . Congressman Sid Morrison in Congressman Morrison's office to,present the
basis of the Rattlesnake Creek status. Present at the meeting were Mayor
Pat Berndt, Council members Henry Beauchamp, Clarence Barnett, Lynn
Buchanan, Lynn Carmichael, and Bernie Sims. ` Dick Zais, City Manager,
and Fred Stouder, Assistant City Manager, were also present.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the status of the Rattlesnake
Creek Project and to present to Congressman Morrison the basic program of
action the City was pursuing in the development of this project. Fred
Stouder reviewed the status of the program and recent events. He men-
tioned that the City had recently completed testing on the Mile 4 and Mile 6
Rattlesnake Sites, based upon the Presidents Executive Order granted to the
City in 1923. Initially the City had analyzed combining water storage .with
hydroelectric generation to help offset total project costs. . For that reason,
sites in the lower reaches of the Rattlesnake on the Mile 1 4 and Mile 6 Sites
were given study priority, since a larger watershed would have drained into
the site and the necessary power transmission lines to tie into the PP &L
system there would have been of shorter length.
However, based upon geological investigation of both these sites, the City
has concluded that foundation and bank stability problems make these sites
• ~ unfeasible for construction of a dam. It appears that every other potential
dam site between ` Mile -4t and • Mile 6 is within this ancient landslide area.
It was pointed out to Congressman Morrison by Mr. Stouder, however, that
on September 9,• 1987, the • City Council authorized CH2M -Hill to develop
reconnaissance information and a geotechnical report on Mile 11 suitability for
construction of water storage. Observations on Mile 11 have indicated that
massive landslides are not present at or above the Mile 11 Site.` Generation
of electricity, however, is not being considered at this time due ,to, the fact
that an additional seven miles of transmission line .would render the project
uneconomical at this point in time. A report submitted to the Council on the
Mile 11 Site indicated it to be structurally suitable for a high dam, which
would impound a volume of water in excess of the requirements for the
Yakima Urban Area. The average annual yield and runoff in the Mile 11
area would be approximately 60,000 acre feet. The information suggests that
a rolling compacting, concrete dam would be the most economical.
The initial report from CH2M -Hill evaluated five different storage levels
ranging from 5,000 acre feet of storage to 54,300 acre feet of storage. Some
20,000 acre feet of storage would be suitable for the City's and Urban Area's
needs in the long term, with an estimated total project cost of $25,731 ,000,
• or $1,186 per acre foot. At the higher end of the storage alternatives,
54,300 acre feet, total project cost would be $48,203,000 or approximately
$888 per acre foot.
Mr. Stouder pointed out the City now .intends to initate an environmental
review scoping process on the Mile 11 Site in conjunction with the U.S.
Forest Service and the Department of Ecology. The City would assume that
the environmental impact statement and its preparation would consume ap-
proximately two years. During this time the City would also he initiating
requests for the necessary permits.
As to the issue of the Off Reservation Storage Site Work Group, and the
City's inclusion, it was reported that the City found this process and the
relationships created with members of the Work Group very helpful. The
City commented that it recognizes the Indian Nation's opposition to the
Rattlesnake Creek Project, however, continued discussion with all parties to
the water question is important. The Rattlesnake Creek Feasibility Report
on Mile 11 was not part of the Work Group's review, as the City had not
reviewed the geotechnical report from CH2M -Hill as the Work Group was
meeting, nor had the City Council had an opportunity to review. It was
pointed out that the City has offered and has met several times during the
past several years with members of the Indian Nation to review the project
and the City's draft Comprehensive Water Plan.
Congressman Morrison pointed out that he: would be meeting with the policy
group in a few weeks and would be discussing what should be in the leg-
islative package. He said it may be that any storage proposals will wait
until a later time. Timing may not be right yet for storage.
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224 ADJOURNED MEETING
JANUARY 13, 1988
Mr. Stouder pointed out that the City had agreed to support the Bumping
Lake. Enlargement as part of the consensus building of the Off Reservation
Storage Site Work Group, however, with an understanding that assistance
would also be forthcoming as far as the total package in the water conser-
vation measures. It was pointed out the City will continue to work with
other water users in the Valley, and could support the enlargement of Bump-
ing if the City's total water needs were taken into consideration, while we - ,
also pursue the various feasibility questions with the Rattlesnake Creek Site.
An additional item was discussed with Congressman Morrison. This was the
concern throughout the Valley and among the City Council regarding the
drug enforcement problem, and the need, for federal assistance to continue in
the maintenance of the Drug Enforcement Task Force, consisting of the City,
County, and State. officers. It was reported that this Task Force was in
danger of being diminished because of lack of federal dollars to the State.
• It was important to continue the efforts to keep .this Task Force intact.
Congressman Morrison reported that the message had been given to him all
up and down the Valley during his meetings. . He said it was made very
clear to him that there is a great concern about the drug traffic and the
drug user problem. •
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READ AND. CERTIFIED ACCURATE B- DATFo2‘ +47
CO NCI .MEMBER
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,ENUNCIL M r":ER
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CITY CLERK MAYOR
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Minutes prepared by Assistant City Manager, Fred Stouder.
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