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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORD — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: June 26, 2017 <br />TOPIC: Naneurn Creek — Wilson Creek Split Structure <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Provide Staff Direction <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Staff has previously recommended no action. <br />BREIFING SUMMARY: <br />3 Spring runoff has produced wide spread damage in Naneum Creek watershed <br />The diversion structure splitting creek flows is now operating with stop logs <br />Splitting flows 50150 is difficult with, the elevated streambed of Wilson Creek <br />Water Right holders are expected to take action in the absence of WDFW <br />hydraulic permit approvals <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In early December 2016, staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on <br />issues surrounding the flow control structure on Naneum Creek (EXHIBIT 1). At that <br />time, the City of Ellensburg expressed interest in having the streambed in the vicinity of <br />the structure dredged anticipating potential increased flooding in spring of 2017. <br />Significant flooding has occurred in the Naneunn watershed throughout this past spring. <br />One tributary of Nanuem Creek is now completely plugged with round rock and debris <br />making water delivery impossible. The flow control structure is now being exercised <br />attempting to establish fifty percent (50%) flow delivery to Wilson Creek. During the <br />past week, numerous water right holders have been gathering at the split discussing <br />individual actions aimed at establishing flow delivery to both stream systems. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />The pending potential shut down of state government will remove the ability for local <br />WDF W staff to issue emergency HPAs. Given the growing tension amongst area water <br />right holders, unpermitted stream dredging activities are a likely potential in the next <br />several weeks or immediately following a government shutdown. <br />In December 2016, staff supported a multi -agency approach to managing streambed <br />:materials at the split. Staff was not successful in putting a multi -agency team together <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONIERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />