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r <br />KMTRITAS rorN <br />.;acobs. <br />acquisition and protection of several key floodplain properties that put almost five miles of <br />Yakima River shoreline into protected status. <br />Kittitas County currently owns two properties with potential for advance mitigation (Hansen <br />Pits and M FARM) and funding is approved for purchase of a third property (Flying M Ranch), <br />all of which are within the Yakima River floodplain and have abundant mitigation potential. <br />For the purpose of this strategy memo, we completed a desktop evaluation of the habitat <br />types at each site to show opportunity. Figure 2 shows the location of these properties in <br />relation to ELN and a brief description is below. <br />Hansen Pits — These 94 -acre parcels contain remnant gravel mining ponds from the <br />construction of Interstate 82 (Figure 3). This site may be suitable for mitigation based on the <br />adjacency of the Yakima River and opportunity to restore floodplain connectivity. There are <br />also wetland creation and re-establishment opportunities in the previously excavated pond <br />areas. <br />Hansen Pits Existing Habitat <br />Areaj <br />J <br />(acres) <br />Excavated open water ponds that may be suitable for wetland creation <br />26 <br />Riparian vegetation with potential for small wetlands adjacent to the <br />_ <br />open water ponds and the Yakima River <br />27 <br />Active river and side channel <br />6 _ J <br />44 E <br />Disturbed uplands I <br />M FARM Property— Kittitas County purchased this 160 -acre property in 2019. The property <br />contains Yakima River channel, associated riparian and upland habitat, Spring Creek (a natural <br />groundwater -fed channel with connection to the Yakima River), and relict river channels <br />(Figure 4). The property was planned for residential development, but currently the property <br />is deed -restricted to only allow floodplain protection and restoration and to permanently <br />prevent future development. The deed restriction specifically calls for enhancement of the <br />river, floodplain, and riparian habitat as a permitted use. These factors make the site ideal for <br />mitigation and restoration actions. <br />M FARM Existing Habitat <br />Existing wetland <br />December 8, 2020 <br />Area -- <br />(acres) <br />-�J <br />; <br />3 i <br />