2021-04-12-minutes-public-works-study-session

Home Browse Search

A KII Il AS COUNTY 11,i/\TER BANKING PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES • Assisted in the development and implementation of the Over -the -Counter program for mitigation of permit -exempt uses • Completed the investigation and developed background permitting rationale for of several General Permit(s) providing watertight permit authority for both Upper and Lower Kittitas County, including those uses that do not meet Campbell and Gwinn statutory requirements Permitting of multiple water rights acquisitions to instrearn flow and mitigation, including Schnebly, Treat, Teanaway Valley Farms, and Papineau • Development of the conceptual background and water right permitting approach for the Granite Creek Consumptive Use Pilot Study 3. Water Resource Policy Development The growing demands on water resources to provide for future needs while maintaining watershed health has placed pressure on water allocation in Washington and prompted legislative changes in water law and the overall permitting process. Our team integrates the multidisciplinary technical and regulatory/permitting expertise required to complete applications for new water right appropriations and/ or changes to existing rights consistent with Ecology policy and guidance. We have worked with all of Ecology's regional offices and with numerous County Water Conservancy Boards throughout Washington. Our experience enables us to accurately evaluate technical information for each water right application and provide defensible conclusions regarding each application under the current water taw. Aspect has performed the following policy development support services for Kittitas County: • Assisted in implementation of the Over -the - Counter program for mitigation of permit -exempt uses • Development, legal rationale, and permitting of the concept known as a Large Area Permit • Application of Ecology methods to quantify total and crop irrigation requirements for both normal and water -short years, thus maximizing the amount of consumptive use available for mitigation in Kittitas County's water bank Evaluation of seasonal reliability and impairment of surface water above the KRD canal • Assisted with stakeholder coordination for targeted Large Area Permit expansions, including the Water Transfer Working Group, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ecology, Yakama Nation, and Bureau of Reclamation In addition to Kittitas County, Aspect has a rich history of policy coordination for other counties, including. • County code development • Legislative bill drafting and analysis • Ecology policy interpretation and comments via the Water Resource Advisory Committee • Representing County interests to the County Policy Advisory Group, Columbia River Policy Advisory Group, Water Banking Advisory Group, and other forums Aspect's staff includes two former Ecology employees who were regional representatives on Ecology's Internal Policy Team and bring rich history of helping develop and interpret Ecology policies. 4. Water Resources Comprehensive Planning Experience From watershed plans to legislative reports, and from local county plans to statewide plans—Aspect has the organizational, technical writing, and internal discipline to deliver high quality planning documents on schedule and on budget. Aspect is on the forefront of quantifying impacts from exempt wells and developing mitigation strategies throughout Washington. Our experience includes public and private water banking work in Spokane and Kittitas Counties, quantification of exempt well impacts on instream flow reserves in Chelan and Okanogan Counties, and facilitation work in Spokane County, Skagit County, and the Walla Walla Basin. We have been helping counties balance consumptive impacts of the development of exempt welts long before it was mandated by ESSB 6091. We are currently the lead consultant and facilitator for required RCW 90.94