Laserfiche WebLink
KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: April 26, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Contract for Services: Sale of Water Mitigation <br />Certificates <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Arden Thomas <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct Staff to prepare enabling documentation <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Kittitas County operates a water banking program that provides for the sale of <br />water mitigation certificates. <br />• Kittitas County previously executed a Contract for Services to sell mitigation <br />certificates backed by water rights owned by non -County water banking entities <br />• A private water bank would like to enter into a similar Contract for Services <br />agreement with Kittitas County. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Kittitas County operates a water banking program that provides the sale of water <br />mitigation certificates. A water mitigation certificate enables applicants to demonstrate <br />that they have legal access to water, as required by KCC 13.35.027. Water mitigation <br />certificates are available through the County water bank and through private water banks. <br />On May 7, 2018, Kittitas County executed a Contract for Services for the Sale of Water <br />Mitigation Certificates with Reecer Creek Water Rights, LLC "RCWR'). This agreement <br />enables Kittitas County to sell RCWR water rights under the same terms that we sell <br />county -owned water. Nelson Gelbvieh Ranch, LLC now wishes to enter into a Contract <br />for Services for the Sale of Water Mitigation Certificates with Kittitas County, and a draft <br />agreement has been prepared. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />By entering into these service contracts with private water bank entities, the County helps <br />ensure that water held by private banks is retained for use within Kittitas County and <br />further secures the amount of water for use within Kittitas County. The agreement with <br />RCWR anticipated and addressed that the County may enter into similar agreements with <br />other non -County water banks. <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />