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: March 13, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Trout Unlimited Memorandum of Agreement <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 has invested in multi -benefit projects within the Yakima River <br />floodplain. <br />• As part of these multi -benefit projects, Kittitas County seeks to remove at risk <br />infrastructure for flood control and habitat benefits. <br />• Tjossem ditch is at flood risk and has negative environmental impacts. <br />• Trout Unlimited has secured $470,000 but still requires $80,00 to permanently <br />close the Tjossem Ditch. <br />• Staff recommends providing $80,000 in funding utilizing the flood control and <br />water resource fluids utilizing approved 2023 fund budgets. <br />• This Tjossem Ditch Retirement Project compliments Kittitas County water right <br />purchases and flood alleviation work, in addition to habitat goals through the <br />Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Tjossem Ditch is a water diversion located on the mainstem Yakima River that services a <br />number of water right holders. Trout Unlimited, a local environmental non-profit <br />organization has been working with remaining water right holders to provide them with <br />alternative water supply so that the ditch can be permanently retired. This project is part <br />of a multi -benefit effort to remove infrastructure susceptible to flood risk, to restore <br />instrearn flows, and to restore instream and riparian habitat along the Yakima River south <br />of Ellensburg. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />The Trout Unlimited -led Tjossem Ditch Retirement Project secures alternative water <br />supply sources for Tjossem water right holds, improves instream flow and habitat, and <br />reduces risk to infrastructure from flooding. This project directly compliments efforts by <br />Kittitas County to purchase Tjossem ditch water rights. Additionally, Tjossem ditch was <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />