2023-06-12-minutes-public-works-study-session

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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY 2023 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: June 12, 2023 TOPIC: West Ellensburg Flood Alleviation and Habitat Enhancement Proposal ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff formulate a stakeholder group and commence evaluation of potentially using the Whiskey Creek system for flood alleviation and habitat enhancement. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • The City of Ellensburg identified the potential use of Whiskey Creek for flood alleviation consideration in its 1999 flood management plan. • The county (Public Works — PW) has been working the past eight years developing a holistic approach to improving the Whiskey and Mercer Creek systems for fish habitat and improved flood conveyance. • The county has demonstrated how flood and fish can work together with the demonstration project conducted with Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in conjunction with Mid -Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group (MCFEG), in Mercer Creek at Helena Avenue. • Recently, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) expressed interest in removing the fish passage barrier on the mainline railroad impeding fish passage to Whiskey Creek. • Ongoing flood alleviation work by the City of Ellensburg at Dolarway creates an opportunity for a larger discussion concerning the future of Whiskey Creek. • It is time to integrate numerous opportunities with a larger stakeholder group. BACKGROUND: For over twenty years, the City of Ellensburg (Eburg) has been contemplating improvements to the Whiskey Creek system for flood alleviation for west Ellensburg. The Kittitas County Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) has been working in the Whiskey/Mercer drainage basins for several years producing revised Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps. The FCZD completed a joint stream restoration project with WDFW and MCFEG a couple of years ago that shows promise for future system improvements integrating flood and fish. Recently, BNSF expressed interest in jointly working to remove the fish barrier at the mainline railroad near the Eburg flood alleviation project on Dolarway. Eburg is finalizing plans constructing a large flood alleviation project on Dolarway. Page 1 of 4 Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023