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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: October 23, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Mercer Creek: Mid -Columbia Fisheries <br />Memorandum of Agreement and Ecology <br />Funding Agreement <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Arden Thomas <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct Staff to Prepare Enabling Documentation for Mid -Columbia Fisheries <br />Memorandum of Agreement and Ecology Grant Agreement. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• In 2018, Kittitas County and Mid -Columbia Fisheries collaborated on a flood <br />reduction and habitat restoration project along Mercer Creek within Ellensburg. <br />• Ongoing maintenance is required for the flood reduction and habitat restoration <br />project to be successful. <br />• Mid -Columbia Fisheries staff also wishes to conduct outreach to Mercer Creek <br />landowners to identify flood alleviation and habitat improvement projects. <br />Ecology has grant funding available to local jurisdictions to support these <br />activities and advised Mid -Columbia Fisheries to partner with a local jurisdiction <br />to advance this project. <br />■ Kittitas County Public Works has the necessary experience and capacity to <br />administer the grant and this project advances the Flood Control Zone District <br />Capital Program. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In 2018, Mid -Columbia Fishenes Enhancement Group (hereafter referred to as "Mid - <br />Columbia Fisheries") and the Flood Control Zone District partnered on a restoration <br />project to address local flooding impacts and improve habitat through crack willow <br />removal and development of an inset floodplain at Mercer Creek at Helena Avenue. In <br />2020, this project was successfully constructed, and Mid -Columbia Fisheries has been <br />maintaining the site. Additional site maintenance is required for project success. <br />In October 2022, Mid -Columbia Fisheries applied for a Clean Water grant under the <br />Department of Ecology's "Combined Funding" solicitation to complete the additional site <br />maintenance and to design a new project downstream on Mercer Creek. The grant <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />