2024-04-22-minutes-public-works-study-session

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County staff will explore potential projects for this funding source and reach out to the public water districts to inquire about their needs. One potential project includes alternative source supply for County residents affected by recent changes by the City of Cle Elum regarding use of their filling station. We will also explore if the purchase of additional water rights to mitigate junior water uses is eligible for grant funding. Program Element No. 3 Drought -Year Water Rights Leasing Per the April Total Water Supply Determination forecast issued by the Bureau of Reclamation, Yakima Basin senior water users are forecasted to receive their full entitlements, but proratable users will receive 63% and junior users are subject to curtailment. At the identified prorationing level, the Kittitas Reclamation District will not be able to operate their system throughout the irrigation season. We anticipate that some proratable users will require legal mitigation to utilize drought relief wells. Kittitas County will make unallocated water rights in our portfolio available for drought response purposes through a temporary lease program. Water rights are unallocated if: they are not part of the 800 acre-feet of back mitigation required for Kittitas County to fulfill its May 15, 2014 Settlement Agreement, are not being relied upon to mitigate emergency drought wells in 2023, have not been mitigated through the County's new domestic use program, and will not be needed to meet new uses during the required 5-year mitigation period for emergency drought well mitigation. Water rights to provide emergency drought use mitigation are allocated through a competitive leasing program for eligible water users. To be eligible to participate, potential bidders must demonstrate eligibility by providing: • A copy of the emergency drought pre -application or application submitted to the Department of Ecology; and • Identification of the valid Yakima Basin water right that will be prorated or curtailed in 2024; or • Evidence that the bidder is served by a prorated irrigation district; and • Description of location ("place of use") where water will be utilized. This location description should clearly correspond to the place of use authorized by the water right or served by the irrigation district; and • Description how water will be physically delivered to the place of use and any additional supporting documentation that the bidder will be able to deliver water to the site.