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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: August 26, 2024 <br />TOPIC: Upper Yakima River Floodplain & Habitat <br />Restoration Implementation <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Arden Thomas <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff work with Bonneville Environmental Foundation on outreach efforts. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• The Flood Control Zone District applied for implementation funding for the <br />Upper Yakima River Floodplain & Habitat Restoration Project. <br />• This project is also known as the Lower Kittitas Reach Floodplain Reconnection <br />Project. <br />• The project is currently in the design phase and is on track for constructed to start <br />in 2027. <br />• The project will address flood risk and habitat degradation associated with the <br />failing Hansen Pits levee. <br />• The project will be implemented on Kittitas County and Bureau of Land <br />Management Lands. <br />• The Bonneville Environmental Foundation has offered to work with Kittitas <br />County to support legislative outreach efforts. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The failing Hansen Pits levy currently provides the worst of all worlds. It does not <br />provide effective flood control and also disconnects the floodplain from ecologically <br />beneficial flows. The Flood Control Zone District has been working to develop a <br />restoration plan for County- and Bureau of Land Management -owned properties to <br />provide more effective flood control, improve fisheries habitat, support public access, and <br />allow for flood -compatible agricultural uses. The project is currently in the design phase <br />and is on track for construction to begin in 2027. Kittitas County submitted a funding <br />application to Floodplains by Design for project implementation. Floodplains by Design <br />is a Department of Ecology program which works in partnership with the Bonneville <br />Environmental Foundation. The ranked project list for this grant program was recently <br />released and our $10,000,000 application ranked well, reflecting the strong benefits of <br />this project. <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />