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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />AGENDA STAFF REPORT <br />AGENDA DATE: January 21, 2025 <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Request to Approve a Resolution Adopting the Kittitas <br />County Airport 2024 Wildlife Hazard Evaluation and <br />Management Plan. <br />BACKGROUND: Kittitas County is the property owner and operator of the <br />Kittitas County Regional Airport - Bowers Field (ELN). To <br />serve as a guide to help reduce wildlife hazards at Kittitas <br />County Airport, Bowers Field, previous airport staff began <br />the development of a Wildlife Hazard Management Plan <br />(WHMP). The report was finalized in December 2024. <br />Staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) <br />Wildlife Services (WS) program assisted with the <br />development of the plan. <br />ELN is a general aviation airport. In place of a Wildlife <br />Hazard Assessment (WHA), required for airports with air <br />carrier operations, a Wildlife Hazard Evaluation (WHE) <br />was conducted by USDA WS staff. The WHE identified <br />hazardous wildlife and attractants which could possibly <br />impact aviation safety. <br />Utilizing the WHE, a WHMP was developed for ELN. The <br />WHMP includes a practical discussion for dealing with key <br />hazard groups identified during the WHE, including <br />blackbirds, corvids, raptors and waterfowl. This plan also <br />includes information on habitat management to take <br />proactive measures to reduce attractiveness to wildlife. The <br />plan also recommends periodic reviews and updates by <br />airport staff. <br />INTERACTION: Public Works <br />RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution adopting the Kittitas County <br />Airport Wildlife Hazard Evaluation and Management Plan. <br />HANDLING: Return one original to Public Works <br />ATTACHMENTS: Bowers Field Wildlife Hazard Management Plan <br />LEAD STAFF: Josh Fredrickson, Airport Manager <br />