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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: January 27, 2025 <br />TOPIC: Potential Ellensburg Water Company Flood Control Zone District <br />Interlocal Agreement <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Arden Thomas <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff to develop an interlocal agreement with the Ellensburg Water Company and <br />prepare enabling documentation. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Ellensburg Water Company (EWC) has an agreement with D.R. Horton to <br />address canal sedimentation caused by Whiskey Creek floodwaters entering the <br />canal which will expire this spring. <br />• The EWC — D.R. Horton agreement is short term, to address flood impacts that <br />occurred before the Whiskey Creek Siphon project was constructed and the <br />Bender Road flow restrictor was removed. <br />• Since Kittitas County Public Works has not yet constructed the siphon, we <br />propose to reimburse the Ellensburg Water Company for their sediment removal <br />cost over a two-year period. <br />• Sediment removal costs are expected to be about $4,000 per year. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Ellensburg Water Company (EWC) has an agreement with D.R. Horton to address canal <br />sedimentation caused by Whiskey Creek floodwaters entering the canal. This agreement <br />is short term, to address flood impacts before the Whiskey Creek Siphon project was <br />constructed and the Bender Road flow restrictor was removed. The agreement between <br />D.R. Horton and Ellensburg Water Company ends this February. Since the Whiskey <br />Creek siphon project has not yet been constructed and the Bender Road flow restrictor <br />will still be in place, Ellensburg Water Company will likely need to remove sediment <br />from Whiskey Creek sediment from their canal this year. Since Kittitas County Public <br />Works has not yet constructed the siphon, we propose to reimburse the Ellensburg Water <br />Company for their sediment removal cost over a two-year period. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Flood Control Zone District staff are supportive of funding sediment removal over an <br />interim period to allow additional time for the siphon project to be constructed. However, <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2024 <br />