Exhibits A, B , & C - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The fields are planted in Timothy hay, although the eastern field is grazed rather than harvested. Treat hasn't reseeded since buying the property in 2006, but regularly applies herbicides to keep weeds down The hay is consumed onsite by livestocl<, or sold to neighbors. ln an average year, Treat grazes up to 15 horses and 20 cows onsite. Treat generally takes two cuttings of hay, with the last cutting in early August. After Mr. Treat takes his last cutting, he puts the fields to bed "wet" in mid-August. ln most years, water is not available beyond this point. While the authorized place of use includes lands south of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) canal, these lands are not irrigated with the state water right and are exclusively irrigated with KRD water' The more southerly point of diversion has been used to fill a pond located directly adjacent to the creek. The purpose of this pond appears to be recreational and aesthetic, which is outside the parameters of the water right, Although Ecology allows for de facto changes in some circurnstances, because this area is within the KRD service area, this use will not be considered in trust water calculations. Proposed Use Under this proposal, the purpose of use and place of use of this water right would be changed. The purpose of use would be instream flow and mitigation. The place of use would be in Cooke Creek, Cheery Creek, Wilson Creek, and the Yakima River. Extent and Validity ln order to make a water right change decision, Ecology must make a tentative determination on the extent and validity of the right. Under RCW 90.14.160 any portion of a water right or water right claim not exercised for a period of five successive years, without sufficient cause, shall be relinquished and revert to the state. Since signing of the CFO in December 2006, there have been no changes or actions on this water right' The tentative determination provided in this section is based on aerial photos and Landsat imagery, crop water use calculations, and an interview with the property owner. The diversions are not and have not been historically measured, so water measurement records were not reviewed. As discussed above, the water user, Mr. Treat, described his operations during the site visit' Treat reported growing approximately 60 affes of Timothy hay for onsite consumption, with him selling a portion to neighbors in good years. Treat generally starts irrigating as soon as the ground thaws and continues until water availability becomes an issue, which is generally mid-August. ln a typical year, Treat will take two cuttings of hay off his western field with his last cutting occurring in early August. After his last cutting, he puts the fields to bed wet. The eastern field is planted in Timothy, but used for horsegrazingratherthancutting. TreatdoesnotusehisstaterightonlandssouthofthefROcanal,so only lands within the place of use lying north of the KRD will be considered during this extent and validity review. lnigated Area Aerial photos available in Google Earth were used to determine irrigated acreage during the 2009, 201"1, 2OL3,2O!4,2015 and 2017 season, The irrigation measurements are provided in Table 2, with photos provided in Attachment 3. Based on these measurements, water needed to irrigate 48.8 acres has been used at least once every five years, and is available for this change in place and purpose of use' Change Report of Examination -Page 7 of 15 Water Right Flle No. CS4-01141sb10