HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard Discussion and Decision_Bowers Field Wetland Delination ProcessKITTITAS COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BOARD DISCUSSION/DECISION AGENDA STAFF REPORT
AGENDA DATE: October 6, 2020
TOPIC: Wetland Delineation at Bowers Field
ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff on Desired United States Army Corps of
Engineers Wetland Delineation Process
LEAD STAFF:
Mark R. Cook
RECOMMENDATION:
Pursue a "Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination" with the Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) delineating wetland extend impacting the Bowers Field (ELN) capital
improvement plan with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
BRIEFING SUMMARY:
• Preliminary wetland delineation for ELN have been reduced from original extent.
• Two options exist to formalize the delineation process: "preliminary
jurisdictional determination" and "approved jurisdictional determination".
• Whiskey Creek connection to the Yakima River will likely result in USACE
jurisdiction resulting in an "Individual Permit" process mitigating wetland
impacts.
• Timelines are tight for environmental assessment threshold determination from
the FAA supporting parallel taxiway construction (EXHIBIT 1).
• The Environmental Assessment (EA) team is seeking a determination from the
FAA early summer 2021.
• While there are political advantages to waiting on an "Approved" determination,
there is an associated adverse impact on project timeline.
BACKGROUND:
Century West Engineering (CW) is working towards completing a sixty percent (60%)
design of taxiway, runway 11/29 and flood improvements at ELN. The Board will recall
that recently staff secured significant additional funding from the FAA supporting the
design effort. Attempting to meet the tight timeline for ELN improvement construction,
Public Works has embarked on a process seeking to create wetland mitigation credits
ahead of taxiway construction in 2023. ESA (wetland consultant subcontractor to CW)
recently re -delineated project wetlands reducing the amount from 8.5 acres to a current
estimated impact of 2.71 acres. An individual USACE permit is required beyond 0.5
acres of impact.
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PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMNUSSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT
DISCUSSION:
The EA team has been waiting for months for a USACE site visit. The pandemic and
associated travel restrictions have not produced the desired site visit. It now appears that
a site visit by the USACE is not likely until spring 2021. The EA team was hoping for an
Approved Jurisdictional Determination eliminating the need for the team to make
assumptions about USACE wetland jurisdiction. The value politically would be having
the USACE make the call on EA wetlands so that the team does not have to suppose
jurisdiction. Local politics could define the EA team as being "overly" supportive of
wetland delineation extent.
Delays and travel restrictions upon USACE staff are creating the crisis we are now facing
on project timeline. Given that Whiskey Creek flows to the Yakima, the likelihood that
the USACE would not claim jurisdiction is unlikely. Assuming USACE jurisdiction and
moving forward as "Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination" allows the team to keep
moving towards applying for the individual permit and ultimate wetland mitigation. The
EA team is concerned that waiting until spring of 2021 for a determination from the
USACE, the entire project timeline will slide. Missing our construction window for the
taxiway, could result in funding being moved away from ELN and sent somewhere else
in the FAA system.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Currently, $2,350,000 is programmed for wetland mitigation starting in 2022 and
completing in 2023.
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit l: Original map depicting wetland impact
Exhibit 2: Revised map depicting wetland impact
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PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT
EXHIBIT l: ORIGINAL WETLAND DELINEATION (8.5 ACRES +/-)
Page 3 of 4
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT
EXHIBIT 2: REVISED WETLAND DELINEATION (2.7 ACRES +/-)
Page 4 of 4
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY CON&USSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT
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