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Home My WebLink About2020-12-14-minutes-public-works-study-sessionKITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Public Works Study Session Regular Meeting Monday December 14, 2020 -1:30 PM Webex 1. Call to Order 2. Federal Highway Administration Federal Lands Access Program Grant Application - Swauk Creek Bridge Replacement at Liberty Road. 3. Other business 4. Adjourn Created on 12/11/2020 11:48:57 AM KITTITAS COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS STUDY SESSION MINUTES Webex Regular Meeting MONDAY 1:30 PM DECEMBER 14, 2020 Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice -Chairman Laura Osiadacz, Commissioner Cory Wright Others: Candie Leader, Josh Fredrickson, Liz Remeto, Rebecca Cruse, Public Works; and One (1) Member of the Public At 1:30 pm Chairman Brett Wachsmith opened the Public Works Study Session. FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION FEDERAL LANDS ACCESS PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATION - SWAUK CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AT LIBERTY ROAD Josh Fredrickson gave background on the Federal Lands Access Program Grant process and stated that a call for projects was sent out to agencies for consideration. Josh Fredrickson stated that the Swauk Creek Bridge at Liberty Road was selected to seek funding for due to the current bridge being load restricted. Josh Fredrickson continued that staff received numerous letters of support from stakeholders for the project and that the current condition of the structure is restricting access for recreation and scheduled timber sales. Josh Fredrickson added that staff has applied for and received funding from this program on other projects including the Manastash Sno-Park. Discussion was held. Meeting adjourned at 1:42 pm. 2020-12-14 MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Brett Wachsmith, Chairman KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: December 14, 2020 TOPIC: Federal Highway Administration Federal Lands Access Program Grant Application — Swank Creek Bridge Replacement at Liberty Road ACTION REQUESTED: Informational Only LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook RECOMMENDATION: Informational briefing — no action required by the Board. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • The existing bridge crossing Swauk Creek on Liberty Road is load restricted • The bridge inhibits the United States Forest Service (USFS) from proceeding with a timber sale • Bridge replacement is a high priority for the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest (OWNF) • Public Works received good support for the application from diverse stakeholder groups BACKGROUND: The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Federal Land Access Program affords local government access to federal funding with a nexus to federal lands. Public Works (PW) targeted this funding program and successfully replaced fish barriers at two locations on Teanaway Road. Following that success, PW applied to the program for two additional projects, one replacing the flow constricting bridge on the Teanaway River at Dickey Creek. That grant award is currently being completed by FHWA design staff with construction forecast for fall 2023. The road realignment and bridge replacement project is estimated to cost approximately $8 million. The County is providing survey services and funding $1M in local Road Fund to the project. The second project applied for was the Manastash Bank Stabilization and Sno Park Improvements with an estimated cost of approximately $1.9 million. This grant was also awarded to Kittitas County and is planned for design in 2021 and construction in 2022. The cost to the County for this project is approximately $537,000. Damaged abutments to the Swank Creek Bridge on Liberty Road currently restrict heavy traffic accessing national forest surrounding the community of Liberty. Emergency response vehicles are unable to access forest roads used heavily for recreational activities. Page 1 of 3 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Since 2010, the Okanogan -Wenatchee National Forest has been working towards restoration efforts in the Liberty area, Kittitas County, WA. The restoration strategy produced in 2010 and updated in 2012 evolved in response to continuing large-scale uncharacteristically severe wildfires and insect outbreaks. The Cie Elum Ranger District began initial planning on the Swank Pine Project responding to the high risk of habitat loss resulting from high fire risk and the high ratio of Wildland Urban Interface associated with the Town of Liberty land use development. The action supports efforts outlined in the Swank Basin Wildfire Protection Plan authored by the citizens of Liberty with assistance from Cle Elum Ranger District staff. The Swauk Pine Project reduces the risk of wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels and reestablishing natural fire regimes reducing wildfire management costs and better protecting late successional and old forest structure. The plan cannot be fully implemented without replacement of the County's load limiting bridge on Swank Creek. DISCUSSION: Numerous stakeholders provided letters of support during the permit submittal process (EXHIBIT 1). Bridge replacement supports reduced fire risk, stream restoration, emergency rescue access for recreationalist and produces a much healthier forest. Given PW's funding success with the FLAP program, we elected to make a run at replacing the Swauk Creek Bridge for an estimated $2.8 million. The County's financial obligation is approximately $380,000. It is unlikely that the County can replace the bridge without supplemental funding. FISCAL IMPACTS: $384,429.19 in Road Fund ending fund balance if the grant request is awarded by FHWA. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit 1: Stakeholder grant support letters Page 2 of 3 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT EXHIBIT 1: STAKEHOLDER GRANT SUPPORT LETTERS Page 3 of 3 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT KIM SCHRIER 8TH DISTRICT, WASHINGTON QCongreo of the Nniteb btateg i)ouse of r%epresenWtlbes Mightngton, DC 20313 December 2, 2020 Andrew Rasmussen, PE Washington FLAP Program Manager Federal Highway Administration 610 East Fifth Street Vancouver, Washington 98661. WFL.CallForProjects(@dot.gov andrew.rasmussen@dot.gov Hardcopy to follow Dear Mr. Rasmussen: 1123 L:�M � "]I H'O-s i. L aJ�Lll'.h. Wns�i'NiaaioN D DG 2 40515 (202)225 1161 I am writing to ask for your consideration of Kittitas County's application for funds through the Washington Federal Lands Access Program to replace the Swauk Creek Bridge on Liberty Road. Replacing this load limiting bridge is critical to the completion of long -planned forest health projects aimed at protecting a rural community in my District from catastrophic wildfire. The Swauk Pine Project is a collaborative forest restoration project located on National Forest System Land in Swauk Creek Watershed near the town of Liberty in Kittitas County. Prescribed fire across thousands of acres is planned. Commercial and non-commercial thinning will help restore overcrowded forests. Aquatic restoration projects will improve critical fish habitat. But the project cannot be fully implemented until the County's deficient Swauk Creek Bridge is replaced. A new bridge will also allow emergency response vehicles to access a popular recreation area. The Swauk Pine area supports year-round dispersed recreation including camping, mining, hiking, hunting, four-wheel driving, horseback riding and snowmobiling. Replacing the Swauk Creek Bridge will unlock countless recreation, safety, forest health and wildfire mitigation opportunities, and this seems like an ideal fit for Federal Lands Access Program. I urge your full and fair consideration of this application. Sincerely, Kim Schrier, M.D. Member of Congress — WA08 November 19, 2020 Mark R. Cook, Director Kittitas County Department of Public Works 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Dear Mr. Cook: AFRC is a regional trade association whose purpose is to advocate for sustained yield timber harvests on public timberlands throughout the West to enhance forest health and resistance to fire, insects, and disease. We and our members do this by promoting active management to attain productive public forests, protect adjoining private forests, and assure community stability. We have been following the Forest Service's Swank Pine Project located in the Liberty area of Kittitas County since it was first analyzed for restoration work back in 2010. During those 10 years of analysis, the forests located above the town of Liberty have suffered greatly from insect and disease infestations and accumulation of forest fuels. Creating a high risk of catastrophic wildfire. To remedy this situation the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest has planned a timber sale in that area, which will require an adequate infrastructure of roads and bridges for access. Unfortunately, that project is now on indefinite hold as the deficient bridge located below the community of Liberty cannot support timber sale vehicle loads. The condition of the bridge is one significant factor in the economic viability of this vegetation management proposal. AFRC supports Kittitas County in its application for grant funding to replace this bridge. And we look forward to the County moving forward quickly with replacing the deficient bridge. This will enable the Forest Service to make needed forest health treatments and to reduce potential wildfire risks by implementing the timber sale. The new bridge will also allow access for fire and life -safety response vehicles, as well as access for dispersed recreation including camping, mining, hiking, hunting, four-wheel driving, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. Assuring the replacement of his bridge in a timely manner will benefit a variety of stakeholders on this portion of the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest. Thank you for your consideration, and we hope this bridge replacement can move forward quickly. Sincerely, Matt Comisky Washington Manager American Forest Resource Council American Forest Resource Council 924 Capitol Way South, Suite 102 • Olympia, Washington 98501 Tel. 360.352.3910 9 Fax 360.352.3917 November 19, 2020 Mark R. Cook, Director Kittitas County Department of Public Works 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Dear Mr. Cook: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Southeast Region 713 Bowers Road Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-925-8510 southeast.region@DNR. WA.GOV W W W.DNR. WA.GOV We understand that the Kittitas County Department of Public Works completely undated it's twenty-year Transportation Plan in 2018. The plan completely revised the focus on maintenance of County Bridges to increase their life spans, in addition to a focus on replacing obsolete structures. With the number of obsolete bridges in Kittitas County, you show a plan shortfall of nearly $100,000 million. This letter affirms our support of Kittitas County Department of Public Works submittal of a 2021-2023 Federal Lands Access Program Grant replacing the Swank Creek Bridge on Liberty Road. We understand that funding assistance will help Kittitas County in meeting its objectives as well as objectives of partnering organizations. The Swank Creek Bridge on Liberty Road is an optimal choice for replacement as its current load restrictions limit access to a large area of land, inhibiting efforts for forest health, fire suppression, as well as opportunity for recreation in this area, not to mention the ability of emergency vehicles to access. Sincerely, 10, Todd Welker Region Manager, Southeast Region Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Washington State Legislature December 1, 2020 Mark R. Cook, Director Kittitas County Department of Public Works 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Dear Mr. Cook: This letter affirms our support of Kittitas County Department of Public Works submittal of a 2021-2023 Federal Lands Access Program Grant replacing the Swauk Creek bridge on Liberty Road. This load limiting bridge is prohibiting implementation of the US Forest Services' Swauk Pine Project. Since 2010, the Okanogan -Wenatchee National Forest has been working towards restoration efforts in the Liberty area, Kittitas County, WA. The restoration strategy produced in 2010 and updated in 2012 evolved in response to continuing large-scale uncharacteristically severe wildfires and insect outbreaks. The Cle Elum Ranger District began initial planning on the Swauk Pine Project responding to the high risk of habitat loss resulting from high fire risk and the high ratio of Wildland Urban Interface associated with the Town of Liberty land use development. The action supports efforts outlined in the Swauk Basin Wildfire Protection Plan authored by the citizens of Liberty with assistance from Cle Elum Ranger District staff. The Swauk Pine Project reduces the risk of wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels and reestablishing natural fire regimes reducing wildfire management costs and better protecting late successional and old forest structure. The plan cannot be fully implemented without replacement of the County's load limiting bridge on Swauk Creek. It is our understanding that in 2018, Kittitas County Department of Public Works completed an update to its twenty-year Transportation Plan. The plan is completely revised from previous efforts reflecting impacts from deferred maintenance of County bridges over a ten-year period (2007-2017). The plan contains a funding plan reflecting a comprehensive evaluation of all transportation funding mechanisms in Washington State law as of the publication date (2018). A funding shortfall in the Public Works revenue, addressing significant infrastructure needs through 2038, identifies as shortfall of nearly $100,000 million. Without federal funding support for replacing the Swauk Creek Bridge, other local priorities will likely result in continued load limiting on the structure. During 2019, we further understand that the County worked with Forest Service District staff attempting to solve the access issue. A pending timber sale is now on indefinite hold as the deficient bridge cannot support timber sale vehicle loads. The bridge also limits significant elements implementing the Swauk Pine Project. The primary purpose of the Swauk Pine Project is two -fold: • Improve resilience to wildfires and other disturbances by returning the forested landscape to a state that is within or closer to the historic range of variability. • Improve the resilience and function of aquatic systems that have been degraded by previous and ongoing human actions. The Swauk Pine area supports year-round dispersed recreation including camping, mining, hiking, hunting, four-wheel driving, horseback riding and snowmobiling. The load limited bridge restricts access of many fire -life -safety response vehicles from serving the area. The Swauk Pine Planning area is 6,484 acres in size encompassing 287 acres of private land and 6,242 acres of National Forest System land that have proposed restoration objectives across the landscape. A total of 6.4 miles of Forest Service System jeep trail plus 1.9 miles of Forest Service System road that is dual use. 18 miles of groomed snowmobile trail are also included in the area. Replacing the deficient bridge unlocks emergency response vehicle access supporting numerous recreational uses in the area. Sincerely, Senator Judy Warnick Representative Tom Dent Representative Alex Ybarra 13111 District 131h District 131h District Logi,bti,r Building • Olcmpin. N%A WiOA4A82 MOUNTAINS T c�Mmlmatd 19. Co Ewmp -,f- as, (l„ ue J vzIItlBF,upial leudml{ t i<ARarI. EWICW REIC op Fp ;,MM;bn! SMirtary fWbirsi'111 (pM1ni11M(I,iJ wogrdm C. -ti. 3a,' fun EegG.Em ,us Joshkitaky('I, Pmlm Xcn R,;.am ('t RLstlem Doug Mc(kIMM1X•I, POmn Aisblanl Rag'm Marlagm sV.,hglm SW,CarvntionC~ Cscaaa Law PPLLC Wadr.l Nan<s Wa*llon SraW Dlat m: M Nalt al .rz Enmed'm V). Res nl Jassm ,Op i".sCommR,mOah Board Erlgagmnem Comnic:mtBwr "amul;ret,. I Xun Laese!'I.kaeu ald Axs«iaMs lMNAGL errrcke i'. Panner M Wadual';.ARorrey mnNCeeahv,5, IPMGLLP NBLGamsLLP Nuunla'.ns to SoaMGremwry Tust ' November 24, 2020 GREENWAY Mark R. Cook, Director Kittitas County Department of Public Works BOMID OF OLNECi0115 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 1 Lin Anderson. ^eM1m+, SIM Rlves LLP are „n al.cW ImmeecMmx, Ellensburg, WA 98926 Am Beta, Re,eed fmnder, xu,Mab Toys aMar iM. Ptlet M„Wne<gim BAs, M. Dear Mr. Cook: Marsh"AR Recreakn,sal TarciLlkme, hla vaiw. seruta waanvglm ale Deplan mml a N,lwal �mes Us.. Gaq MML V/&W Rm WLspn I am writing on behalf of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, in support of Kittitas WMIArymn Sae Deplanmm, a Natural Relurm as,rl.Pl<,id<m. Mml<—t—a—dw County Department of Public Works' submittal of a 2021-2023 Federal Lands Access W, G.., Dre<m,, Rhp Unsay Pam a Mrealmn swnonam.ePawGM:.nw,aldngmn Program Grant replacing the Swauk Creek bridge on Liberty Road. This load limiting wI Qapnla, I'I. PoM Rmdml aaoun airs eo 5owd 4menway,ul Wen CMRWM (X). NagC "E dve bridge currently prohibits implementation of the US Forest Services' Swauk Pine Kmy [rag Deputy DAenor. Washinyor. Rognm. nMwdea,esa sooaY Project. Xxl fo,yapc. MaragerdlmplemaR�ons,Thpmm� Reueen Mphle Wes Rpaumsorkty rviMry Rm,M;ALCpmn;adoeraPubk,arq; The Okanogan -Wenatchee National Forest has been working towards restoration Wash;p ,stare DepM,,t Cq arvamal ReWurces AY,Reinger,EommMryOreMahsagwn efforts near Liberty, WA since 2010, when insect outbreaks killed large numbers of o o n p°C °al"ratk w n"� G" standing trees. The concentration of standing dead timber, occurring near the Wildland WMh'e,ym Swe N,M d k<realbn Commkvm MmAHdeman.OwrR2 Copper RvgeP„m:xAq,0.Mp M[mawl Urban Interface of the town of Liberty, poses a high risk of severe wildfire that could Angell An K«mm.allr w,aretr. wlmwik Mr. cnr,,,a,,,„p,,GLm<CmR„Eng;n«,,c<,En�,l<aM1 easily cause massive damage to property and habitat. The Swauk Pine Project reduces AnaewMMAaxapLwlewnae:' the risk of wildfires b harvesting the dead trees and masticating other hazardous fuels. w,neingsbury emeMMwasnMglo¢lnc. Y g g Naank The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust has partnered with the OWNF and the WA. Y USgAiLWa,,-A sWvseme us=SMLeae--SwOOalmkrvaWMl roma ”"etNK r, R.WEmdm'meM,[G """t Department of Natural Resources to conduct cultural resources analysis on the insect- h,MLGossd "Gv p Xm Xnrdgarwrklaa°nah Alps,ra;hcw kill area, prior to this work. It is a highly collaborative project that will reestablish P g Y P 1 r.np,<u,i Exmmrve ol,mn,ErergrmnMounumMx MMNe Da,a,y de,* M'smA natural fire regimes, reducing wildfire management costs and better protecting the Shame Linton, NaranMCOn ftam SLCWWs pM ne Asv,w(Gm<Mlcanwo, m E.00 m L forest and nearby communities. However, the Project cannot be fully implemented ROyam k rA[n RgM Sall EneryY EXMCN^w .msm 6leervx0Tr ZE sas,e>,wa without replacement of the Swauk Creek bridge. ROM[ AbneNM.!mXR U m.]81 PW am,me BmiN compar,e W40n hl` a Y. A.(; l*`WI dCEO, saidG,OOIW " All w dd W° ,aTMneparMhm, In 2018, Kittitas County Department of Public Works completed an update to its VlaW, %sn SWI<D[padM1meM M Tramm,'JIGn Gw: NesMrd,DBecmr.MkmwhRpnremenl twenty-year Transportation Plan which identified a $100 million funding shortfall for Man Nmeon, Me',tlmailod; Lmm Prefervatan AUM aim , s0'Xeae.PaddCNWSt aaNinpW aw.. significant infrastructure needs. Without federal support for replacing the Swauk Creek Ax kan WMM .. DaaWft RA.D cx..7he,lw FiAtOkL W Bridge, other local priorities will take precedence, and the bridge will remain load Alga Pa,r M1, Aas WCean aAaa Afsry CdkgeaEmironmeM UawrWYOEw,ahMym limited. A pending timber sale is now on indefinite hold as the deficient bridge cannot Aias ROeia. NO!eLeAssss.,Ttla y*Assst rnanFa M DN .o,Can< � Prn;ML S .Mb support harvest equipment, or emergency response vehicles. This endangers not only lance fay. lanred AWRam w, C Wp Maas A Publshinq WW,a,;rymp the work and investments made by the Greenway and other partners, but also the Am RaaMNam rl. Ftin qY d smo, Manaq:y Dveclp. NEAFELWDLLC community of Liberty, and significant recreational infrastructure. MkS R^ AAms eAwmla wX SahrmYThe Moon lneer Walaan Alpine Gab .rsNla,Wn,Eawn,IwMm<1m,waa,lyM,T„NA::«mlm, For these reasons, and in deference to the thousands of Washingtonians who enjoy Al SmNL PW .."m,Cca LLP DaesiMM„<Y,nLR<,i,<,,L�<Pmm<MCNMYNaI year-round camping, hiking, jeeping, horseback riding, hunting and fishing in the Swauk area, we wholeheartedly support Kittitas County's request for FLAP funding to replace "°�dyBB ;tango mlp,W PU A the Swauk Creek Bridge. xmr,npmaAaelwna�,�omrm.auwMhayml g Leah Trd.Orymbaedut kdpmarce Mawgn, City Bagel OBkexmk Sincere)Y MBM WJlims IXL xperv;w,, , USES OLarogamWerum�ee HNional fun[ M1MwMbms Re:ked. former SmbY ePrevdnL H Yn ,NWA0 lo<'YOM.R!Mpl Royam Wafter.0 Cz,mssn W uMmk Va1kY YMI[W fi h (Y C¢M¢r ad Clwtmn u+e Cw+nR�A4ndn MTSG REENWAY.O RG 2701 FIRSTAVENUE SUITE 240 SEATTLE• WA 981211206.382.5565 I INFO@MTSGREENWAY.ORG C, Jon Hoekstra Executive Director Mountain to Sound Greenway Trust (206)890-1474 ion. hoekstra@mtsereenway.ore and Nicky Pas t-4 4 Upper Yakima Basin Community Coordinator Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust (509)656-4073 nicky.pasi@mtsgreenway.org ak APASH Sustainable Forest Collaborative December 2, 2020 Mark R. Cook, Director Kittitas County Department of Public Works 411 North Ruby Street, Suite 1 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Dear Mr. Cook, This letter expresses the support of the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative for the Kittitas County Department of Public Works submittal of a 2021-2023 Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant to replace the Kittitas County owned Swauk Creek bridge on Liberty Road. The Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative has a purpose to improve ecosystem health and natural functions of the eastern Cascades landscape through the use of the best available science, community input and adaptive management. We pursue this purpose through a collaborative process that engages five entities' and other associated stakeholders that have a diverse expertise in forest restoration, management, and protection. This combination of partners in the Collaborative creates a unique mix of public, non-profit, and tribal land managers working together to create ecologically sustainable healthy forests on the east side of the Cascades. A century or more of wildfire suppression, intensive harvesting, grazing, and mining have resulted in widespread degradation of terrestrial and aquatic habitats and made the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest (OWNF) susceptible to uncharacteristic fire, insect, and disease outbreaks. As a result, there is a need for restoration efforts and stakeholder engagement across the landscape. Time is critical, and the size and scale of the forest restoration need is growing. In response, the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative utilizes a collaborative process to move forward priority forest restoration projects on the OWNF. The Swauk Pine Priority Project area was identified in response to the high risk of habitat loss resulting from high fire risk, the critical use of the watershed for various fish species including Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed Steelhead, forest management, providing access to popular recreation areas, and to the high ratio of Wildland Urban Interface associated with the Town of Liberty. The purpose of the Swauk Pine Project is to improve resilience to wildfires and other disturbances by returning the forested landscape to a state that is within or closer to the historic range of variability, and improve the resilience and function of aquatic systems that have been degraded by previous and ongoing human actions. The Swank Basin Wildfire Protection Plan outlines efforts to reduce wildfire risk, reestablish natural fire regimes, reducing wildfire management costs and better protecting late successional and old forest structure. The FLAP grant proposal supports efforts outlined in the Swank Basin Wildfire Protection Plan, which cannot be fully implemented without the funds for design and replacement of the County's load limiting bridge on Swank Creek. The bridge has been found to be structurally deficient and currently limits access to the Liberty and Williams Creek Watershed without replacement. The load ' The Nature Conservancy of Washington State, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Yakama Nation. atTAPASH Sustainable Forest Collaborative December 2, 2020 limited bridge also restricts access of many fixe -life -safety response vehicles from serving the area, and replacing the deficient bridge will allow access to emergency response vehicle, thus supporting numerous recreational uses in the area. The development of a new bridge design will accommodate watershed function restoration critical to a healthy aquatic ecosystem and is supported by the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative objectives for the landscape. We hope you will advance this critical FLAP grant. Sincerely, Ross Huffman, Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative Chair