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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />COUNTY OF KITTITAS <br />STATE OF WASHINGTON <br />RESOLUTION <br />No.2023- P 321; <br />AUTIIORIZING CHAIR SIGNATURE ON A MEMORAI\DUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN <br />KITTITAS COUNTY AIID TROUT UNLIMITED <br />WHEREAS: Kittitas County has purchased land and water rights previously associated with Tjossem <br />Ditch to advance floodplain management, create a water rights portfolio for mitigation of <br />new uses, and secure back mitigation for historic groundwater exempt water use goals; <br />and <br />WHEREAS: A floodplain management, streamflow improvement, and habitat enhancement goal <br />associated with these purchases is to extinguish all water use from the'ljossem Ditch, <br />which diverts from the Yakima River and conveys water across the floodplain; and <br />WHEREAS: Trout Unlimited, a Michigan non-profit organization working to restore rivers and recover <br />and conserve native trout and salmon, has been working with Tjossem Ditch water right <br />holders to fulfill their water rights from alternative sources; and <br />WHEREAS: Trout Unlimited has secured $470,000 in funding to enable ljossem Ditch water right <br />holders to fulfill their water rights from alternative source ("the Tjossem Ditch Retirement <br />Project Project"); and <br />WHEREAS: Trout Unlimited requires an additional $80,000 to complete all work needed to finalize the <br />Tjossem Ditch Retirement Project; and <br />WHEREAS: Kittitas County desires to provide up to $80,000 in funding to ensure that the 'Ijossem <br />Ditch Retirement Project be completed and to ensure that 14 cubic feet per second of <br />water associated with water rights formerly diverted through the 'ljossem Ditch remains <br />instream in the Yakima River and that flood control measures will no longer be needed to <br />protect or maintain the Tjossem Ditch point of diversion. <br />NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVf,D that the Board of County Commissioners of Kittitas County, <br />Washington, in the best interest of the public, does hereby authorize Chair signature Memorandum of <br />Agreement between Kittitas County and Trout Unlimited. <br />DATED this 4th day of April 2023, atEllensburg, Washington. <br />BOARD OF COTINTY COMMISSIONERS <br />, WASHINGTON <br />;a= <br />B Julie Kjorsvik <br />poard- Mandy Buchholz <br />lillll ABSENT <br />5rtn" <br />Laura Osiadacz, Commissioner