2023-06-26-minutes-bureau-of-land-management

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06/26/2023 MINUTES 1 COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY 3:00 P.M. JUNE 26, 2023 Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright & Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. Excused: Vice-Chairman Brett Wachsmith. Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Mike Bosko, Upper Yakima Project Manager for Mid-Columbia Fisheries, Curtis Bryan, Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management(Webex), Mark Cook, Public Works/CDS Director; Clay Myers, Sheriff; and Jon Meier, Assistant Field Manager for BLM (Webex). UPDATE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT COMMISSIONERS Chairman Wright opened a Special Meeting to obtain updates from the Bureau of Land Management. Curtis Bryan, Field Manager for the BLM, provided an update on the Bureau of Land Management’s work and projects including the fire staffing and Yakima River Recreation Site Maintenance and Operation. He said the Yakima River area is the most popular within Washington State and most of the BLM’s focus and work. He said they’ve been working on the Yakima Canyon Ranch acquisition which is approximately 650 acres currently owned by the Western Rivers Conservancy and hoped to finalize by January 2024. He also provided an update on the Ringer Road Restoration efforts. Commissioner Osiadacz questioned Travel Management Planning. Mr. Bryan said the BLM is involved; however he can’t say how the Forest Service works through their process. He explained how it was an extraordinary undertaking effort and takes a lot of funding. Clay Myers, Sheriff, asked for a status update on proposed rule changes with respect to expanding the definitions for conservation groups or organizations. Mr. Bryan said they were still accepting public comment and it seems to have been getting a lot of attention. The Board said they would like semi-annual updates from the BLM. The meeting was concluded at 3:34 p.m.