HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution_BOR_LetterofAkcknowledgementKITTITAS COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
2023 AGENDA STAFF REPORT
AGENDA DATE: December 5, 2023
ACTION REQUESTED: Request to Approve a Resolution to Authorize the Chair's
Signature on US Bureau of Reclamation Acknowledgement
Letter
BACKGROUND: Recently, Public Works briefed the Board of County
Commissioners on US Bureau of Reclamation design
efforts supporting ongoing Flood Control Zone District
floodplain enhancement efforts involving the Hansen Pits
levee. Public Works desires the Board to formally
recognize the employees involved in the design effort.
INTERACTION: Public Works.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution to Authorize the Chair's Signature
on the letter acknowledging design efforts from US Bureau
of Reclamation staff.
HANDLING: Return one original to Public Works.
ATTACHMENTS: Resolution; Letter to BOR
LEAD STAFF: Mark R. Cook, Director.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF KITTITAS
STATE OF WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION
NO.
AUTHORIZING THE CHAIR'S SIGNATURE ON A LETTER TO THE UNITED
STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION ACKNOWLEDGING RECENT
FLOODPLAIN DESIGN SUPPORT
WHEREAS: The United States Bureau of Reclamation provided technical assistance for
floodplain design work on lands owned by Kittitas Couty and managed by the
Flood Control Zone District; and
WHEREAS: The technical design support provided by staff from the United States Bureau
of Reclamation Columbia -Pacific Northwest Region provides a long-term
improvement along the Yakima River downstream of the Schaake Setback
Levee; and
WHEREAS: The Board of County Commissioners desires formally recognizing the design
support of the United States Bureau of Reclamation Columbia -Pacific
Northwest Region and the participating employees delivering the design.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The Board of County Commissioners, after due
consideration, does hereby authorize the Chair's signature on a letter to the United States
Bureau of Reclamation acknowledging recent floodplain design support.
DATED this 51h day of December 2023, at Ellensburg, Washington.
Attest:
❑ Clerk of the Board- Julie Kjorsvik
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Cory Wright, Chairman
Brett Wachsmith, Vice -Chairman
❑ Deputy Clerk of the Board- Mandy Buchholz
Laura Osiadacz, Commissioner
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Kittitas County, Washington
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AIrTIreS cot nrt District One District Two District Thee
Cory Wright Laura Osiadacz Brett Wachstnith
December 5, 2023
United States Bureau of Reclamation
Columbia -Pacific Northwest Region
Ms. Jennifer Carrington, Regional Director
1150 North Curtis Road
Boise, ID 83706
RE: Thank you for Technical Assistance for Kittitas County Floodplain Restoration
Dear Ms. Carrington:
This letter conveys the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioner's appreciation for
outstanding service provided by your staff supporting floodplain restoration activities conducted
by our Flood Control Zone District. Our Water Resources Manager and Public
Works/Community Development Services Director recently informed the Board of County
Commissioners of the outstanding design support provided by Mr. Christopher Cuhaciyan and
Mr. Timothy Deweese of your office. These engineers exhibited significant thinking "outside" of
the box delivering an engineered solution supporting activation of new floodplain, the creation of
significant additional riparian habitat and a proposal that dramatically reduces flood risk to
county residents. Please convey our gratitude to these gentlemen for their assistance to our
Flood Control Zone District. We look forward to implementing design elements in the next
several years.
You may be aware of the ongoing cooperative relationship Kittitas County shares with the
Bureau of Reclamation. We worked closely together with Reclamation and other partners
delivering the Schaake Property Habitat Improvement Project here in Kittitas County. Yakima
River Basin Water Enhancement Program (YRBWEP) funding supported the recent design
services provided by your staff and modeling support by Reclamation's Technical Services
Center. In the spirit of collaboration with Yakima Basin Integrated Plan partners, this effort
leveraged Reclamation's previous modeling and design work on the Schaake floodplain
restoration project. We appreciate the coordination and support ofYRBWEP to provide the same
technical assistance on this project. We are keenly aware of the financial and human resources
Reclamation made available during this recent floodplain design effort. Thank you for your
vision and support of coordination with local government and integrated floodplain management.
Sincerely,
Cory Wright, Chair
Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners
C: Mark R. Cook, Director of Public Works/Community Development Services
Arden Thomas, Water Resources Manager
Chris Duke, Columbia -Cascades Area Office Manager
Wendy Christensen, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation YRBWEP Manager