Office of the Secretary Manager

Kittitas Reclamation District Board of Directors Meeting

August 6, 2019 Minutes

The Board of Directors of the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) met in Regular Session on August 6, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. Attending the meeting were Division Three Director and Chairman Fred Schnebly, Division One Director and Vice Chairman Mark Hansen, Division Two Director Ed Wakkuri, Division Five Director Paul Weaver, Division Four Director Larry Bland, Secretary Manager Urban Eberhart, Assistant Manager Kevin Eslinger, Field Supervisor Bob Main, Treasurer Stacy Berg, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Keli Bender, Lands Clerk & RRA Specialist Sara Vickers, Legal Counsel Jeff Slothower. Also, in attendance were KRD land owners Janeice Jump, Connor Treat and Mark Charlton.

The amended agenda was approved with the addition of an executive session for reasons consistent with RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i). The motion was made by Director Hansen and the second was made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

The minutes for the July 9, 2019 Board Meeting were approved with a motion made by Director Weaver and the second was made by Director Bland. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comment: Connor Treat asked the board to consider prohibiting access on the canal ditchbank near his property. There was an extensive conversation that ensued and the board advised Mr. Treat that they would look into the situation further and will have more information after the next board meeting.

Water Master Report: As of August 6, 2019, the five reservoirs are at 47% capacity which is 72.4% of average. The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) increased the pro-ration by 2%. It is expected that with this pro-ration level the KRD will be able to meet the September 15^th anticipated shut off date.  A pro-ration water use spreadsheet that is used to keep track of the water usage throughout the season was presented to the board.

Maintenance Report: Mr. Main reported that the crews are continuing to clear the right-of-way’s, moving fences that are blocking access on the North Branch, clearing brush on the north side of the canal, spraying and mowing are continuing. There are crews working at Easton Dam on concrete work and there will be some minor painting being done as well.

Secretary Manager’s Activity Report: Mr. Eberhart presented to Central Washington University for the AMIP – LCM Meeting on July 18^th. A tour was conducted in conjunction with Kittitas County Conservation District for the same group of people the following day in the Manastash Area and the KRD Tributary Supplementation Program was described to the group.

Trout Unlimited Director Lisa Pelly and Mr. Eberhart presented at the Klamath Basin Coalition of the Willing in Medford, OR on July 31^st.

The KRD is planning to host an Upper Yakima Basin Tour for Mark Limbaugh on August 27^th.

Director Wakkuri made a motion for Mr. Eberhart to travel to Washington D.C. during the last week of October. A second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.

An Appraisal Phase II Draft Scope of Work was presented for the Upper Yakima System Storage Project. There is approximately $1.6 Million dollars allocated to this project in the Washington State Capital Budget for continuing to work on the Upper Yakima Storage Study.  

Trout Unlimited Director Lisa Pelly and Mr. Eberhart continue to have meetings and discussions with recent graduates of the Evans School at the University of Washington regarding WaterSmart Water Marketing. There was a tour provided and the group is narrowing down the information to get the concepts that will work best in the Yakima Basin.

The Yakima Basin Focused Aquifer Managed Recharge Assessment project is continuing.

The 2019 Tributary Supplementation program is continuing. The KRD is looking into the possibility of adding water to Swauk Creek in the future. There was a discussion regarding the low inflows of water coming into the Manastash and Taneum Creeks from above the canal. 

Mr. Eberhart presented two Task Authorizations for Professional Services. The first was for Jacobs Engineering for the Water Conservation Mod. Section 106 Programmatic Agreement to not exceed $159,000.00. The second, was for Jacobs Engineering to add the South Branch Reach 2-5 Bid Support to the current task and not exceed $212,725.00.

The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force Report has been published and was made available for the board to review.

The Washington State Department of Ecology was planning to release dye in the Yakima River to test water turbidity. Due to the timing of the release, it was rescheduled to a later time outside of irrigation season.

Mr. Eberhart reported that the SEPA publication for the canal lining projects was published in the newspaper.

The Bid Notice for the South Branch Phase I Reach 2-5 Construction was published on July 25^th. The Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled for August 7^th. The Bid Opening will be on August 23^rd.

The South Branch Phase II Engineering Design Contract has been received for the Stream Flow Restoration Grant for Robinson Creek to Manastash Creek in the amount of $2,000,000.00. Director Bland made a motion to approve the agreement with the Department of Ecology subject to legal review. A second was made by Director Hansen, the motion passed unanimously.

The North Branch Phase III B Construction Project is scheduled for this winter and will go out to bid when we know we have the grant funding to cover it.  

Treasurer’s Report: The Directors’ monthly payroll vouchers were presented for signatures. Summary Vouchers for the June 2019 expenses and the July 2019 payroll which included check numbers 43403-43483, direct deposit numbers 9901696 through 9901712 in the sum of $328,586.49 were approved with a motion made by Director Wakkuri. The second was made by Director Hansen, the motion passed unanimously.    

Old Business: The Washington State Auditor’s Office continues to work on the 2018 Accountability and Financial Audit.

The 2019 Foreclosure List was provided to the board. Letters were mailed out to the landowners and the remaining accounts have until September 1^st to settle their accounts before the foreclosure process continues.

Legal Counsel Slothower advised that KRD Lands Clerk Sara Vickers went to a planning meeting and received a less than favorable response from the committee regarding our request to keep the current zoning unchanged. A letter was drafted in response by legal counsel and will be reviewed by Mr. Eberhart. The City of Ellensburg Planning Commission will meet again on August 22^nd where KRD staff will be in attendance. 

New Business: Director Bland made a motion to pay the 2019 Yakima Basin Joint Board membership in the amount of $40,000.00. A second was made by Director Weaver, the motion passed unanimously.       

Other Business: The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 2:56 p.m. for 10 minutes per RCW 42.30.110(1)(i):(i) there was a motion made by Director Wakkuri and a second made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously. Executive Session was extended for an additional 15 minutes. The Board returned to Regular Session at 3:21 p.m. with a motion made by Director Wakkuri, and the second was made by Director Weaver. The motion passed unanimously.

All business having been concluded the meeting was adjourned.

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Mr. Schnebly KRD Board of Directors Chairman

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Mr. Eberhart KRD Secretary Manager