Chehalis Basin Watershed Management Planning - Next Steps

September 21, 2001 ÿÿ

Considering the time frame for completing the Plan and the current momentum, the Steering/Technical Committee (STC) suggests moving forward with components of Phase 3 now, specifically issue identification. The STC recommends utilizing the sub-basin approach (using the CBP as the group conducting the meetings as a whole) to writing the Plan, since it will be more manageable to build the plan, allow more public involvement using local meetings, and let the Chehalis Basin Partnership learn about important local issues in each sub-basin. In the Plan, recommendations will be made both on the level of the entire Chehalis Basin and by the four sub-basins:

1. Rivers/streams that drain directly to Grays Harbor
2. Rivers/streams that drain into the lower Chehalis River
3. Rivers/streams that drain into the middle Chehalis River
4. Rivers/streams that drain into the upper Chehalis River

The STC also recommends that stakeholder groups be asked to identify specific issues and solutions by interest areas, e.g. agriculture, forestry, cities, fisher groups, water purveyors, and citizens.

October - December 2001

This period of time can be used to

• review criteria for Phase 2, Level 2 studies and prioritize these studies
• set up parameters of sub-basin approach (define boundaries, appoint a Partnership member to coordinate meetings and outreach in each sub-basin)
• begin to identify stakeholder groups in each sub-basin during this time (e.g. agriculture, forestry, cities, fisher groups, water purveyors, citizens)
• develop detailed summaries of existing information, for example the Level One Assessment, to streamline decision-making for Partnership members and policy makers
• hold technical sessions for Partnership, e.g. on water balance
• continue efforts to involve and educate entities/initiating groups/individuals that are not fully engaged
• complete prioritization of Phase 2 Level 2 studies and start to look for a contractor to perform the needed studies (e.g. mass water balance analysis, groundwater info)
• begin work to fill in a matrix to identify issues and solutions, which can be developed by the Steering/Technical Committee (STC). It might look something like the chart at the top of the following page

(Example Only)

Element	Specific Issue	Basin or Sub-basin	Comments	Priority	Possible Solutions	Implementation Strategy
Water Quantity	Water Balance	Chehalis
	Water Rights Issuance	Chehalis/State
	Flood Control	Middle Basin
	Other
Water Quality	TMDL	Chehalis/ Middle Basin
	NPDES Permits	Middle Basin
	Other
Habitat	Stream Restoration	Lower Basin - Humptulips
	Other
Other Issues	Regulatory vs. Voluntary Approach	Chehalis
	Other

January - April 2002

During early 2002 the Partnership should

• begin holding its monthly meetings in the different sub-basins, involving local stakeholder groups and individuals
• invite these participants to give input into the Plan
• use these meetings or separate, local workshops to further identify sub-basin issues
• employ Citizen Advisory Committee recommendations to ensure public support of Plan recommendations and action s

April - July 2002

This period of time can be used to

• begin identifying solutions to problem issues and start identifying the stakeholders (including local governments) that must be involved for such solutions to be implemented
• begin putting together sections of the Plan that are ready to fit into the outline
• keep the Partnership updated on Phase 2 Level 2 studies
• employ Citizen Advisory Committee recommendations to ensure public support of Plan recommendations and action s

July - December 2002

For the second half of 2002, it will be important to

• more specifically identify solutions to outstanding issues in each sub-basin and across the whole Basin
• begin establishing the agreements to implement these solutions
• continue compiling and writing the actual Plan, using all input including the Level 1 and 2 reports
• possibly re-meet with sub-basins to more fully identify or confirm solutions
• possibly meet with identified stakeholders group to work toward solution s

Note:

It is important to maintain the momentum that has been re-built over the summer. It will be very difficult to get things going again if you back off now and wait until Phase 2 Level 2 studies are completed - also, you may not be able to complete the Plan by October 2003. We recommend the above schedule in order to keep things moving. Even if Partnership meetings this fall, winter, and coming spring are NOT held in the different sub-basins, other components of this process should be considered in order to keep folks up to speed about progress on the Plan.

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