CHEHALIS BASIN PARTNERSHIP
Steering Technical Committee MEETING SUMMARY
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Building
600 Capitol Way
Olympia, WA
October 4, 2007
9:30 AM
MEMBERS PRESENT |
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Lee Napier, Grays Harbor County |
J Roach, Citizen, Thurston County |
Mark Swartout, Thurston CountyDebbie Carnevali, WDFW |
Cheri Lindgren, Puget Sound Meeting ServicesChanele Holbrook-Shaw, Citizen, Thurston County |
Kahle Jennings, City of Centralia |
Matt Ely, USGS |
Kernen Lien, Lewis County |
Mark Savoka, USGS |
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Terra Hegy, WDFW |
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J Roach, Citizen, Thurston County |
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Jim Hill, Citizen, Lewis County |
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Jim Pacheco, DOE |
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Randy Lehr, Grays Harbor Community College |
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Samuel Iwenofu, Quinault Indian Nation |
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Nadine Romero, Thurston County |
Announcements and Introductions
Chair Swartout called the Chehalis Basin Partnership (CBP) Steering Technical Committee (STC) meeting to order at 9:37 a.m. Everyone present provided self-introductions.
Meeting Agenda
Members reviewed the meeting agenda.
Ms. Napier said the purpose of the topic is to share ideas about Grays Harbor Community College’s role concerning the Water Coordinator position. A prior option discussed was contracting the position; however, it might be more appealing if the Partnership could provide a sense of security and place the employee within an agency. Grays Harbor County has no space for additional staff. She reported she spoke with Mr. Lehr about forming another partnership with the college and the CBP for the college hiring and housing the Watershed Coordinator. The plan is to review ideas before presenting a proposal to college administration.
Mr. Lehr explained that creating physical space at the college to house the position is an option. He said he anticipates the college would support the proposal. He reviewed potential scenarios. Once details have been formalized, Mr. Lehr said he will present the proposal to college administrators.
Ms. Napier said a concern is that the person hired might have a long commute to Grays Harbor College. She said she also contacted Mr. Jennings about the position. Mr. Jennings indicated Centralia might have space available for the Watershed Coordinator that could serve as a satellite location.
Mr. Lehr described the AmericaCorps Team Program that is designed to facilitate program development and transition. AmericaCorps provides stipends for interns and pays partial or full salary for an intern coordinator. Independently, the college is examining the program as an avenue to move forward with elementary and middle school recycling conservation outreach programs. The person overseeing the program doesn’t want her only responsibility to be oversight and maintenance of interns. She would like to remain involved in teaching and outreach components. An idea to leverage funds and programs could include the person overseeing the AmericaCorps Program and the Water Coordinator working with interns to advance community and school outreach activities. The college currently has an AmericaCorps-based project referred to as an individual project with three interns working on outreach. The funding agency approached the college and encouraged the college’s application for a team program. The funding match steadily increases over time.
Ms. Napier asked members for comments about hiring a person that works for an agency rather than a contracted position as well as asking the college to sponsor the employee. The employee would receive benefits and office space.
Discussion ensued about ongoing funding for the position beyond 2009. Mr. Swartout said a function of the Watershed Coordinator is to pursue additional funding streams.
Jim Hill arrived at 9:50 a.m.
Mr. Jennings said an advantage of the college and/or Centralia providing office space is that the Watershed Coordinator would not work in isolation.
Mr. Swartout said he sees a benefit of housing the employee at Grays Harbor Community College, as well as having access to a satellite office.
Mr. Jennings added that office space is located at the old wastewater treatment plant on Mellon Street. Centralia is looking at adding local access TV at the plant that could provide an effective outreach tool.
Mr. Lehr outlined the college’s hiring structure and scale. If necessary, creating a new position and title would take some time to process.
Members generally concurred to pursue developing a partnership with Grays Harbor Community College and hiring a Watershed Coordinator.
Mr. Swartout asked if a presentation could be scheduled at the Partnership’s October meeting. Mr. Lehr provided additional details. There is a coordinator position within the college structure that starts at $45,000 per year plus benefits ($17,000 per year). If funding is short, the position could be modified to a part-time position. However, expectations of the position could change.
Ms. Napier said she will work Mr. Lehr and brief the Partnership at its October meeting.
Discussion ensued about linking the long-term AmericaCorps Program with the short-term individual program. Mr. Lehr said the next three-year funding cycle begins March 2009.
Ms. Holbrook-Shaw said it would be great if the Watershed Coordinator could work directly with the person overseeing the AmericaCorps Program to disperse outreach and education concepts. There is the concern that if the Watershed Coordinator works directly with AmericaCorps, it might deter from advancing Partnership goals.
Ms. Napier indicated she shares the same concerns.
Mr. Lehr said it will be difficult to leverage funds if the Watershed Coordinator is not directly involved with AmericaCorps interns. Some intern oversight will be required. He indicated he will contact administration and present the concept.
Matt Ely, US Geological Survey (USGS), introduced Mark Savoka, USGS. Mr. Ely said the agency is working to enter measurement data into USGS’s database that requires a site name, number, and location. The recent seepage measurements taken in the Chehalis Basin is the largest USGS has undertaken in quite some time. USGS can transfer the data as transitional until it is entered into the database. The agency has agreed to publish the data as part of its annual report. USGS is evaluating the best way to officially transmit the information and is in the process of creating a web page with links to share records with other partnerships and Grays Harbor Community College. Eventually, interactive mapping would be nice. USGS is interested in working with the college and GIS Clearinghouse to share other information. USGS has a GIS coordinator that handles transfer of data. Mr. Lehr indicated he could help facilitate transferring data. Mr. Ely said the intent is to ensure data are available to the public.
Mr. Iwenofu commented that the Quinault Indian Nation (QIN) has completed projects within the Chehalis Basin. He provided Mr. Ely with a copy of a hydrological report. QIN is pursuing exempt well mappings and water right issues projects.
Discussion ensued about USGS’s involvement as it relates to QIN projects and the potential to coordinate efforts. Mr. Ely said USGS was tasked with seepage measurements. A supplemental Scope of Work (SOW) will examine the agency’s role for future endeavors. Nothing has been formally discussed or agreed upon at this time. He outlined locations where measurements (70-75 sites) were taken over a three-day period (September 11 – 13, 2007).
Mr. Jennings shared information on the Partnership’s decision to pursue seepage measurements. To mitigate impacts during low flow periods there might be opportunities to shift from surface water withdrawals to groundwater and not impact surface flow during low flow periods. The contract with USGS is the first piece of information required to complete a broader study.
Mr. Iwenofu said QIN is interested in actively participating and sharing information.
Mr. Savoka explained that USGS recognizes there are other agencies and public and private entities within any watershed that have investigated major portions of a watershed but not the entire watershed in an integrated manner. He indicated QIN’s work would prove valuable for future comprehensive studies. USGS can take advantage of information and experience that goes back decades that’s not possible for USGS to capture.
Mr. Lien asked if Mr. Iwenofu could provide copies of QIN’s completed reports to the STC. Mr. Iwenofu said he will follow up.
Discussion followed about a letter the Partnership recently mailed to QIN. Mr. Iwenofu reported he will relay what he learns from today’s meeting to the Tribe.
Ms. Napier asked if it would be helpful if the Partnership sent a letter requesting information. Mr. Iwenofu replied that sending a letter of request would be helpful.
Members discussed the difference between analytical and numerical models and how both the Partnership and QIN could benefit from collaborating and sharing information. USGS has not had an opportunity to review data collected to provide an understanding about gaining and losing reaches. Mr. Ely did say it appears there are normal communications between the aquifers.
Ms. Holbrook-Shaw asked if cross-referencing data points with well logs is planned. Mr. Ely answered the first step of any study is to conduct a literature review, followed by identifying data needs and/or data gaps, and compiling information. There are 5,000 wells, primarily domestic, identified within the USGS database for the watershed. However, two-thirds of the database has not been updated since 1990. Conversely, the Department of Ecology (DOE) has more than 17,000 wells in its database for the Chehalis Basin. The Department of Health (DOH) has identified 2,500 wells among the four counties.
Mr. Iwenofu reported QIN has collected and compiled well data, as well as undertaken an exempt well mappings project. QIN has a repository of information.
Mr. Ely explained the next steps to refine data to build a conceptual understanding of the aquifer system. Going through 20,000 well logs is not practical or needed. USGS will work towards narrowing the number that is representative of the area. Exact well locations and water levels are critical. Hydrologists can then begin to put together a hydrologic framework of where aquifers are situated. The Confederated Tribe of the Chehalis Reservation has done a well inventory and DOE has conducted a site study in the Centralia/Chehalis area. A refined database will help inform future research efforts.
Supplemental work consists of two aspects. Using the remaining $55,000, from the initial $90,000 is one. USGS can draft a proposal on how to use that piece of funding. The second aspect is writing a proposal for a larger, longer-term basin-wide study to include milestones, budgets, and staffing. At that point, USGS would also disclose what the agency can provide in terms of funding to support a cooperative program. USGS has already agreed to write the larger proposal for consideration.
Mr. Ely suggested the committee discuss whether it would like USGS to write a smaller proposal for the remaining $55,000. Anything proposed with the remainder would come from the longer-term study. USGS could provide cost information associated with groundwater data. If that’s not what the Partnership wants to pursue with the remaining funds, USGS could investigate other options.
Mr. Savoka commented that when measuring stream flow during a low flow condition, there are underlying assumptions. A significant component of stream flow is groundwater. In order to tie surface water information into behavior of the watershed, it is often necessary to construct a second monitoring network working in unison with the surface water network. Mr. Ely has suggested necessary steps to establish and operate a monthly or quarterly groundwater monitoring network. Once comparisons of gaining and losing reaches with specific groundwater levels occurs, it is possible to understand conditions in the groundwater system that are requisite to the observed stream flows, which then forms the basis of a conceptual model, which a numerical model attempts to replicate. That type of information is necessary to characterize the watershed and ground and surface water flows.
Members discussed additional variables depending on the time of year seepage measurements are taken. Mr. Savoka confirmed USGS will discount variables (precipitation and snow melt) for seepage measurements taken in September. There are times when precipitation and snowmelt are active variables. The model will account for variables.
Mr. Lehr left the meeting.
Ms. Napier said one goal is to provide the Legislature with a report of accomplishments in the December/ January timeframe.
Mr. Ely said developing a numerical model is a longer-term goal. The groundwater database is a needed step to build the geology.
Mr. Swartout distributed copies of the agency’s potential SOW to assess water resources of the Chehalis River Basin.
Discussion ensued about high flow periods, what drives stream flow, and how to capture surface and groundwater interaction.
Mr. Savoka conveyed that he and Mr. Ely are available to answer technical questions following the meeting. He outlined additional steps necessary to inform any long-term characterization of the watershed. Additional steps focus on examining existing well records, cleaning them up, preparing them for field work, and establishing a groundwater network that serves as a companion network to the surface water network. Seepage measurements taken will be repeated several times under different hydrologic conditions to characterize and understand the behavior of the system during its natural annual cycle. The groundwater element is another important piece. If it’s the Partnership’s goal to conduct a characterization of watershed resources, USGS suggests a next step of pursuing cursory work for two operating/monitoring networks - surface and groundwater. Additional steps and information will have to be acquired and/or compiled, and existing data evaluated to create a hydrologic framework, budget, and a number of datasets that are instrumental to achieving predictive capabilities. USGS can develop a proposal that outlines next logical steps and what it might cost. The Partnership can then decide how to proceed.
Mr. Ely reiterated USGS has already agreed to write a full detailed proposal for the long-term water resource inventory assessment by the end of the year if desired. He asked if the committee would prefer USGS to wait, and draft a shorter, more immediate proposal (prior to the end of the year), for the remaining $55,000 or some subset that would come from the next proposal.
Mr. Jennings said the committee would like both. As the Partnership seeks additional funding streams, it needs the entire context and next steps of the process outlined. Mr. Swartout agreed. A broader work program with a step-by-step process would be beneficial.
Mr. Jennings said another advantage is that there might be elements that stakeholders can fund and assist with.
Ms. Napier noted there is a need for an entity to take a lead.
Discussion followed on when USGS could prepare and share proposals with the Partnership. Mr. Ely indicated USGS could present SOWs at the Partnership’s December meeting.
Mr. Jennings indicated it’s important to explain next steps to electeds. Mr. Savoka stated USGS is more than willing to attend governing body meetings and explain the proposals. He summarized that by December 21, 2007, USGS will prepare a full scope proposal for a four-year study. Embedded within the proposal is the next step portion utilizing the remaining $55,000.
Ms. Napier requested USGS representatives attend the committee’s December 6, 2007 meeting.
Mr. Swartout suggested that a basic hydrology presentation will be helpful for Partnership members. Ms. Romero offered to coordinate a presentation for the Partnership’s November 16, 2007 meeting.
Mr. Swartout reported on Steve Craig’s retirement from DOE. Continued representation from DOE is important. He emphasized the importance of DOE’s involvement in basin activities. Mr. Craig has been instrumental in securing additional funding resources. The contract with USGS will continue and expand. The Partnership approved the concept of writing a letter to DOE regarding a watershed lead.
Mr. Jennings said there is a concern about budget issues at DOE that could delay hiring and filling Mr. Craig’s position.
Mr. Swartout suggested an option is to ask that DOE appoint an interim watershed lead until Mr. Craig’s replacement is hired.
Discussion followed about matrix management at DOE. Mr. Swartout said the watershed lead should remain in the current DOE organizational structure.
Mr. Pacheco commented that the water resources division is very involved in watershed planning, which is a better fit.
Members generally agreed and asked Ms. Napier to draft a one-page letter from Bonnie Canaday to DOE focusing on both the need for an immediate interim and permanent replacement for Mr. Craig. The letter should stress that the role of watershed leads is critical to watershed planning efforts. Members suggested the letter also include successes.
Mr. Swartout and Mr. Jennings volunteered to review the draft letter.
Scope of Work Proposed by City of Centralia to Complete Task 7 – Clarifying Water Rights of the Phase 4, Year 2 Contract
Mr. Jennings distributed copies of a SOW to initiate implementation of tasks associated with Interim Milestone (IM) 3.1. He reviewed background information associated with Centralia’s conjunctive water supply project. Centralia has a contract with HDR for work on the Skookumchuck River Basin pilot project. He outlined deliverables that consist of:
· Implement a pilot water right mapping project for the Skookumchuck River Basin within the Chehalis Basin
· Mapping will include point of diversion or point of withdrawal, quantify, and type of use for existing surface and ground water certificates, permits, and pending applications
· Develop a SOW for an assessment of water right claims in the Chehalis Basin
Members discussed the last task. Mr. Jennings said the intent is to look at the water rights and permits. Based on that, the process of looking at claims is the same.
Related to the second task, Mr. Lien suggested adding the place of use as well as point of diversion.
Mr. Swartout said the information will be useful for USGS’s project. It was noted that a GPS position is needed for point of withdrawal. Mr. Lien conveyed Lewis County has some GPS points.
Discussion ensued about QIN forwarding additional pertinent information to Mr. Jennings or Ms. Napier. Ms. Napier said she will include a reference to the project in a letter to QIN concerning the sharing of information to help avoid duplicating efforts.
Members discussed water right banking, trust program, and without adjudication it is not known if rights are invalid and can be banked. Mr. Pacheco indicated that only the adjudication court can determine whether a water right is still valid.
Mr. Jennings offered to work with Ms. Napier and Mr. Louthain to refine the SOW.
Mr. Swartout reported he spoke with Tom Clingman, legislative lead for the shoreline program at DOE. Mr. Swartout suggested coordinating the committee’s legislative work with DOE and identify which counties and/or cities have meetings scheduled with legislators before the session to schedule time to talk about the Partnership.
Ms. Napier said Lewis County does not have a meeting scheduled. However, mayors meet monthly with commissioners. There have been some discussions about a legislative meeting concerning transportation. She said she conveyed to Lewis County that she is interested in talking about the CBP.
Mr. Swartout said he will explore scheduling time to talk about the Partnership at Thurston County’s Board of County Commissioner’s legislative breakfast.
Mr. Lien said he will work with the transportation lead at Lewis County and follow up on a meeting date.
Discussion ensued on additional funding that might be needed in 2008.
Ms. Napier reported the Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment (EDT) model is now available to the Partnership at no charge. Grays Harbor Community College is housing the model. It’s possible that the US Army Corps of Engineers will cover the costs of training and infrastructure to support the EDT technology.
Mr. Swartout said moving forward with the USGS project is a high priority.
Discussion ensued about USGS providing an estimate for the work to enable the Partnership to pursue funding allocations within agency budgets and legislative representatives who can discuss and convey the importance of replacing Mr. Craig.
Mr. Jennings said the Legislature is interested in how the Partnership shares resources.
Ms. Napier said she will work on drafting a legislative newsletter or flyer that includes a list of accomplishments and how the Partnership shares resources for the committee’s October meeting. Ms. Holbrook-Shaw offered to assist in developing a fact sheet.
Members discussed the Watershed Festival and proclamations issued by local governments.
Mr. Iwenofu left the meeting.
Members continued their discussion on legislative outreach strategies.
· Watershed Coordinator – Ms. Napier and Mr. Lehr to provide introductory information
· Interactive GIS website demonstration – Grays Harbor Community College
· Storage grant update and develop SOW
· Legislative message
· Watershed Festival report
Members reviewed possible agenda topics for the STC’s November and December meetings:
· Mr. Jarocki talking with the committee about organizational structure again in November
· Centralia’s refined SOW in December
· Ms. Romero’s basic hydrology presentation in November (also presenting at the Partnership’s November meeting)
· Follow up on the legislative message in November
Ms. Napier said the committee discussed organizing a workshop to discuss the storage grant. DOE was concerned about a new list of candidate projects. The intent is to draft a short list using 2003 assessment projects as a basis. Grant funds could be used for outreach and developing a feasibility study. There are funds available to hire John Kliem to facilitate that discussion. She indicated she would follow up with committee members about possible workshop dates.
With there being no further business, Chair Swartout adjourned the meeting at 12:18 p.m.
Prepared by Cheri Lindgren, Recording Secretary
Puget Sound Meeting Services