·
Technical
Watershed
Management Plan (2004) –
The Partnership provides a current vision and framework for water resource
management in the Chehalis Basin. The Plan calls out 56 priority actions that
we believe are essential to understand the water resources and management in
the basin.
Multi-Purpose
Water Storage Assessment of Basin (200) – The Partnership conducted a survey-level study to identify potential projects
to store excess wintertime runoff for use in the drier months to increase
flows.
Chehalis
Basin Instream Flow Study (2003) –
The Partnership assessed habitat and hydrologic conditions in the basin. This
study is the first step in establishing baseline data of low flows at locations
throughout the basin and for use in evaluating regulatory flows with local
input.
Detailed
Implementation Plan (2007) – The
Partnership outlined a comprehensive approach for retaining sufficient water in
the Basin for production agriculture, commercial, industrial and residential
uses, and instream.
GIS
Clearinghouse (ongoing) – The
Partnership compiled GIS data of the Chehalis Basin area. The GIS data is
detailed in 29 layers.
Ecosystem
Diagnostic Treatment (EDT) –
The Partnership in collaboration with Grays Harbor College and the US Army
Corps of Engineers are working to acquire the computer model EDT built for the
Chehalis watershed. The model is for salmon management while looking at the
entire ecosystem and designed to provide a practical, science-based approach
for developing and implementing watershed plans.
Characterization
of the water resources of the Chehalis Basin through a partnership with USGS – The
Partnership intends to submit a request for financial assistance to initiate
this project with USGS. Once funded the project includes compiling and
evaluating information needed to characterize a hydrogeologic setting and
ground-water flow system in the basin and its interaction with associated
surface-water features which will be used in the construction of a conceptual
model.
The
Steering Technical Committee helped draft a Request for Qualifications to
assist the Authority in hiring staff.
During
the development of the watershed plan, the Partnership hosted a series of 4
workshops across the basin.
The
Partnership continues to host a series of forums at Chehalis Basin Partnership
meetings to share information related to the December 2007 storm event.
RECOMMENDATION
The
Partnership recommends forming a relationship between itself and the Authority
wherein the parties agree to work together on basin-wide issues, including:
- Integrating
technical work where possible
- Leveraging
resources where we have overlapping interests
- Coordinating
public involvement efforts regarding flooding
- Cooperating
on other issues as opportunities arise
Several
members of the Partnership also participate in the work of the Authority and
will continue to attend. The Partnership invites the Authority to attend our
monthly meetings.
DATED:
Bonnie
Canaday, Mayor Pro Tem City of Centralia
Chair,
Chehalis Basin Partnership
ATTACHMENT: CHEHALIS BASIN PARTNERSHIP MEMBERSHIP
Partnership
membership includes the following entities who signed an interlocal agreement
as well as many others who regularly participate:
Grays
Harbor County
Lewis County
Mason County
Thurston County
The
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis
The
Port of Centralia
The
Port of Grays Harbor
Aberdeen
Centralia
Chehalis
Hoquiam
McCleary
Montesano
Napavine
Ocean Shores
Pe
Ell
Boistfort
Valley Water Company
Grays
Harbor Water District #2
Washington
Department of Agriculture
Washington
Department of Ecology
Washington of Fish & Wildlife
Washington
Department of Natural Resources
Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force
Lewis
County Farm Bureau
Weyerhaeuser
and
Four
Citizens, one from each county:
Grays
Harbor-Terry Willis
Lewis-Lyle
Hojem
Mason-Peter
Hiebert, and
Thurston-Chanele
Holbrook-Shaw
