NANEUM, WILSON, AND CHERRY CREEK WATERSHED ASSESSMENT

Transcription

1 NANEUM, WILSON, AND CHERRY CREEK WATERSHED ASSESSMENT Presentation for Voluntary Stewardship Program November 9, 2016

2 Watershed Assessment This Watershed Assessment is intended to develop a partnership between stakeholders to identify and study watershed issues, related to: Flooding Irrigation Infrastructure Water Quality Fish and Aquatic Habitat

3 Objectives of this Study Facilitate communication with landowners, stakeholders, and decision makers Landowner Advisory Group Technical Advisory Group Advisory Committee Data collection Develop a plan to collect critical data Review existing information for the Naneum, Wilson and Cherry Creek watersheds Use the results of the review to identify data gaps and information needs Locate and map actual stream locations Develop a hydrologic and hydraulic model

4 Objectives of this Study cont. Gather information to understand issues/problems and develop an approach for future projects. Develop criteria and options for determining future projects Develop a process to prioritize habitat investments and steelhead recovery and management actions Identify flood hazards and mitigation actions Coordinate irrigation and infrastructure investments with other watershed improvements

5 Objectives cont. Data collection Review and gather data Use the results to identify data gaps and information needs Develop a plan to collect data needed for future projects Develop a prioritized list of actions by screening preliminary alternatives Locate and map actual stream locations Develop a hydrologic and hydraulic model

6 Community Benefits Implementation of the plan in subsequent phases helps to: Protect homes, businesses, and agricultural lands from flooding Minimize public expenditure on repair of facilities and infrastructure such as utilities, streets and bridges; Improve fish habitat Identify irrigation improvement opportunities Improve safety- minimize the need for rescue and relief efforts associated with flooding Increase public access Improve economic security

7 Project Schedule Where are we? Project Extension Opportunity Two great years of data: 2015 drought versus 2016 above average. Cost savings to date have provided for an extension of the project through May of Allow us to acquire another winter and spring of hydrology data and refine models.

8 Irrigation Overview The Yakima basin has the most intensive development and use of water in the state. Increased demands from growth, effects of withdrawals, endangered fish, and climate change are adding to the challenge of finding new water supplies. Some irrigation intakes do not meet current fish screening standards and need to be updated.

9 Irrigation Network Complicated system of intersecting streams and ditches within the watershed Streams Irrigation

10 Irrigation The Yakima River Basin Integrated Plan is intended to address many water supply issues on a landscape level. This project is not intended to replace or duplicate the Integrated Plan, but to identify strategic opportunities to align with the plan and associated funding.

11 Flood Events 1894 Wilson and Nanum creeks played havoc in Ellensburg. Parts of the Valley flooded for two months 1917 Ellensburg floods 1933 Major Yakima River flood. About 7,000 acres inundated near Ellensburg 1956 Major flooding in Ellensburg and valley creeks Ellensburg floods Ellensburg, Reecer, Cooke, and Caribou flooding University and Chestnut Cooke Creek at Brickmill Rd Naneum Floods Ellensburg floods Worst Yakima river spring flood in history Ellensburg floods Liberty Theater- 5 th and Pearl Wenas St. & 5 th Ave. Major Yakima river flood. Wettest Nov. on record. Wenas St. & 5 th Ave. 2009

12 Ellensburg Flooding Mercer Creek merges into Wilson Creek just north of this point. The Umtanum gage is at a height of feet. Flood stage is 35.5 feet

13 Ellensburg Flooding Ellensburg rodeo grounds flood

14 West Ellensburg Flooding Flooding is an ongoing public hazard requiring expensive post flood restoration.

15 Infrastructure Naneum/Wilson flow splitter Wilson Creek in Ellensburg Coleman Creek at EWC In stream barriers that prevent fish passage and affect habitat may include: Undersized culverts and bridges Roads Developed lands Utilities Much of this infrastructure is aging or has been continually damaged by floods, long-term plans for replacement and upgrades need to be identified, coordinated, funded, and implemented Partnership opportunities for infrastructure improvements need to be identified and maximized

16 Water Quality Water quality issues impact water uses, potentially making it unsafe for drinking or recreation and threatening the health of aquatic animals and fish living in it. Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) have been developed. Current activities include water quality monitoring and implementation of recommended actions. This study will consider existing water quality issues, but will not be identifying stand alone water quality projects.

17 Fish and Aquatic Habitat Availability Naneum, Wilson, & Cherry Creek Watershed Naneum, Wilson, & Cherry Creek Watershed

18 Steelhead Population Trends As more habitat became available between 1980 and 2015, steelhead populations increased.

19 Fish and Aquatic Habitat Needs Naneum, Wilson, & Cherry Creek Watershed This watershed is one of the key blocked areas within the basin needed to meet the steelhead spatial structure standard

20 What have we learned? Challenges with existing data sources. Extremely complex hydrology in the watershed. Limited habitat data.

21 Geodatabase Contents

22 Data Challenges Combine data from multiple scales to 1:1200 Combine data points from multiple data sources with different or missing attribute data

23 Data Challenges Whiskey Creek (27 RM Vic.) 1:1,200

24 Stream Data Cleanup After Whiskey Creek Before Whiskey Creek After

25 Stream Data Cleanup After Whiskey Creek Before Whiskey Creek After

26 Infrastructure Data Challenges Before After Placeholder

27 Infrastructure Data Challenges Infrastructure Priority stream reaches Unknown structures Known structures, but unknown type, size, or barrier status

28 Infrastructure Data Challenges Infrastructure 25 Structures 7 of 25 are unknown 17 of remaining 18 no barrier data 9 of remaining 18 no size data

29 Lack of Habitat Data Habitat Agreement on priority locations

30 Habitat Data Gap Habitat Project Partner time, staff, and level of effort didn t allow for full habitat data collection PRIORITIES: Flow (depth, velocity, bankfull width) in areas with constant hydrology Barrier information Riparian cover (GIS layer developed using LiDAR/aerial imagery

31 Hydrology Data Update What have we learned? Pressure transducers

32 Low flows and high temperatures

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34 2D Hydraulic Modeling

35 Water Rights Complex Water Rights. How to simplify to use as a screening tool for irrigation improvement opportunities? GIS display

36 Areas of Overlapping/Supplemental Water Rights

37 Priority Dates

38 Place of Use Related to Point of Diversion

39 How does the Phase 1 Watershed Assessment align with the Voluntary Stewardship Program? VSP work plan is to protect critical areas while maintaining the viability of agriculture in the watershed. The work plan is to include measurable goals and benchmarks. The information from the Watershed Assessment can be used as baseline data where possible.

40 How does the Phase 1 Watershed Assessment align with the Voluntary Stewardship Program? Data from the Watershed Assessment can be used to assist with VSP baseline monitoring for the effects on critical areas and agriculture. Phase 2 projects that benefit habitat, flood hazard reduction, water quality, and irrigation improvements all meet the protection and enhancement goals of the VSP.

41 Questions?