WASHINGTON WATER PROJECT CLEAR CREEK FISH PASSAGE AND INSTREAM FLOW ENHANCEMENT

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1 WASHINGTON WATER PROJECT CLEAR CREEK FISH PASSAGE AND INSTREAM FLOW ENHANCEMENT Final Narrative Report for Agreement RR October 12, 2018 Please also view the project story map at:

2 PROJECT SUMMARY Clear Creek is the first perennial tributary to the Chiwawa River upstream of the Wenatchee River- Chiwawa River confluence. Known salmonids present include steelhead, cutthroat trout, and Chinook salmon. Habitat is suitable for other salmonids including bull trout and coho. Upstream passage has long been impeded by a rock dam and community domestic diversion, an irrigation diversion, and a small unused weir. All of these structures are associated with Thousand Trails Leavenworth campground resort. Goals for the Clear Creek Fish Passage and Instream Flow Enhancement Project (the Project) included switching surface diversions to groundwater wells and removing passage impediments. Extraction of the diversion dam was explicitly tied to identification of a suitable alternative community domestic water source i.e., finding a production well capable of meeting water needs for a large resort campground in an area dominated by low capacity residential wells. The Project enjoyed broad agency support, including the Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington State Department of Health, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. TIMELINE 2014: Identified project objectives, developed preliminary cost estimates, initial funding requested from Tributary Committee and US Fish and Wildlife Service, and early planning with the landowner. Operations and maintenance costs associated with the community domestic supply incentivized landowner participation and investment in Project activities. 2015: Site visits with pertinent permitting representatives. Water right change process initiated. Authorization from Ecology to drill test wells. USBOR well specialist visited to provide drill site guidance. Initial drill site yielded insufficient supply. 2016: Professional hydrogeologist conducted site investigation including use of GPR; site selected. Well drilled, developed, and pump-tested in late August with suitable supply. Protective covenant established per DOH requirements. Completed the cultural resources consultation. Extended primary power to well site. 2017: Received water right change approval. Contracted engineers to develop water system plans. Produced DOH Source Approval Package. Completed a cut across Chiwawa Loop road to lay casing pipes for water and electric lines. Advertised bid in August, determined bids were too high, postponed construction. Secured funding for diversion dam removal in : Re-advertised project in January, received bids in February, found bids still exceeded project budget. Secured additional funding and worked with landowner to increase their investment. Finally selected low bid. Went to construction in May, completed in August, commissioned system in early October. In the end, 0.21 cfs during the summer (10-15% of base flows) and 0.15 cfs year-round were legally protected in 0.65 miles of Clear Creek.

3 CHALLENGES Cost increases: Project costs climbed considerably from inception to bid advertisement. Project bids were higher than preliminary cost estimates, largely attributable to a much more competitive bid climate than in All bids exceeded the engineer s opinion of probable cost. After both bid processes yielded prices the Project could not afford, we considered additional sources of financing. Working with our partners we were able to rescope funding from the Washington Conservation Commission, secured a new grant from the Drinking Water Providers Partnership, graciously received additional support from the Tributary Committee, and achieved an additional investment from the landowner. Construction scheduling: Chelan County Public Works planned to regrade Chiwawa Loop Road in August 2017, resulting in a 5-year road cut moratorium. Armed with a set of draft but workable engineering designs, we decided to complete a cut of Chiwawa Loop Road in May 2017 ahead of the full Project construction effort (and in advance of the Chelan County road improvement). This turned out to be one of the best decisions we made during full construction the contractor encountered siltstone-sandstone bedrock east of Chiwawa Loop Road. The contractor was able to trench the bedrock using a hoe ram, but horizontal boring under a brand new Chiwawa Loop Road likely would have failed, and the Project would have incurred expensive change orders as well as a completion delay into 2019 while a road cut variance was secured. Water source/supply: We were able to locate a water source capable of meeting community domestic demand which will allow removal of the diversion dam in However, the source is not sufficient to replace the irrigation diversion. The irrigation intake has been fitted with a compliant screen constructed by WDFW, and the landowner is interested in working with Trout Unlimited on efficiencies and/or alternate irrigation water sources. Early season weather: Snowmelt and spring rains resulted in a high water table during the first two weeks of excavation, which slowed progress and even forced a one-week shut down. The contractor periodically used a trash pump to evacuate the trench. Public drinking water system: This is the first public drinking water system project completed by the Trout Unlimited Washington Water Project office. We underestimated the time and resources required for the DOH permitting package. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE TRIBUTARY COMMITTEE The Tributary Committee expressed concern over management and implementation of the Project as indicated in a letter sent on 8/20/2017. We d love an opportunity to debrief with the Tributary Committee to learn how we might improve our project management methods and suggest some time be set aside at a future Tributary Committee meeting.

4 Well Drilling and Testing August 2016 An 8-inch test well was drilled at a site identified through a hydrogeological investigation. The well was developed, subjected to a step-drawdown test, and then evaluated during a 24-hour constant rate test. Four private residential wells on neighboring properties were monitored during the constant rate test. Water levels were recorded using pressure transducers and/or manual depth sounders.

5 Primary Power Extension October 2016 Primary power was extended near the site of the well and new treatment building. The trench was backfilled and compacted according to Chelan County PUD specifications. Both fiber and electric were stubbed out of a new transformer.

6 Chiwawa Loop Road Cut and Repair May 2017 A road cut was completed to lay 9-inch casing pipes under the Chiwawa Loop Road to sleeve the new water and electric lines. The road cut was pushed ahead of full construction to coordinate with a Chelan County Public Works road improvement project. The trench was backfilled and compaction tested to 95% density using a pre-determined proctor.

7 Full Water System Construction May-August 2018 Full system construction started near the well/treatment building site and worked toward the distribution storage tank. Work on the treatment building started as soon as trenching in the area was finished. The submersible well pump and pitless adapter were installed.

8 Full Water System Construction May-August 2018 Contractors initially had to deal with a high water table. Excess water was evacuated from the trench using a trash pump. Despite a lack of proprietary utilities information contractors completed all 1700 feet of trench with only two line breaks.

9 Full Water System Construction May-August 2018 Trenching-backfill-compaction in the field was the easiest and quickest phase of full system construction. Siltstone-sandstone bedrock was encountered east of Chiwawa Loop Road. A hoe ram was brought in to peck a trench. The project engineer conducted a progress inspection and asked the contractor to expand the pipe zone bedding area in the bedrock trench before the excavated rock could be placed over the top.

10 Full Water System Construction May-August 2018 The new treatment building was color-matched to existing campground structures. A gravel pad was laid adjacent to the building for well servicing/maintenance. The water system is run by a PLC. This brain instructs well operation, switches to backup power during an outage, and auto-dials the campground manager in case of system error/failure. It also maintains flow data for monthly and annual reporting. The system was commissioned in early October after approval from the engineer and WA DOH.