Jack Creek Culvert

The Jack Creek culvert is assembled and the process of backfilling around it was completed at the end of last week. The backfill material was installed in 8 inch layers and each layer was compacted as specified in the project design.

The backfill next the new culvert is compacted using a "jumping jack" compactor. The pipe on the right side of the photo conveys the creek water around this section of the creek. It will be removed when the project is complete.

The streambed gravel and habitat features were started inside the culvert. The culvert will be filled with approximately 5 feet of streambed gravel. In the upper portion of that gravel, large boulders will be placed and the streambed re-constructed.

The streambed gravel and boulders inside the Jack Creek culvert.

Work to assemble the Indian Creek culvert will begin early this week. Full project completion is scheduled for late September.

The bedding that will support the Indian Creek culvert was installed land compacted last week in prepartion to assemble the new culvert.

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Pre-Bid Meetings

Manastash Creek Restoration Project

Last Friday we conducted a pre-bid meeting for the Menastash Water Ditch Association (MWDA) and Consolidated Diversion. This project includes a fish screen structure and instream rock weirs for fish passage. Construction will be contracted and administered by HDR Engineering and funded directly by Bonneville Power Administration.

The prospective bidders at the project site.

This was an exciting event for us. We've been working on the Manastash Creek Restoration Project for a number of years and to finally conduct the prebid meeting was a big step forward. This means that in addition to the Barnes Road diversion, construction should also occur at the MWDA/Consolidated diversion this fall and winter. That will mean that two of the three planned facilities will be in operation by the 2010 irrigation season. The third facility is the Keach/Jensen diversion and it should be addressed next year.

Yakima Tributary Access & Habitat Program (YTAHP)

We conducted a pre-bid meeting yesterday for the Coleman Creek Diversion Modification Project. This project addresses an unscreened irrigation diversion and the second fish passage barrier on Coleman Creek. Bids are due next week and the project should go to construction this fall.

Mark Crowley talks with prospective bidders at the Coleman Creek project site

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Small Project Cost Share & Firewise

We are currently accepting applications for our Small Project Cost Share Program and our Fire Protection Cost Share program. The applications are available online (http://kccd.net/Announcements/) and at our office.

The Small Project Cost Share offers 50% reimbursement and up to $3,000 to landowners implementing projects that improve natural resource conditions. An example would be a project to convert from an earthen ditch to a pipeline. If it costs $4,000 to do this project, including equipment, labor, and materials, the landowner would receive $2,000 from the program. The other $2,000 could be landowner cash or contributed by the landowner as "in-kind", meaning that the landowner could use their own backhoe to dig the trench or they could put the pipeline together themselves and count their hours. Important things to remember are that the projects must be designed and installed to meet Natural Resources Conservation Service specifications and that no project costs can be incurred until a cost share agreement has been approved by the KCCD Board of Supervisors and the landowner has been issued a "notice to proceed".

Buried pipeline project funded by the Small Project Cost Share Program

The Fire Protection Cost Share Program provides cost share to landowners working to reduce fuels and fire danger on their property. This program doesn't have a specific reimbursement or cost-share rate, however landowners who provide part of the project cost are more likely to be funded. In the past, projects have received between $1,200 and $10,000 in funding from the program.

Landowners trim trees along access roads to reduce fire danger

In conjunction with the Fire Protection Cost Share Program, we have a consulting forester who assists with fire protection assessments. Thembi Borras accompanies our staff (usually Suzanne) to properties, conducts an assessment and provides recommendations to the landowners.

Thembi Borras inspecting a stand of pine trees.

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Jack Creek and Indian Creek

Work continues on the Jack Creek and Indian Creek culvert replacement projects in the Teanaway. The new Jack Creek culvert is partially assembled. The culvert has 4,000 bolts that must be hand torqued. The Indian Creek culvert replacement is next in the project sequence. The old culvert was removed this week and excavation for the new one started.

We now have another project out to bid, the Coleman Creek Irrigation Diversion Modifications project to install rock weirs, a fish screen and configure a pump sump. The bid package is available on our website at http://kccd.net/Announcements/Announcements.htm

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