Manastash Project Construction

The Manastash Creek Restoration Project is finally seeing substantial construction! The Barnes Road diversion fish screen and fish ladder facility has been underway for a couple of weeks. The first of several concrete pours is scheduled for Monday November 2nd.

Construction crew began setting the forms for the concrete pour and preparing the footings this week.

The Menastash Water Ditch Association (MWDA) and Consolidated Diversion construction is starting this week. The contractor worked on access road improvements and preparing to dewater the stream reach where 7 rock weirs will be constructed to accommodate fish passage.

Tomorrow, the entire creek will be diverted into the upper reach of the MWDA Ditch and then routed through an excavated diversion channel back into the creek just below the lowest rock weir. A fish salvage will occur at the same time. Rock weir construction should begin next week.

The contractor began excavation of the bypass channel that will go from MWDA's ditch to back to the creek. On the left is Chris Landreau, an archaeologist on site to monitor excavation for cultural or historic resources.

AL

Fall Projects

Construction of the Jack and Indian Creek culverts is 99% complete. Remaining work mostly involves the road (striping, etc.). We are now working to replant the riparian areas at each project site.

WCC Planting Crew at Indian Creek

Another component of the Manastash Creek Restoration Project is set to begin next week. A sprinkler conversion project for a landowner in the Menastash Water Ditch Association (MWDA) will result in saved water placed in the Trust Water Rights Program in perpetuity. The trust water associated with this project brings the total water secured for Manastash Creek to 4.7 cubic feet per second (cfs). The intial goal is to reach 6 cfs.

Dan Swan (PSE), Sherry (KCCD), and Bob Gregerich (MWDA) discuss the eletrical service needs for the sprinkler conversion project.

AL

First Manastash Fish Screen Construction Underway

The Barnes Road Diversion fish screen is now under construction. The screen facility and a fish ladder are being installed by Belsaas & Smith Construction. Barnes Road is closed to all but local traffic to allow for construction. Work is expected to continue through February.

The MWDA/Consolidated fish screen facility and instream rock weirs will also be constructed this fall and winter by Belsaas & Smith Construction Inc. That work is funded by Bonneville Power Administration and contracted by HDR Engineering.

The work area is protected from Manastash Creek by a large coffer dam constructed with bulk bags and plastic sheeting.

The facility will be constructed along the edge of the creek and essentially in the location of the excavator in this photo. The Barnes Road bridge over Manastash Creek is on the right side of the photo.

AL

Audits and River Function

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. Here are a few highlights:

Audits

The 3-year audit by the State Auditors office happened this summer. The audit report has been posted at http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar1002251.pdf. In addition to that audit, we were also subject to a "single federal audit". This audit is triggered when we spend more than $500,000 in federal funds in a calendar year. The report for that audit is posted at http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar1002252.pdf. We are pleased to have this process complete for the year!

River Function

We are looking into a concept called "flood fencing" to address the impacts of high flow events. This concept has been pioneered by Snohomish County. A few of us made a quick visit to sites on the Skykomish River near Sultan and Goldbar and learned more about the projects from Bob Aldrich (Snohomish County Public Works- Surface Water Division). Last week Bob visited our area, giving a presentation to interested folks and then visiting a site on the Yakima River. Flood fencing can help to protect farmland from debris during a flood. It can also be used more aggressively to help direct flows to protect land, infrastructure and riparian habitat.

Rob Acheson talks (left) with Bob Aldrich (center) and Ryan Roberts (right) about a side channel of the Yakima that borders his property.