Manastash

At the Barnes Road diversion, water was allowed through the facility in order to observe the function of the fishway. Adjustments continue to be dicussed by the project engineer and WDFW. It was interesting to see the facility with the fish screens submerged and the fishway operating. We're just a few steps from actual start-up and testing of the fish screen, air burst and automated gate systems.

The fish screens were submerged (foreground) and the fishway was operating yesterday. This fishway actually has rock in parts of it, which is a new technique for this area.

At the MWDA/Consolidated diversion, the facility is coming together rapidly. The CMU block eqiupment building was constructed last Friday, and the trusses and roof were added this week. Both the electricians and the plumbers have been working on the air burst and automated systems. Several large gates were delivered and installed. Next week, WDFW will be installing the fish screens, the contractor will complete the last pour (an apron for the building and a small fillet in the structure), and the plumbers and electricians will be finalizing their work.

The mechanical building went up quickly. This buildling houses the air compressor and tank for the air burst system and all the controls for the automation.

The gates were installed at several locations in the structure. These two gates are the outlets for the irrigation ditches. The laborer working on the structures gives an idea of the scale of this facility.

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Sky Meadows Ranch

On Saturday morning, we presented Sky Meadows Ranch with their Firewise Communities USA signs and trophy. They are now officially recognized for their serious commitment to reducing wildland fire risks within their community. The homeowners in the 400+ lot development have been working for years to thin and prune trees and clean up downed wood. In 2008 they hired a contractor who brought in a huge chipping machine. More 8,000 cubic yards of material were chipped and removed. In 2009 they continued their work, focusing on roads throughout the development over which the tree canopies nearly touched. This work improves the safety of escape routes and function of the roads as firebreaks. All of this work was accomplished with funding from the KCCD and WA Department of Natural Resources, as well as many, many hours of volunteer time from homeowners.

For more information about Firewise Communities, visit www.firewise.org/usa/index.htm.

In 2008 a chipper was brought in and over 8,000 cubic yards of material were removed.

Sky Meadows Ranch worked last year to prune or remove trees along the roads within the development in order to improve escape routes and to provide fire breaks.

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Manastash Project Rolls On

Both the Barnes Road Diversion and the MWDA/Consolidated Diversion projects are moving toward completion. If this were a race, Barnes definitely would have the lead. The structure is essentially complete and the equipment building has been constructed. The plumbers and electricians have been working on the airburst system for the fish screen and the automation for the airburst system and the gates in the last few days. We are expecting start-up and testing as early as next week.

The air tank at the Barnes Road site has been installed in the building. The air in this tank is released through the manifold to clean the fish screen.

At MWDA/Consolidated diversion, the contractor has worked hard in the last month and the biggest concrete pours are now complete. Backfill is being placed around the north side of the structure. When this backfill is complete and new headgates arrive and are installed, the coffer dam in the creek can be removed. The CMU blocks for the building arrive tomorrow. If this building goes as fast as the one at Barnes, it should be up by the end of the week. WDFW is expected on site next week to begin installing the fish screens.
The schedule at MWDA/Consolidated is still very tight, but the contractor is staying on track and the site should be ready for start up and testing by late March.

Backfill is being placed on the north side of the structure. The frame in the structure will hold the fish screens.

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Long Range Plan

The Board of Supervisors approved the KCCD Long Range Plan for 2010-2015 at last Thursday's meeting. The plan is now available on our website for the public to review.

The long range plan was updated during the month of January through an open work session and staff follow-up. The Board of Supervisors reviewed the update at last week's meeting and approved it. Hard copies of the Long Range Plan will be mailed to our key stakeholders (local, state and federal elected officials and agency staff) this week.

January 12 work session for updating the Long Range Plan - KCCD Chair Mark Moore leading the discussion and Anna taking notes.

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2010 Election Conducted

The KCCD 2010 Election was conducted yesterday. The unofficial winner is Mark Moore. Once the election is certified by the Washington Conservation Commission, Mark starts serving another 3-year term.

We were lucky to have great volunteers again this year. We work with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Big thank you's go to Ken Titus, Michelle Loun, Judy Howard, and Sandy Chavez for their work as polling officers at the polling station in our office and to Bea and Larry Cates for their time at our Cle Elum polling station.

Ballots were counted after the polls closed. Volunteer Judy Howard tallies the votes, while volunteer Sandy Chavez opens the ballots. Anna observes, as the Elections Officer.

Bea and Larry Cates were our polling officers in Cle Elum.

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Manastash Creek Restoration Project

Progress continues on the MWDA/Consolidated Diversion and Barnes Road Diversion fish screen and fish passage facilities.


At Barnes Road, the subcontractors are beginning to install the plumbing system. The CMU block building that houses the equipment was started last week and will be finished this week when the trusses and roof are constructed.

CMU block building as of last Friday. The building will house an air compressor and tank for the air burst cleaning system as well as the controls for system and automated gates.

At the MWDA/Consolidated Diversion, another large pour was completed on Friday. This is the second wall pour and together with the first wall pour, near 300 linear feet of walls have been completed. There is likely to be just one more concrete pour, to finish the walls, some additions to the slab, and the foundation for the CMU block building. That pour is scheduled for this coming Friday.

Mike Garello (HDR) and Sherry discuss the concrete test results during the pour.

Belsaas & Smith's crew pouring the north wall, east walls, and an interior wall of the structure.

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KCCD Annual Meeting

Last night was the KCCD Annual Meeting. The Board and staff were joined by 30 guests. We enjoyed a great meal and a presentation about the activities of the KCCD over the last year.

Enjoying our dinner at the Palace Cafe

2009 was a very big year in terms of projects and expenses. We spent nearly $3.6 million (twice our normal budget!), with two thirds of that going directly into on-the-ground projects. We had a number of the projects that had been in the planning stages for years finally go to construction all at the same time (or so it seemed). Most of the projects were fish screens and fish passage, but there were also irrigation efficiencies upgrades, small cost share projects, PAM Cost Share, and Firewise cost share. In all, direct financial assistance was provided to 45 landowners and we contracted for construction that benefits at least 20 more landowners. Here are a few highlights of the impacts of 2009 projects.

• The fish passage portion of the projects collectively result in 10 miles of additional stream habitat available to fish.
• The fish screening facilities protect more than 65 cubic feet per second collectively.
• The irrigation efficiencies improvements resulted in new irrigation systems on nearly 270 acres and 2.4 cfs placed in the Trust Water Rights Program in Manastash Creek and Coleman Creek.

In addition to reviewing the activities of last year, we also presented a number of awards. The KCCD is lucky to have a group of volunteers who help us with our plant sale and our annual elections, as well as field work. We recognized the following individuals for their contributions:

• Plant Sale- Judy Howard, John Hultquist, Ken Titus, Jonelle Bull, Dorothy Craigen, Darlene Carlton, Michelle Loun, Joy Walters, Jackie Brunson, RSVP and WSU Master Gardeners
• Elections- Robert and Wanda Coffey, Judy Howard, Bea & Larry Cates, Michelle Loun and Ken Titus
• Field Work (Wild Horse Wind Farm Site Visits)- Randy Rhodes

Volunteer Ken Titus assisting a customer during the 2008 Plant Sale

We also recognized 3BarG Ranch with a Conservation Award for their efforts to convert from rill irrigation to sprinklers. The journey to complete the project had a few road bumps but they stayed with it and the resulting project places water into the Trust Water Rights Program to benefit Manastash Creek.

3BarG Ranch Sprinkler Conversion Project

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