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

AL