The South Central Washington Resource Conservation & Development Council (RC&D) public meeting was held last night at the Ellensburg City Hall. Louis Musso, RC&D Chair, opened the meeting and he was followed by Fennelle Miller. Fennelle is a member of the RC&D representing the City of Ellensburg. She did a great job of describing the RC&D and how valuable it is to forming partnerships to work on natural resource issues.
Several presentations were given on RC&D related projects. KCCD staff (Anna) presented a number of Yakima Tributary Access & Habitat Program (YTAHP) projects completed in the last few years. The RC&D administers the base funding from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for YTAHP, allowing the KCCD and others to focus time on the projects, not on the grant administration with BPA. Since it's inception in 2002, KCCD has received approximately $2.3million in YTAHP funding through the RC&D and used that to leverage another $5.5 million from other funding sources!
Carol Ready (RC&D staff) presented the Reecer Creek Floodplain project. The Mid-Columbia Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group is managing this project. For mor information, visit their website at http://midcolumbiarfeg.com.
David Gerth (Kittitas Conservation Trust) presented his Cle Elum River project that reactivated an old side channel. Visit his website at http://kittitasconservationtrust.org/
George Sheldon presented the Tapash Collaborative Project, which is focused on healthy forests in central Washington. For more information visit the Tapash website at http://www.tapash.org/.
Heather Simmons-Rigdon closed the meeting with a presentation about the RC&D's area plan. The plan can be viewed on the RC&D website and public comment is welcome! http://www.scwrcd.org.
Carol Ready presents the Reecer Creek Floodplain project at the RC&D public meeting.
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