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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 12/10/2013 - Kittitas County Flood Control Zone District (FCZD) is beginning an assessment of the Yakima River south of Ellensburg, from Hansen Pits to the mouth of the canyon. The planning process will begin with a kick-off meeting on Tuesday December 17th at 6:30 PM in the Western Village at the Kittitas County Events Center. Both landowners and the public are invited to attend this meeting. The project consultant team will provide an overview of the planning process and planned technical investigations and seek input and feedback from the audience. County staff will be present to help answer questions.
The assessment will focus on flood hazard reduction and habitat restoration. The result of the assessment will be a river corridor plan that includes an inventory of current conditions and a list of viable projects. The assessment is being funded by a grant from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board with matching funds from the FCZD, Bureau of Reclamation, Washington State Department of Transportation and Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group.
The goal of the assessment is to identify projects that have multiple benefits. A project with multiple benefits integrates flood hazard reduction and habitat restoration and protection into one project. Because floodplain habitat is vital for both healthy fish populations and flood protection, integrated projects are being found to be more effective and sustainable than projects that only address one issue.
A healthy floodplain provides habitat for spawning and rearing salmon and other fish. Many salmon and fish prefer the calmer waters and complexity of a floodplain over the high velocity river channel. The slower flowing water allows sediment to fall out, creating cleaner water for young fish, it provides cover, such as woody debris, for fish to hide under, and it provides an abundance of food sources. The floodplain also provides habitat for animals and waterfowl.
A healthy floodplain also provides flood protection. The lack of floodplains along streams and rivers increases the severity and frequency of floods. Opening the floodplain allows streams and rivers to naturally meander without threatening houses and roads. During a flood, the floodplain helps to slow water velocity and volume in the main channel and reduces flooding, erosion and damage to public and private property downstream. The floodplain also acts as a storage area, holding floodwaters and allowing it to seep into the ground and slowly release over time.
One of the projects to be analyzed in the assessment is the setback of the Hansen Pits Levee. This levee setback is planned to correspond with the setback of the Schaake Levee just upstream of the Hansen Pits. Throughout this reach, the Yakima River is severely constrained by levees on both banks. The levees create a “chute” effect, funneling the water at a very high velocity through the channel which causes damage and erosion to the neighboring levees and riverbanks. Setting the levees back from the bank of the river will provide area for the water to spread out and slow down as well as providing year-round habitat to fish, animals and waterfowl. We expect the assessment to show that setting back the levee will provide protection and downstream benefits to homes and infrastructure including Canyon Road, Ringer Loop Road, the railroad, neighboring levees, Hansen Gravel Pits, Riverbottom Road and Stone Road.
A Technical Advisory Group made up of local resource managers will provide input throughout the project. Once the investigations are complete and the consultant has prepared a preliminary list of projects, another public meeting will be held to discuss the existing conditions found in the assessment area and the proposed list of projects. This joint-review will help to bring consensus between landowners and resource managers and ensure successful implementation in the future.
Information on the assessment and planning process will be posted on the County’s flood information website as it becomes available. General information on flooding and floodplain regulations is also available on the website at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/public-works/flood. If you have questions about the assessment or floodplains, please call Christina Wollman at 509-962-7523.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Christina Wollman christina.wollman@co.kittitas.wa.us 509-962-7523
