Title
Approval of a Resolution and Letter Expressing Support for the Estuary Alternative for Long-Term Management of Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution supporting the Estuary Alternative for long-term management of Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary and a letter to the Department of Enterprise Services expressing such support.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution supporting the Estuary Alternative for long-term management of Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary and a letter to the Department of Enterprise Services expressing such support.
Staff Contact:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, Public Works Department, 360.570.3741
Presenter:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, Public Works Department
Background and Analysis:
The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) is conducting an environmental review process under the State Environmental Policy Act for the Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary Long-Term Management Project.
DES released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS) for the Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary Long-Term Management Project, including information on long-term management alternatives and key findings from a thorough technical analyses. The management alternatives analyzed included:
• No Action - existing conditions with no changes to operations.
• Managed Lake - similar to the existing Capitol Lake but with additional actions to meet lake management objectives. The 5th Avenue Dam would be retained and overhauled to significantly extend the serviceable life of the structure.
• Estuary - restore tidal flow to conditions similar to the historic Deschutes Estuary. The 5th Avenue Dam would be removed, and a 500-foot opening would be created to reconnect the Capitol Lake Basin with Budd Inlet.
• Hybrid - restore tidal flow to conditions similar to the historic Deschutes Estuary. The 5th Avenue Dam would be removed, and a 500-foot-wide opening would be
created. A new barrier would be installed to create a smaller (approximately 45-acre) lake feature (or “reflecting pool”).
In accordance with Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6248, a Preferred Alternative was not selected in the draft EIS, but will be identified in the final EIS scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2022.
The draft EIS is currently out for public comment until August 13, 2021. City staff have reviewed the draft EIS and compiled comments (attached). City Council requested that a Resolution (attached) be drafted to summarize key findings and recommendations.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
What to do with Capitol Lake has long been a focus and concern of the community. There are strong opinions around all the long-term management alternatives. The draft EIS addresses the community’s key concerns of improving water quality, managing accumulated sediment, improving ecological functions, and enhancing the community’s use of the resource.
Options:
1. Approve a Resolution and letter supporting the Estuary Alternative for long-term management of Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary.
2. Make revisions to and approve a Resolution and letter supporting the Estuary Alternative for long-term management of Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary. This option would allow City Council to provide input on the Resolution to address their additional concerns.
3. Do not approve a Resolution or letter supporting the Estuary Alternative for long-term management of Capitol Lake - Deschutes Estuary. This option may eliminate or limit City Council’s opportunity to weigh in on the draft EIS prior to the August 13, 2021 comment period deadline.
Financial Impact:
See the attached table for the estimated construction and long-term maintenance costs (millions of dollars) for each of the alternatives.
The No Action and Managed Lake Alternatives may have additional financial impacts on LOTT Clean Water Alliance and Storm and Surface Water utility ratepayers associated with water quality in Budd Inlet. The Estuary Alternative would be the least cost action alternative over the 30-year planning horizon.
Attachments:
Resolution
Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Draft Letter Response from Council to DES
Table - Estimated construction and long-term maintenance costs