Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement between the Cities of Olympia, Lacey and Yelm for Implementing the Deschutes Water Rights Mitigation Strategy - Phase V
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign the amendment to the Interlocal Agreement for implementing the Deschutes Water Rights Mitigation Strategy.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign the amendment to the Interlocal Agreement for implementing the Deschutes Water Rights Mitigation Strategy.
Staff Contact:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, Public Works Department, 360.570.3741
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Since 2007, the Cities of Olympia, Lacey and Yelm have collaborated to jointly purchase, maintain and restore a 200-acre property in the Deschutes River watershed (Deschutes River property). Strategies, approved by the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE), to mitigate for impacts to the Deschutes River resulting from each city's respective water rights have been conducted through a series of five interlocal agreements. Olympia's McAllister Wellfield water rights were issued by WDOE in December 2011, Lacey's water rights were issued in May 2012, and Yelm's water right was approved but appealed in November 2011. Yelm still hopes to benefit from the work performed to date at the Deschutes River property, that included:
* Acquisition of the property and associated water rights,
* Riparian planting along one mile of river frontage,
* Stream channel and wetland restoration, and
* Ongoing land management responsibilities.
The Cities need to continue to manage and maintain the jointly owned Deschutes River property to establish the wetlands and riparian buffer plantings. The South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, a state-establi...
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