Meeting Summary Planning Unit WRIA 56 Hangman (Latah) Creek Local Watershed Plan July 8, 2004 Chair: Walt Edelen, Spokane County Conservation District (SCCD) Present: Gary Ostheller, Fairfield Triangle Grange Reanette Boese, Spokane County Doug Allen, Ecology Bruce Carmack Les Wigen, Whitman County Rick Noll, SCCD Jilla Harmon, SCCD Minutes The minutes for the June 8, 2004 meeting had been distributed previously for review. Walt asked for any corrections or comments. Minutes were approved as is. Announcements/Open Discussion/Public Comment business Multipurpose Storage Progress Golder is behind schedule on the project but they are working to get caught up. The mid project report workshop will be sometime in July. The Planning Unit discussed the request for payment of an invoice received from Golder without any deliverables at this point. Planning Unit voted to pay Golder the invoice for $7,000. Marcia Sands is now the project leader. The Planning Unit discussed their concerns that there was a change in management. Walt will check with Marcia to see how this change will affect this project and get back to the Planning Unit. Instream Flow Report Walt reported that two public meetings were conducted in June. Bill Rickard and Doug Allen reported that the meeting on June 17 at Fairfield Community Center went well. Doug thought there were many good questions and good attendance. There was some concern expressed at the meeting regarding what is being done on the Idaho side and how it’s going to affect the Washington side. Rick reported that the second meeting at the Cascade Community Center on June 23 was not as well attended and the concerns were more on the aesthetic side and wanting more water in the stream. Local Fair Presentations Rick reported on the local fair activity that SCCD has participated in: Flag Day Celebration in Fairfield – June 12 Slippery Gulch Days in Tekoa – June 19 & 20. The interest level was good. Upcoming Community events that participation is being planned: Spangle Harvest Days – September 11, 2004 Southeast Spokane County Fair in Rockford – September 19- 21, 2004 Announcements/Open Discussion/Public Comment Bruce Carmack said that he received a call about a month ago that sometime around April there was some unusual discharge noticed. The Planning Unit discussed this and suggested to Bruce that if it happens again to call Walt so that it can be checked out. He could also call the Fairfield City Clerk to report it. Peter asked what the status is on the mining quarry. Walt said the last he heard it was on hold; they are working on permits, and dealing with any opposition at this point. Continue Issue and Recommendation Discussion Section 1: Water Quantity (as of 7/08/04) Recommendation(s): DELETE above and ADD new recommendations below: (a) The Department of Ecology should devote resources to enforce water rights compliance and curtail illegal water use. (b) Determine the need and support for adjudication in the watershed. i) Prioritize appropriate subbasins for adjudication with water rights in the basin. ii) If appropriate, a petition should be filed with the Washington State for general adjudication of water rights in the basin. Recommendation(s): (a) Apply for optional element funding to further study potential storage and flow augmentation opportunities in the basin. (Supported) CHANGE—between “potential storage” AND “opportunities in the basin” ADD-and flow augmentation. CHANGE--Evaluate the benefits of various storage, flow augmentation and aquifer recharge strategies. (ii) Encourage change of source for water rights from surface to ground water where feasible (added 3/23/04). NOTE: may want to have some incentives to help involvement CHANGE—this was (d) CHANGE—Establish a funding program for appropriate management strategies for storage and augmentation. DELETE DELETE Section 2: Water Quality (as of 7/08/04) A. Water Quality (flow related parameters) Hangman Creek is listed on 303(d) List of impaired water bodies for four parameters (fecal coliform, pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature). Recommendation(s): (b) Maintain stream gauging operation throughout watershed to assist with TMDL study. (Supported as is) (i) Continue operation of five current stations to assist determination of future pollutant load allocations. (Supported as is) CHANGE--Support the installation of additional gauging stations to monitor the affects of BMP implementation recommended from the TMDL process. DELETE CHANGE—Minimize the impact of stock watering directly from surface water. (i) Develop incentives to encourage off creek watering systems. (Support as is) CHANGE--Develop incentives to improve riparian zones DELETE B. Septic systems that are failing, improperly maintained or non-functioning can provide contaminants to surface and ground water. (Supported As is) Recommendation(s): (a) The Marshall Creek sub-watershed should be evaluated to determine influence of septic systems on water quality. (Supported as is) (b) The California Creek sub-watershed should be evaluated to determine influence of septic systems on water quality. (Supported as is) (c) The lower portion of Hangman Creek (City of Spokane jurisdiction) should be evaluated to determine influence of septic systems on water quality. (Supported as is) CHANGE--An education/information program should be initiated for septic systems construction, care and maintenance. CHANGE--A septic system maintenance program should be established and implemented. DELETE CHANGE--Develop incentive for replacement and/or upgrades for substandard septic systems (Supported) Recommendation(s): CHANGE—Identify sources for wellhead protection in smaller communities. CHANGE--Combine and/or link storm water and water system plans with wellhead protection program. Section 3: Habitat & Land Use (as of 7/8/04) 2. Riparian area and flood plain encroachment continues to occur throughout the basin (rural and urban). CHANGE—Develop a flood response plan in conjunction with a flood warning system. (g) DELETE (h) Identify high priority riparian habitat to submit for consideration to the Spokane County Conservation Futures (revised and approved 4/15/04) Homework The Planning Unit was asked to continue working up proposed strategies and implementations for the recommendations in Section 3 - Habitat & Land Use. Next Meeting A mid project report meeting for the Multipurpose Storage Project will be held on July 22, 2004 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The next regular WRIA meeting will be August 17, 2004 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the SCCD offices. The meeting was adjourned at 1:07 p.m.
Bill Rickard, City of Spokane
Peter Grunte, Hangman Valley Resident
E. Actual Water Use/Allocation in the Basin
The total certificated water rights in the basin are approximately 48 cfs. However, the actual use in the basin is not known.
(a) The Department of Ecology should “clean-up” the WRATS database to more accurately assess water allocation.(Generally supported)F. Potential Augmentation and Storage Strategies
Currently, we do not know what the potential is for augmentation or storage for the basin. Earlier work by Hardin and Davis suggests that the natural potential is low for the Washington portion of the basin.
CHANGE--Walt will re-work this opening statement.
(i) The use of stormwater for storage and aquifer recharge should be evaluated.(Supported)(a) Establish a funding program to implement catchment basin installation (Generally supported, modifications)(ii) Establish funding program to maintain (dredge sediment) catchment basin capacity. (Generally supported) (a) Design and construct dam(s) on Rock Creek and/or Hangman Creek.(NOT supported)(d) Encourage change of source for water rights from surface to ground water where feasible (added 3/23/04).NOTE: may want to have some incentives to help involvementCHANGE--Move to ii) under (a)
(ii) Additional stations should be implemented as required.(Generally supported, modifications)(iii) An educational/informational program for early BMP adoption should be initiated.(Supported)(c) Minimize stock watering directly from creek(Supported)(ii) Require riparian zone mitigations for stock watering in riparian zone (mitigation standard would achieve “no impact”) (Generally supported, modifications)(iii) Require riparian zone impact fee for stock watering in riparian zone.(NOT supported) (d) Limitations should be placed on the proliferation of septic systems.(NOT supported, modifications) DELETE
(e) An education/information program should be initiated.(Supported)(f) A septic system inspection program should be established and implemented.(NOT supported, modifications)(g) Establish an enforceable “Best Management Practice” for septic systems. (Generally supported, modifications)(h) Establish a program for replacement and/or upgrading for substandard septic systems. (Generally supported, modifications)C. Wellhead Protection
(a) Funding sources for wellhead protection in smaller communities should be identified.(Supported)(b) Combine and/or link storm water and water system plans.(Generally supported, modifications)A. Habitat/Land Use
(f) Develop and implement a flood warning system and response plan.Develop County tax incentive plan to encourage buffer establishment.(i) Establish a local improvement district for riparian and flood management. (This could be a watershed wide establishment for tasking themselves for the purpose of obtaining funds for riparian easements or possible financing of implementation for storage options) (revised and approved 4/15/04).DELETE