WRIA 56/HANGMAN CREEK

Watershed Implementation Team Meeting

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

10:00 a.m. -  12:00 p.m.

Spokane County Conservation District Conference Room

210 N. Havana

Spokane, WA

Meeting Summary

Attending:

Mike Barber, Hangman Valley Golf Course/Spokane County

Reanette Boese, Spokane County

Steve Bortfeld, Hangman Hills Water District

Walt Edelen, Spokane County Conservation District

Susan Gulick, Sound Resolutions (Facilitator)

Rick Noll, Spokane Conservation District

Gary Ostheller, Fairfield Grange

Bill Rickard, City of Spokane, Environmental Programs

Sara Hunt, Dept. of Ecology

Ray Soltero, Ridge at Hangman

1.      Approve Meeting Summary 

q       The meeting summary was approved.  The only change was correcting the spelling of Jaime’s name. 

2.      Finalize Ecology Grant Applications

q       The WIT reviewed and made suggested changes to the following grant applications (listed in priority order):

§      Operating Projects

1.           Direct Seed Demonstration and Mentoring Program

2.           Hangman Creek Stateline Stream Gage Operation and Maintenance

3.           Regional Water Conservation Coordinator

4.           Hangman Creek Groundwater Monitoring

5.           Spokane County West Plains Geophysical Orientation Survey

6.           Hangman Creek Flow Augmentation Project

§      Capital Projects

1.           Town of Rockford's Water Efficiency and Public Safety Project

2.           Water Conservation Incentives Program

3.           Hangman Creek Groundwater Monitoring Program

4.           Hangman Creek Flow Augmentation Project

q       The WIT will also submit a project for Watershed Council Administrative Support. This will be funded with capital funds but does not need to be prioritized.

3.      Preliminary Draft of the DIP 

q       The WIT discussed the preliminary draft of the WIT.

q       Susan agreed to summarize the implementation actions under 8 primary strategies (Water Conservation, Groundwater-Surface Water Interactions, Streamflow Augmentation, Water Rights, Water Quality Data, Water Quality Protection, Land Use Planning Compliance, and Watershed Restoration).

q       These implementation actions will comprise the WIT Work Plan for 2008-2009.

q       The detailed implementation text for each recommendation will be included as an appendix to the DIP. This will include implementation actions beyond 2009, as well as all the details required by the statute.

q       Laila Parker of Cascadia Consulting will attend the July 10 meeting of the WIT to provide an overview of the inchoate water rights analysis.

4.      Other Issues/Public Comment

q       The WIT would like information from Ecology on what is needed to get a new water right in the watershed, as well as what is needed to change a water right from surface water to groundwater. Sara will work with Ecology staff to provide this.

q       Mike Barber of Hangman Valley Golf Course gave an overview of water management issues at the golf course.

q       Ecology will be doing a site visit to Spangle Creek and will let the WIT know of any new developments.

q       The stateline stream gauge is still on schedule to be installed and operational by the end of June.

q       The SCCD distributed results from soil sampling in the watershed.

5.      Upcoming Meetings 

q       Future WIT meetings include:

§      June 19, 10-12 at the Harvester Restaurant in Spangle

§      July 10, 10-12 at the SCCD offices.

§      July 25, 10-12 at the Harvester Restaurant in Spangle

If you have questions or comments, please contact Susan Gulick of Sound Resolutions at (206) 548-0469 or by e-mail at Susan@Soundresolutions.com.