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Kittitas County reviews Bowers Field wildlife hazard plan; directs staff to draft adoption documents
Summary
County commissioners reviewed a Wildlife Hazard Evaluation and Management Plan for Bowers Field, discussed mitigation recommendations including vegetation management and hazing measures, and directed staff to prepare enabling documents for formal adoption at a future meeting.
Kittitas County commissioners reviewed a Wildlife Hazard Evaluation and Management Plan for Bowers Field and directed staff to prepare enabling documents to bring the plan back for formal adoption at a future meeting.
Josh Fredrickson of Kittitas County Public Works presented the plan, which was prepared with input from Wildlife Services (federal USDA/APHIS personnel based in Olympia) and includes an inventory of birds and other wildlife around the general aviation airport. Fredrickson said the airport has not reported any wildlife strikes to date. "There have not been any wildlife strikes reported at Bowers Field," he said.
The plan identifies primary hazard groups — including waterfowl, raptors and other birds — and recommends mitigation measures such as vegetation management (mowing and removing nonessential plantings), reducing standing water that attracts waterfowl, and maintaining clear fence lines. The report also lists operational hazing measures, including pyrotechnics and, when warranted under permit and training, firearms for removal of hazardous animals. Fredrickson emphasized that those tools are to be kept secure and used by trained personnel; he said the county holds appropriate bird-removal permits.
Commissioners discussed public-notice considerations given potential noise from pyrotechnics or firearms and asked whether the standing-water recommendations would affect ongoing FAA flood-control planning; Fredrickson said the standing-water sites identified in the plan are existing conditions and would be handled separately from construction-related flood-control work. The board directed staff to prepare the enabling documents needed to formally adopt the plan and return it for a future agenda.
Next steps: public works will draft the adoption materials and any required permit or interagency coordination notes and present them to the Board of County Commissioners for formal adoption at a later session.
