Kittitas County staff to prepare documents for Yakima River Basin water-rights needs assessment

Arden Thomas, identified in the record as Public Works staff, asked the Kittitas County commissioners for direction on the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan at a May 12 Public Works study session. The session notes state that staff were directed to prepare enabling documents to support a water-rights needs assessment funded by a Department of Ecology grant.

The Integrated Plan was described in the meeting as a regional effort “to meet the water supply needs of fish and wildlife, farmers during dry years, and growing communities.” Meeting minutes say a Municipal Subgroup, led by the county’s Water Resource Manager, has drafted a work plan to carry out a water-rights needs assessment and to use its results to identify practical actions the Integrated Plan could take to better meet local municipal needs. Costs for that assessment were stated as being covered by a $150,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

According to the minutes, Arden Thomas “requested direction regarding the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan ("Integrated Plan").” The record further notes that staff were directed to prepare the enabling documents for the board’s future consideration; the transcript does not record a formal motion, a recorded vote, or the name of a specific mover or seconder for that directive.

No members of the public offered comments during the session. The study session opened at 1:30 p.m. and concluded at 1:39 p.m., per the meeting record. The minutes do not specify when the prepared documents will return to the board for formal action.

Next steps recorded in the session are limited to staff preparing the enabling documents for consideration; the record does not specify a timeline or a required vote for grant acceptance or to proceed with work under the Integrated Plan.