DESCRIPTION
This is a resubmission of a previous project as a design stage of a future acquisition proposal which will add 1.73 cfs and up to 1,220 af/year to the lowest river mile of Big Creek. The project will add this benefit by removing a surface water diversion and outdated screen. This addresses published recovery actions for threatened steelhead and bull trout, as well as Spring chinook. The proposed project would close the existing Big Creek Diversion and instead serve all water needs from wells on the property via a water rights change. WWT is seeking funding support from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to purchase water water in the primary reach resulting from a source switch project to be installed by Ensign Ranch.. The project would offer substantial educational opportunities, as the Ranch hosts tens of thousands of visitors each year and has an outdoor education component. This is a second phase in a multiphase project to complete a roughened channel and remove barriers at the Ranch, completed by the Yakama Nation in 2014, restore flows in Big Creek and address fish screening and other issues with the current diversion (this phase), and add riparian habitat and interpretive sites on the property (potential future phase).
Washington Water Trust completed a feasibility study, alternatives analysis, conceptual and preliminary designs to guide future removal of a surface water diversion from the lowest mile of Big Creek that serves a church camp, located seven miles east of Cle Elum.
A feasibility analysis assessed three new water source alternatives: (1) a source switch to a well field, (2) a source switch to KRD water delivered via pipe to the property from the KRD canal, or (3) a source switch to KRD water turned out from the canal into Big Creek and conveyed downstream to the Ensign Ranch diversion. Based on the resulting Big Creek Source Switch Feasibility and Alternatives Analysis, Option 3 was determined to be the preferred alternative as it provides the desired flow benefits from RM 0.7 to RM 0, requires the least ground disturbance and materials, and provides an additional flow benefit from RM 1.5 – RM 0.7. Additionally, switching to KRD water may provide additional security for Ensign Ranch given the improved priority date over their existing surface water right.
The project originally proposed the use of Option (1) a source switch to a well field. However, discussions with Ensign Ranch, revealed that the ongoing operational and maintenance costs associated with the Option 1 Alternative make this solution unappealing. The ranch does not wish to move to a system that requires additional O&M costs above and beyond what they already expect with their current Big Creek diversion.
WWT contracted with Fisheries Engineers, Inc for the preliminary design work necessary to implement Option 3. Fisheries Engineers, Inc. completed "Fish Protection Screen for Irrigation Intake for Big Creek at Ensign Ranch Preliminary Design Report and Design Drawing" for a new compliant screen.
This project was phase II of a multi-phase effort initiated by Yakama Nation Fisheries and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve passage and habitat conditions within the critical lowest mile of Big Creek which provides important rearing and spawning habitat for steelhead. Big Creek is listed as a restoration priority in the Yakima Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan, including restoring natural flows, reducing flow alterations caused by diversions, and improving or eliminating fish screens. These recommended actions are included in recovery plans for both threatened steelhead and Bull Trout, as well as beneficial to Spring Chinook.
