WRIA 55/57: Little Spokane River and Middle Spokane River Watersheds
WRIA 56: Hangman/Latah Creek Watershed
WRIA 54: Lower Spokane River Watershed
Regional Watershed Implementation Team (RWIT) Meeting
DRAFT
March 8, 2017
Spokane Conservation District
Committee members recorded on the sign in sheet were:
Lindsay Chutas, Spokane CD Amanda Parrish, Lands Council
Doug Greenlund, City of Spokane Howard Rowley, Horseshoe Lake
Susan McGeorge, Whitworth Water Dist Seth Flanders, Spokane CD
Walt Edelen, Spokane CD Scott Hutsell, Lincoln County
Wayne Parles, SCWD #3 Roger Kriegor, City of Deer Park
Greg Sweeney, Eloika Lake Assoc. Michelle Drake, Avista
Lindsay Chutas called the meeting to order and the January 2017 meeting minutes were approved.
Lindsay Announced the H2O Breakfast, put on by the Spokane River Forum, will be held on March 17, 2017 from 7:30-10 am at the Center Place Regional Events Center.
Commodity Buffer Program-Spokane Conservation District
Seth Flanders introduced the Commodity Buffer Program, which is a recently introduced program as part of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Historically, agricultural producers have been hesitant to install buffers on riparian areas as they feel they would be taking their most productive land out of production. Under the program, a producer must install and maintain a required buffer size according to waterway type, tillage practices and associated STIR rating. They utilize the NRCS EQUIP program, or the SCD Riparian Program to install the buffer. The buffer must maintain the practice for a minimum for 3 years. The producer is then compensated for their buffer installation, utilizing the Actual Proven Yield, RMA projected price for the crop, and the buffer total acreage. There has been a lot of interest in the program and a number of producers have signed up. Landowners will get a variety of benefits from installing buffers; including providing regulatory certainty, reduced sediment to runoff, less ground to operate, can be grazed or hayed, compensation, and helps complete requirements for Farm Smart Certification. Seth also introduced the SCD’s drone program, which utilizes a drone to help complete monitoring of improvements on riparian zones. The SCD will be utilizing the drone to research a variety of studies, including surface water studies, runoff, improved aerial photography, plant species and canopy studies, etc.
Project Updates
Lands Council Updates:
Riparian Projects:
-LSR-They are in the last round of planting this spring. ½ mile of 50 ft buffers on Deadman Creek
-Hangman- finishing cultural resource surveys, spring and fall plantings
GIS Beaver model habitat availability in Little Spokane
Spokane Conservation District Projects
Spokane River Projects
-Sullivan Road finalizing this year.
-Aubrey White finalizing this spring.
-Glover Field- working in conjunction with City of Spokane to design another slide rail system. Project is in the funding phase.
Riparian Project
-Rivermile 17-Bank Stabilization and Riparian Planting project on Hangman Creek. Bioengineering and riparian improvements.
-Newman Lake Projects
-wave attenuation at two properties
-Planting Projects- shooting for spring and fall planting projects in a variety of places.
3F2P Fish Passage Project on Blanchard Creek
Voluntary Stewardship Program
Spokane County’s VSP continues to finalize mapping of agricultural land and critical areas as well agricultural viability definitions. The group meets regularly and will be developing the work plan this spring.
Steven’s County VSP – Adopted ordinance recently that the work group will not utilize any coersion, to establish trust within the group. Next meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2017.
Pend Orielle VSP- recent tour of improvements in county. Group continues to meet regularly.
Lincoln County VSP- moving along easily. Developing the work plan this spring.
Legislative Updates
SB 5003: Creates agency (Ecology) flexibility re minimum instream flows-In Senate committee
SB 5002: water banks/mitigation of water rights – In Senate committee
SB 5005: municipal and irrigation and water rights – Out of Senate committee
SB 5239: water availability for development in reference to Hirst Decision- first reading in senate committee
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 pm. The next meeting was set for May 10, 2017.
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