Project Subcommittee Report

WRIA 8 – Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed
Project Subcommittee Report

June 24^th Fieldtrip and June 25^th Meeting

2009 Grant Cycle - Salmon Recovery Funding Board Fund (SRFB) &

Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund (PSAR)
Project Subcommittee Members: Councilmember Don Fiene (City of Lake Forest Park, WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council); Rich Gustafson (Citizen, former WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council); Scott Stolnack (WRIA 8 Technical Committee Chair); Michele Koehler (Seattle Public Utilities); Hans Berge (King County); Brian Ward (City of Bellevue). Chair: Mary Jorgensen (WRIA 8 Actions and Funding Coordinator).

Funds and Puget Sound Partnership Allocation: In 2009 Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) and Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration (PSAR) grant funds are available to watersheds through the Puget Sound Partnership Region and administered by the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). The Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council decides the allocation of the PS region’s $7.6 million in SRFB funds based on criteria that ‘emphasize delisting’ and have ‘no population left behind’. WRIA 8’s allocation of regional SRFB funds is $433,356 or 5.7 percent. Puget Sound Partnership PSAR funds total $33 million for the 2009-2011 biennium. WRIA 8’s PSAR allocation is $1,623,911, with an additional $107,770 in capacity funds. Seven pre-applications were received for SRFB funds and PSAR funds (see Table 1 for summary). The requests exceeded the SRFB funds by $57,151.
Project Eligibility and Match Requirement: Projects for SRFB and PSAR grant funds must meet the policies provided in SRFB’s Manual 18. For WRIA 8 the project must be within WRIA 8, and on the 3-Year Work Plan that is prepared for the Puget Sound Partnership Salmon Recovery Council each spring. Projects on the 3-Year Work Plan are: 1) a sub-set of the WRIA 8 Plan’s 10-Year Start List of Actions (Volume I, Chapter 9), 2) have been evaluated for benefits to Chinook and feasibility, and 3) are the highest priority projects for Chinook recovery. The 3-Year Work Plan is reviewed by NOAA’s Recovery Implementation Technical Team (RITT) for the Puget Sound Region. Priority is given to Tier I projects in the priority areas of Cedar, Migratory, naturally spawning Sammamish population areas, and other Sammamish population areas. A match of fifteen percent is required for SRFB or PSAR funding.
Project Subcommittee Process: Prior to their fieldtrip and meeting the Project Subcommittee received the following: 1) copies of the SRFB and PSAR pre-applications, 2) criteria/question forms, and 3) conflict of interest statement. On June 24th, the Project Subcommittee members, SRFB Project Manager Kay Caromile, SRFB Review Panel Members Patrick Powers and Steven Toth, Jason Mulvihill-Kuntz, PSP Ecosystem Recovery Coordinator, and WRIA 8 staff visited seven site specific projects within WRIA 8. Project sponsors gave a brief presentation of their project on-site and responded to questions from the Subcommittee and SRFB staff. Handouts, photos, or maps were allowed to be distributed to supplement the SRFB/PSAR pre-applications. Before adjourning the Committee heard from the SRFB reviewers and project manager about concerns that they had with the projects. Their official comments will be sent later in the SRFB project comment form.

The next afternoon, the Project Subcommittee met and reviewed the policies, discussed the conflict of interest statement, and added their individual scores to a chart for discussion. Differences in scores among members were discussed to identify issues before proceeding with allocation recommendations. The Project Subcommittee’s final ranking and recommendations for allocations are provided in Table 1.

Highlights of Discussion: (Note: Project rank in parenthesis)
The Lower Cedar River Elliot Bridge Reach Habitat Acquisitions (# 1) project proposes to purchase two to three properties in a high priority reach downstream from the Belmondo reach and just upstream from Reach 4, the landslide reach. A total of twenty properties are targeted in the reach, with nine properties recently acquired by King County. Future plans for restoration would setback two levees to increase floodplain connection to a width of 600 to 900 feet. The Project Subcommittee members requested that the final application be more specific on the priority of parcels, with their cost and feasibility identified, and more discussion of the Chinook benefit relationship of this reach to the upstream Belmondo SRFB acquisitions and the downstream Reach 4. A conceptual design sketch showing the levee setback and habitat improvements, and the priority of parcels are also requested to be included in the final application. The Subcommittee recommends that this project receive full funding of the $250,000 request.
The Lower Cedar River Royal Arch Reach Acquisitions (#2) project proposes to purchase two to three parcels out of six identified parcels that total 24.76 acres. The Royal Arch reach (RM 13.19-14.19) is upstream of the Taylor Creek confluence and has potential for levee setback and restoration of a historic side channel with purchase of additional parcels (total cost $1.4 -$2 million). Parcels at the lower end of the reach could be acquired first allowing for early restoration opportunities with levee setback. A conceptual design sketch showing future levee setback and habitat restoration is requested by the Project Subcommittee for the final application. The Subcommittee recommends full funding of the $500,000 request.
The South Lake Washington DNR Shoreline Restoration (#3) project will restore approximately 1,300 lineal feet of shoreline habitat and three acres of upland habitat. This site borders the Boeing site in Renton to the east of the Cedar River mouth. The Project Subcommittee was excited to see projects in this area and this site has excellent restoration potential. This funding request is for the first phase that includes a feasibility study, conceptual design, final design and site assessment. Future restoration work will include removing an old flume and rip rap that hardens the shoreline. The Subcommittee recommends full funding of the $154,000 request.
The Issaquah Creek Integrated Fish Passage Project (#4) withdrew their request on June 30th when they did not receive NOAA Stimulus funds. Prior to their withdrawal the Project Subcommittee recommended full funding. Update: this project received PSAR funding in 2007 for the feasibility and design phase. Progress on the design and modeling is near complete and the preferred alternative was built at scale to test the design. This project was on the Puget Sound Partnership’s list and received a letter from Governor Gregoire for the NOAA Stimulus grant funding. The $300,000 request was to serve as match for the total project cost of $3.8 million.

The South Lake Washington Habitat Restoration (#5) project is located at the mouth of the Cedar River and the Renton Airport’s seaplane base. Clean sediment dredged for the seaplane base would be used to build a shallow peninsula to improve habitat along the lakeshore migratory corridor. Existing docks along the shoreline would be moved offshore to reduce predator habitat. The Project Subcommittee is very interested in this project and the excellent location for migration habitat improvements but would like to review comments made by the permitting agencies on the proposed design before funding the restoration phase. They would also like a clearer distinction between the mitigation requirements and salmon recovery enhancements. The Project Subcommittee recommends partial funding of $34,000 for feasibility and design work to better understand how the peninsula of sediment would create habitat beneficial to Chinook. Questions on the longevity of the sediment peninsula and added sediment along the shoreline were raised. In addition, more information was needed on the changes to the Cedar River delta if a barrier was built on one side and how this would affect Chinook use of the area.

The Clearwater School - North Creek Restoration (#6) project is a partnership between Snohomish County and the community at the Clearwater School and neighboring new low-impact development site. The project seeks to restore approximately 1500 feet of the creek and restore some connection to the floodplain. A conservation easement was donated that will enable more movement of the channel. Riparian restoration work would involve the school and the community. The Project Subcommittee recommends full funding of the request of $315,360. Additional studies were requested for the final application to show the stability of the instream structures and the proposed connection to the floodplain.
The Big Gulch Estuary Acquisition and Design (#7) project pursued SRFB funding in 2008 but needed more information at the SRFB Review Panel and was removed in October from the WRIA 8 request. The Project Subcommittee directed $20,000 of the Technical Assistance funds (Puget Sound 5% Capacity funding) to address the questions raised by the SRFB Reviewers. Hydrologic studies were conducted to estimate the sediment flow into the site from the steep slopes surrounding the proposed estuary site. The studies also addressed questions on the tidal influx connection between the upland area and the nearshore and whether sediment would pass under the railroad through a proposed second culvert. These studies were near complete at the time of the site visit and have now been added to the application. The Project Subcommittee and SRFB Review Panel members have concerns about the longevity of the estuary site due to the sediment filling issue. The Project Subcommittee would like to see a written commitment from BN railroad to build a second culvert. The Project Subcommittee was divided on this project but agreed to recommend funding the request of $81,507 and then coordinating with the SRFB Review Panel to determine if the project would proceed to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board.
Conclusion: All of the projects applications are worth supporting with the grant funds. The diversity this year ranged from two new projects along South Lake Washington near the Cedar River mouth, to two new reaches in the lower Cedar River that have excellent acquisition and restoration potential, to population spatial diversity through a North Creek project and continued support of the Issaquah Integrated Fish Passage project, and finally out to the nearshore to a potential estuary site. The Project Subcommittee continues to focus on phasing of the projects to ensure high benefit to Chinook before investment in restoration. The Project Subcommittee did not recommend using all of the PSAR funds this year. This will provide a more even distribution of available funds over the two year period.

TABLE 1: Summary of 2009 Salmon Recovery Board Funds (SRFB) and Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Grants - WRIA 8 Project Subcommittee Recommendations 7-13-09
Rank	Proposal Name, WRIA 8 Plan # (PRISM #) Applicant	Total Project Cost	Request Amount - SRFB	Request Amount - PSAR	Match Funds SRFB/ PSAR	Project Subcommittee Recommends: SRFB Funds	Project Subcommittee Recommends: PSAR Funds
1	Elliot Bridge Reach Habitat Acquisition #C216 B (09-1575A) King County- Tom Beavers Acquisition of two to three parcels in an important Lower Cedar River reach. This reach is downstream of the Belmondo acquisitions and just upstream of the landslide area (Reach 4). These parcels add to many others that were or are being acquired as flood-buyouts. Future restoration efforts would restore the floodplain by removal of rock armoring or levee setback.	$500,000		$250,000	$250,000		$178,411
2	Royal Arch Reach Acquisitions, #C-247 (09-1578A) Seattle Public Utilities - Cyndy Holtz Acquisition of two to three parcels out of six parcels that total 24.76 acres in the Royal Arch Reach (RM 13.19 to 14.19) of the Cedar River mainstem. This is a priority reach and will maintain habitat conditions and habitat forming processes. Future potential habitat restoration opportunities may occur after sufficient parcels are acquired. These may include restoration of an historic river channel for a side channel high flow refuge for juveniles and spawning and rearing habitat or, restoration opportunities for river migration and off-channel features.	$588,000		$500,000	$88,000		$500,000
3	South Lake Washington DNR Shoreline Restoration #C266 (#09-1534) Washington State Dept of Natural Resources - Monica Shoemaker This project is for feasibility and design for a future restoration project. The site is approximately 1,300 lineal feet of shoreline habitat and ~ three acres of upland habitat with the goal to improve water quality of the lake and juvenile Chinook salmon habitat in the migratory corridor. The property is ~ 1,300 feet east of the Cedar River mouth. Future restoration work will include removing an old flume that hardens the shoreline, and other shoreline riprap removal, and native planting.	$178,000	$154,000		$24,000	$154,000

Rank	Proposal Name, WRIA 8 Plan # (PRISM #) Applicant	Total Project Cost	Request Amount - SRFB	Request Amount - PSAR	Match Funds SRFB/ PSAR	Project Subcommittee Recommends: SRFB Funds	Project Subcommittee Recommends: PSAR Funds
4	Issaquah Creek Integrated Fish Passage Project #I221 (#09-1576) City of Issaquah - Kerry Ritland Project Withdrawn - Recommendation was for requested amount. Dam removal to restore unhindered adult fish passage of Chinook, coho, and other salmon to 10 miles of high quality upstream habitat and provide channel connectivity for other aquatic species. Remove Issaquah Fish Hatchery Intake Dam and replace with series of boulder weir structures and a new screened water intake structure located in a fish-passable channel constriction.	$3,868,000		$300,000	$45,000
5	South Lake Washington Habitat Restoration - #C269 (#09-1606R) City of Renton - Ryan Zulauf This South Lake Washington project involves the re-use of clean sediments to create habitat improvements in the migration corridor and build a peninsula west of the Cedar River mouth. The project will create a shallow-water migration corridor along the Airport shoreline and re-locate ~ half of the existing nearshore docks into deeper water. This project is in a high priority Migratory area that, after restoration, would provide high quality habitat for out-migrating juvenile salmonids.	$321,000	$255,000		$66,000	$34,000
6	Clearwater School - North Creek Restoration # N378 (#09-1574R) - Snohomish County - Frank LeonettiRestore ~ 1500 lineal feet in the middle reach of North Creek by removing rip-rap and a footbridge, adding large wood, and restore native vegetation. A conservation easement will be donated and local residents and students engaged in the project and stewardship. Improves spawning and rearing habitat for Chinook and other salmon species (coho and sockeye).	$475,108		$315,360	$159,748	$245,356	$70,004

Rank	Proposal Name, WRIA 8 Plan # (PRISM #) Applicant	Total Project Cost	Request Amount - SRFB	Request Amount - PSAR	Match Funds SRFB/ PSAR	Project Subcommittee Recommends: SRFB Funds	Project Subcommittee Recommends: PSAR Funds
7	Big Gulch Estuary Acquisition and Design # M222 (# 09-1627) City of Mukilteo - Patricia Love Purchase the last private property in Big Gulch for the future purpose of constructing a fresh water estuary for Chinook habitat. Big Gulch is a 178 acre ravine that contains a Type 3 fish bearing stream, steep slopes and wetlands. The purpose of the project is to create a small estuary east of the RR tracks with a connection to the nearshore through a new culvert.	$531,450	$81,507		$449,943		$81,507
	Total Request and Match - Site Specific	$6,461,558	$490,507	$1,365,360	$1,082,691	$433,356	$829,922
	WRIA 8 Allocation SRFB and PSAR		$433,356	$1,623,911		$433,356	$1,623,911
	Shortfall or Excess		($57,151)	$258,551		$0	$793,789

Page of SRFB – WRIA 8 Project Subcommittee Report 4/26/2017 Final