Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• A joint partnership of the U.S. Army Corps of
  Engineers and Grays Harbor County

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Project Purpose
• Evaluate significant ecosystem degradation and
  flooding problems in the Chehalis River Basin
• Formulate, evaluate, and screen potential
  solutions to these problems
• Recommend actions and projects that will address
  these problems

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Project Timeline October 2001 December 2005
• Estimated Project Costs 5 Million

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Project Objectives-
• Understand functions and processes of Chehalis
  River Basin
• Develop overall strategy to achieve
  protection/restoration of the entire Chehalis
  River Basin
• Identify an early action list of ecosystem
  restoration and flood damage reduction projects
• Develop plans that will facilitate access to
  funding
• Involve and serve the habitat evaluation and
  restoration needs of local sponsors, regional
  authorities, and citizens.

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• The project study area is located in the Chehalis
  River Basin encompassing Water Resource Inventory
  Areas 22 and 23, over 2,600 square miles, and
  includes Grays Harbor.
• The Chehalis River Basin is the second largest
  watershed in Washington State.

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Why is this project important?
• It is a great opportunity to bring Federal money
  into the region to help with restoration
• It will help restore critical habitat for fish
  and wildlife
• Frequency and peak flows of floods have increased
  over the past 10 years
• It will improve the overall health of the
  Chehalis River basin by changing the physical
  nature of degraded habitat.

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

Historic conditions of the Basin will be reviewed
and assessed
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

Existing conditions will be compared with
historic conditions
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study
Areas experiencing repetitive flood damage will
be cataloged
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study
We will utilize limiting factors and target high
priority watersheds for recovery efforts
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study
Better documentation of fish presence or absence
will be achieved
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Bull trout , a salmonid species that have been
  identified within the basin, are listed as
  threatened under the Endangered Species Act
  (ESA). Other terrestrial species listed as
  threatened or endangered include the bald eagle,
  western snowy plover, and others.

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study
Citizens concerns and knowledge will be
incorporated into the overall strategy
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Reconnaissance Phase Study 905 (b) - Completed
  November 2000
• Feasibility Phase Study - Initiated September
  2001- Anticipated Completion December 2005
• Engineering and Design Phase - Anticipated to
  begin early 2006
• Construction Phase Expected to begin 2008
• Operation and Maintenance Phase

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Study Process
• Reconnaissance report (completed November 2000)
• Cost Sharing Agreement was signed in September
  2001 in cooperation with Grays Harbor County
• Feasibility Study began September 27, 2001

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Feasibility Study Stage 1 Tasks
• -Without Project Condition Review
• - Needs Assessment Summary
• - Project Type Selection
• - Formulate Projects
• - Select Projects
• - Project Review

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Stage 1 Tasks

• Without Project Condition Review
• Literature review
• Basin Characterization
• Data gap analysis and collect additional data
• Existing condition flood damage assessment
• Sponsor/Agency contacts environmental
  coordination
• Draft Existing Condition Report
• Technical review
• Final Existing Condition Report January 2003

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Stage 1 Tasks (continued)

• Needs Assessment Summary
• - What are the specific needs within the Basin
• Project Type Selection
• Meet with local sponsor, agencies, tribes, and
  other interested parties
• Produce selection matrix for project screening
• Select preferred project types

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Stage 1 Tasks (continued)

• Formulate Projects
• Review literature for projects
• Develop project datasheets/database
• Review with sponsor, tribes, agencies, and others

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Stage 1 Tasks (continued)

• Select Projects
• Perform incremental analysis
• Flood damage prevention assessment
• Meetings with sponsor, tribes, agencies, and
  others
• Finalize prioritized project list for detailed
  study
• Draft final plan formulation write up

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Stage 1 Tasks (continued)

• Project review
• Internal and external project review

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Stage 2 Tasks

• Engineering and Design
• Project initiation and data collection
• HTRW studies
• Design analysis
• Geotechnical investigations
• Ecosystem restoration and design
• Hydrology studies
• Hydraulic studies
• Write appendix for EIS

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Stage 2 Tasks (continued)

• Cost Estimates
• Real Estate
• Socio-Economic Studies

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Stage 2 Tasks (continued)

• Environmental Studies
• Cultural resource studies
• Information management
• Literature review
• Field investigations
• Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report
• Environmental coordination
• Prepare draft and final NEPA/SEPA EIS
• Prepare supplemental draft and final NEPA/SEPA
  EIS

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Stage 2 Tasks (continued)

• Feasibility Report
• Draft report preparation
• Draft independent technical review
• Final report preparation
• Washington level review and approval support

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study
Feasibility Phase Approach
Existing Data
Stage I 2 years
Draft project criteria existing conditions
Data gaps/needs
Early action protection restoration project list
Stage II 2 years
Project selection
Programmatic EIS Feasibility Report
Final recommended restoration projects
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study
Structure
Project Delivery Team Independent Technical
Review Team
Executive Committee
Stakeholder Community
Potential Steering Committee CBP, Local, State,
Federal, Tribal, NGO, Private and Public
Project Manager (Corps) and Grays Harbor County
Contractors
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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Continued development and alteration of the basin
  habitat will degrade the remaining habitat while
  possibly increasing flood damage in the Chehalis
  River Basin

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Ecosystem restoration will recreate more natural
  processes and habitats for fish and wildlife
  while decreasing flood damage throughout the
  basin.

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• What YOU can do to help
• Provide information to the project
• Let us know if you are conducting work in the
  Chehalis River Basin
• Contact the Corps or Grays Harbor County with
  information.

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Contact Lori Morris, Project Manager
• USACE, ATTN PM-PL
• 4735 E. Marginal Way S
• Seattle, WA 98134-3755
• (206) 764 - 3604
• f.lori.morris_at_usace.army.mil
• or

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Chehalis River Basin Ecosystem Restoration Study

• Lee Napier, Deputy Director Community Development
• Utilities and Development Division
• Grays Harbor County
• 100 West Broadway, Suite 31
• Montesano, WA 98563-3614
• (360) 249 - 4222
• Lnapier_at_co.grays-harbor.wa.us