CHEHALIS BASIN COUNCIL
Watershed Planning in the
Chehalis Basin
Margaret Rader, CRC (paraphrased)
On January 29, 1998, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Mason, and Lewis County, and various cities and ports in the basin, began signing an "Intergovernmental Agreement" for the formation of a Chehalis Basin Council.
This planning was initiated and carried forward by the Department Of Ecology (DOE) facilitating all meetings.
Meeting with County Commissioners
In August, county commissioners from Lewis, Thurston, and Grays Harbor counties were invited to attend an "initial meeting." The purpose was "to discuss the formation of a watershed council for the Chehalis River" and "to find solutions to problems before they become contentious." Meeting notes from August 14, 1997, indicate the goals of the council would be to:
- know what each other is doing (awareness & collaboration)
- spend resources wisely
- development of management strategy (for common problems)
In addition, the council would address:
- capitol projects
- technical assistance
- education
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
November 15, 1998
The draft Intergovernmental Agreement of 11/15/1998 outlined the purpose, goals, and meetings. It identified Lewis County as lead agency, and addressed funding.
Purpose ". . . to collaboratively pursue strategies within the Chehalis River Basin which include the key elements of flood reduction, fisheries, recreation, water quality and water quantity."
Goals: "to seek participation from interested and affected parties."
The Council is to serve "in an advisory and information capacity" to coordinate efforts focusing on:
- restoration of healthy runs of salmon and steelhead
- improvement of water quality
- management of water resources to provide ample supplies for farms, fish, industry and people
- reduction of the effects of flooding
- increase in recreational opportunities
- increase in watershed awareness through education
Meetings are to be held regularly to address water quality, water quantity, flooding and fisheries issues.
Technical and citizen advisory committees will be formed as needed. "Consensus-building will be used to reach major decisions whenever possible."
Lewis Council as lead agency is provided the authority, in the event any work must be performed by or on behalf of the parties, to solicit Statements of Qualifications, negotiate scope of work and execute contracts.
The Chehalis Basin Council list of members dated 1/5/98 included
15 mayors of cities and towns in the three counties; commissioners
from Lewis, Grays Harbor, Thurston County and Mason county;
representatives from the Chehalis and Quinault tribes; State
agencies including DOE, WA Department of Fish & Wildlife, and WA Department
of Natural Resources; and executive
directors of the three port districts. A final
category of "interested Groups" lists three people;
two representing agriculture and one timber.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
August 31, 1998
Formation of the Chehalis River Basin Watershed Management Partnership & Designation of Lead Agency (draft)
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WHEREAS, the environmental, social and economic health of the Upper and Lower Chehalis River Basins, Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA) Nos 22 & 23, hereinafter called the Chehalis River Basin depends upon sound management of natural resources and citizen stewardship; and
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WHEREAS, the Chehalis River Basin consists of multiple governmental jurisdictions (federal, state, tribal, and local governments) and various, diverse public and private interest; and
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WHEREAS, issues affecting the management of these resources transcend jurisdictional and ownership boundaries; and
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WHEREAS, cooperative and collaborative approaches offer solutions that are less costly, more responsive to local conditions and needs, and garner greater public support; and
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WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 39.34 RCW, the parties to this Agreement are authorized to jointly exercise the powers, privileges, and authority described herein; and
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WHEREAS, Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2514 (Laws of 1998) and chapter 90.82 RCW has authorized the allocation of certain funds to a WRIA planning unit for purposes of watershed assessment, planning and management; and
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WHEREAS, the governmental entities of the Chehalis River Basin are interested in forming a WRIA planning unit so that they are eligible to apply for and receive funds pursuant to Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2514 (Laws of 1998) and chapter 90.82 RCW
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants recited herein, the parties agree and resolve as follows:
1.0 Parties
The parties to this Agreement shall be (1) all counties within the Chehalis River Basin; (2) all interested cities and towns within the Chehalis River Basin; (3) the water supply utility obtaining the largest quantity of water in each the Upper and Lower Chehalis River Basin; (3) Washington State Department of Ecology and (4) all tribes with reservation lands within the Chehalis River Basin.
2.0 Purpose
This Agreement shall designate a planning unit and a lead agency for purposes of assessing and managing the water resources of the Chehalis River Basin and to pursue strategies within the Chehalis River Basin which include the key elements of flood reduction, fisheries, recreation, water quality and water quantity and examine their relationship to economic health and sustainability.
3.0 Goals
The parties shall work cooperatively to establish a planning unit to be called the Chehalis River Basin Partnership and to seek participation from interested and affected parties. The Chehalis River Basin Partnership serving in an advisory and informational capacity, shall coordinate efforts focusing on: Improvement of water quality Management of water resources to provide ample supplies for farms, fish, industry and people (including restoration of healthy runs of salmon and steelhead) Reduction of the effects of flooding Increase in recreational opportunities Increase in watershed awareness through education The Chehalis River Basin Partnership may also develop a watershed plan consistent with the requirements of chapter 90.82 RCW and Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2514 (Laws of 1998).
4.0 Composition of Chehalis River Basin Partnership
4.1 The Chehalis River Basin Partnership shall consist of the following membership:
- Counties: one member representing each county in the Chehalis River Basin, appointed by the respective county;
- Cities: one member representing each interested city and town in the Chehalis River Basin, appointed by the respective jurisdictions;
- Tribes: one member representing each tribe in the Chehalis River Basin, appointed by the tribe;
- Water Supply Utilities: one member representing water supply utilities in the Chehalis River Basin, appointed jointly by the water supply utilities;
- Port Districts: one member representing port districts in the Chehalis River Basin, appointed jointly by the port districts;
- State Departments: one member each from the following Washington State Departments (Departments), Fish & Wildlife, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Ecology, as determined by the parties to this Agreement in consultation with the Governor's Office;
- Major Interests: four members representing various major interests in the Chehalis River Basin, appointed jointly by the counties and the tribes. Major interests include but are not limited to timber, agriculture, business, fisheries, recreational, environmental, and industrial water users.
- Private Citizens: one private citizen from each of the counties, appointed by the respective counties.
4.2 Technical and citizen advisory committees will be formed, as needed, to formulate options for consideration by the Chehalis River Basin Partnership and reference to various government agencies.
5.0 Chehalis River Basin Partnership Meetings
The Chehalis River Basin Partnership will meet regularly to address water quality, water quantity, flooding, economic development, and fisheries and fish habitat issues. Meetings will be used to share information about developments in the basin and to identify common problems and opportunities.
6.0 Lead Agency (Amended 3/08/2000 to Grays Harbor County as Lead)
For the purposes of this Agreement, Lewis County shall be designated as Lead Agency. The Lead Agency shall be responsible for and authorized to perform the following tasks:
6.1 Negotiate and execute agreements with Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) for Watershed Planning Grant funds.
6.2 Receive and disburse funds from DOE.
6.3 Solicit Statements of Qualifications, negotiate scope of work, and execute contracts to perform the work for projects performed by or on behalf of the parties pursuant to this agreement.
6.4 The Lead Agency shall not obligate any parties to financial responsibility without approval of the respective governmental entities.
66.5 Prepare and maintain proper records for accounting and administration of watershed planning grants. The Lead Agency shall report regularly to the parties to this Agreement and shall provide them with a full accounting on the receipt and expenditure of funds that may be provided pursuant to this Agreement.
7.0 Staff Support
DOE shall provide staff support to the Chehalis River Basin Partnership.
8.0 Funding
The activities of the Chehalis Basin Council as described herein, and as may be further defined by the parties to achieve the stated goals, shall be funded by the following sources:
- Watershed Management Grants made available by DOE, and/or
- Other public and private funds which are intended for watershed planning and implementation Funds or services from the parties may be required for matching or providing local shares for other funding sources that may become available. Any funds or services required will may be shared by all parties and will be agreed upon in advance.
9.0 Duration
This Agreement shall continue until its purpose is completed unless sooner terminated by the parties.
10.0 Modification
This Agreement may be modified or amended only by written consent of all parties.
11.0 Termination
11.1 An individual party may terminate its membership to this Agreement upon ten days written notice to the Lead Agency. This Agreement will continue to remain in effect so long as two or more parties remain signatories to this Agreement.
111.2 This Agreement may be terminated only by written consent of all parties.
12.0 Effective Date
This Agreement shall become effective and commence upon execution of the Agreement by all parties.
This mission statement was officially adopted as part of the Intergovernmental Agreement that established the Partnership.
The mission of the Chehalis Basin Partnership (Partnership) is to coordinate local, tribal, state, federal, and private efforts to reduce the effects of flooding, enhance fish resources, improve recreational opportunities, protect and restore water quality, protect surface water flow and ground water resources, protect recognized beneficial human uses of surface and ground water while at all times recognizing the relationship of these issues to the economic health and sustainability of the basin.