HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Work Session Jan 18 2022Whatcom County
Council Water Work Session
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Minutes - Final
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
10:30 AM
Virtual Meeting
VIRTUAL MEETING (TO PARTICIPATE, SEE INSTRUCTIONS AT
www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil OR CALL 360.778.5010)
COUNCILMEMBERS
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Carol Frazey
Kaylee Galloway
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council Water Work Session Minutes - Final January 18, 2022
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Todd Donovan called the meeting to order at 10:31 a.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Present: 7 - Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Ben Elenbaas, Carol Frazey,
Kaylee Galloway, and Kathy Kershner
Absent: None
Announcements
Water Resources Update
Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department, updated on the following:
• A proposal coming soon from Cascadia Policy Solutions for a
solutions table for the adjudication process
• Drainage Based Management work looking at small sub -basins to
come up with plans for how to address issues in each one
• Work by the Public Utility District (PUD) on their regional water
supply planning process and the next phase which would be coming
up with a countywide water supply proposal
• The development of a Request for Proposal (RFP) by staff for the
next phase of the ground water modeling project
• Money approved in the 2022 budget to continue with the next phase
of water use efficiency projects
• Watershed Management Board topics at the last and upcoming
meetings
• The County's work to integrate water data
He answered questions about getting funding in place for data needs, what
kinds of solutions are on the table to address issues in the South Fork
Nooksack and Bertrand sub -basins, and if he has a sense of whether the
tribes will be participating in the solutions table.
2021 Flood Event Update
Paula Harris, Public Works Department, presented on the technical details
of the 2020 and 2021 flood events and answered questions about the
meaning and process of incising (down -cutting), whether it is the flooding
that is causing the sediment to move down at a faster pace, and whether the
data is telling them that it is increasingly difficult to forecast the
predictions about where the river might be cresting based on the data that
does not account for the sediment pulses.
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Council Water Work Session Minutes - Final January 18, 2022
She then presented on the flood damages and answered whether the Federal
Government funds assistance from the United States Army Corps of
Engineers when they are called up on such short notice.
And finally, she presented on a proposed hazard mitigation project to
address impacts to residents from the 2021 flood and answered questions.
DOE Grant for Geneva Swale Retrofit
The following people spoke and presented:
• Gary Stoyka, Public Works Department
• Kraig Olason, Public Works Department
• Ben Kuiken, Public Works Department
Discussion with WRIA 1 Plannine Unit
Other Business
Adiournment
The following people presented:
• Ander Russell, Planning Unit
• Dan Eisses, Planning Unit
Russell answered a question about the timing for the proposed integration
process and how it will get done before the Planning and Development
Services Department gets the Comprehensive Plan to the Planning
Commission for its review.
There was no other business.
The meeting adjourned at 12:02 p.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on January 25, 2022.
Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 112812022
Council Water Work Session Minutes - Final January 18, 2022
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Dana Bro th D vis, Qul]CIl Clerk
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Tra cription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHAT,g,bM COUNTY, WA
Todd Donovan, Council Chair
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