BARNABY REACH

Barnaby Reach on Skagi t R iver upst ream from Rockpor t Large floodplain with extensive public/conservation lands Substantial existing habitat for fish and wildlife Habitat impacts from unmaintained hatchery infrastructure Reach includes private property and WSDOT infrastructure

Seatt le C i ty L ight , The Nature Conser vancy, Washington Depar tment of F ish and Wi ldl i fe and Skagi t R iver System Cooperat ive par tnered to evaluate oppor tuni t ies for habi tat improvements . In i t ia l A l ternatives Analysis was completed in late 2014. Eva luated four a l ternat ives that range in complex i ty f rom only remov ing f i sh passage barr ie rs to d i rect ing a por t ion of the Skagi t R iver into Barnaby S lough. Convened Stakeholder Adv isor y Committee to ass is t communicat ion about the pro ject w i th stakeholders and the community. Fur ther technical analys is p lanned in 2016 based on input f rom stakeholder s and community Pro ject Web s i te : ht tps ://barnabystudy.wordpress .com/

BARNABY REACH PROJECT BACKGROUND

Community adviser Christie Fairchild compiled a list of questions from the community about the Barnaby project in advance of the meeting.

Each question was addressed in writing and discussed at the meeting. Written answers and meeting summary are available on project web page.

Some questions were not fully answered because the project is at such an early stage, but the Steering Committee plans to have an ongoing discussion with the community to fully address all questions.

The Steering Committee will hold more community meetings in the future as technical work progresses.

Comments from community advisers?

ROCKPORT COMMUNITY MEETING 12/10/15

The Wildcat Steelhead Club expressed interest in pursuing additional volunteer activities to benefit fish in the Barnaby Reach.

SRSC and WDFW are discussing with the club some dif ferent project ideas

Removing wood from Harrison fishwayMaintaining other culverts and fish passage structuresBuilding demolitions and site clean up

VOLUNTEER WORK AT HATCHERY SITE

[Martin Road fish passage presentation]

Expanded project values into more detailed goals, objectives, and strategies

Initiating next phase of technical analysis Submitted for additional funding to address questions

identified through the stakeholder process

BARNABY PROJECT UPDATES

1: Improve floodplain processes to benefit native fish and wildlife 2: Increase amount and connectivity of Chinook salmon, steelhead and other salmonid rearing and spawning habitat 3: Protect private property and infrastructure from potential project ef fects on hydrology and floodplain connectivity 4: Incorporate beneficial measures to reduce existing flood and erosion risks for adjacent communities 5: Provide recreational access opportunities that meet community, stakeholder, and primary landowner needs Additional objectives and strategies were developed for each goal and are available on the project web site (also see handout)

PROJECT GOALS

Evaluate existing flooding/erosion conditions and possible remedies For example Martin Road, Rockport-Cascade Road, Highway 530, human modifications to the floodplain

Refine habitat project alternatives For example different flow and channel conditions for Barnaby Slough channel

Identify and evaluate additional flood and erosion protection measures for habitat project For example log structures, flood fences, floodplain regrading, flood-proofing property

Preliminary design work

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OBJECTIVES

Substantial improvements to flood and erosion models Additional topographic survey Better modeling for tributaries, groundwater, and Sauk River Calibration with community observations about flooding Larger project area to include WSDOT project upstream Model additional flows including extreme conditions and conservative

design flows

ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS - 2016

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants (nhc) hired to assist with developing scope of work and to provide technical review

Technical analysis/design consultant wil l be hired through competitive bid process

Technical Review Committee to provide independent review of work products John Riedel, National Park Service Rob Schanz, Washington Department of Transportation Casey Kramer and Vaughn Collins, nhc

TECHNICAL REVIEW

Provide input on project configuration scenarios to be evaluated

Continue to provide local knowledge so the analysis includes historical observations from the community

Review technical products, and provide feedback, comments, and questions to project Steering Committee

Review final project configuration to ensure that stakeholder preferences are considered

STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ROLE IN NEXT PHASE

2016 – Start next phase of technical analysis (hope to have consultant hired by August)

2017 – Decide on project configuration 2018 - Complete preliminary design and initiate permitting 2019 – Complete final design and permitting 2020 - Earliest possible construction

Project will likely be constructed in phases

PROJECT TIMELINE

Program managed by the Washington Department of Ecology to fund floodplain projects that benefit habitat and also reduce flood risks to communities

Could help pay for analysis to evaluate reducing flooding in Martin Road area as part of a habitat project

Skagit River System Cooperative submitted preliminary proposal and was invited to submit a full proposal in July. Funding is for 2017-2019 biennium (begins July 2017)

FLOODPLAINS BY DESIGN FUNDING

Questions?