• Bi-State HCP
  • HCP Main
  • HCP Model Documents
  • NEPA Documents
  • HCPCC Minutes
  • CIDMP
  • Early Actions
• Watershed Planning
  • 2514 Watershed Planning
  • Meeting Minutes
    • Planning Unit
    • Steering Committee
    • IF Subcommittee
    • WQ Subcommittee
    • Habitat Subcommittee
    • IWG Subcommittee
  • Watershed Plan Documents
    • Detailed Implementation Plan
    • Watershed Plan
    • Level 2 Assessments
    • Initial Assessments
• Other Efforts
  • Planning
    • Subbasin Planning
    • Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan
  • Pilots
    • Shallow Aquifer Recharge
    • Water Management Initiative
  • Projects
    • Phase IV - Implementation
    • Backyard Stream Team
    • Salmon Recovery Projects

Early Action Projects

• Walla Walla County Conservation District Projects
• City of Walla Walla Projects
• Stream Team
• Others (TBD)

Mission Statement

The Walla Walla County Conservation District is dedicated to conservation and restoration of the natural resources of Walla Walla County, facilitated by working on a voluntary basis with landowners to identify opportunities and create solutions, while consistently providing education, information, and assistance whenever possible.

Fish Screens for Irrigation Diversion Intake

Conservation District Fish Screen

Screening of irrigation diversion intakes with NMFS approved screens is required by RCW 77.55.040. It is also one of the actions Walla Walla Basin stakeholders agreed to do under the Early Actions Program, which was intended to delay regulatory actions by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) until the Habitat Conservation Plan is completed. The WWCCD fish screen program is the centerpiece of the Cooperative Compliance Review Program, which is a partnership between WDFW, WWCCD, WWCC and other agencies intended to help local irrigators voluntarily install fish screens and protect them from actions by regulatory agencies. Under this program WDFW recruits and maintains the master list of irrigators enrolled in the program and the WWCCD secures and administers grant funding, screen assessment, design, and installation. The WWCCD currently has grant funding for the program from BPA, USFWS, and SRFB amounting to about $800,000 and is installing 10-15 fish screens per month.

• Accomplishment to Date -- 400 irrigators are signed up for program, 350 have been assessed, 300 are installed
• Work Remaining -- an estimated 100-200 unscreened diversions remain
• Where Help is Needed -- Recruitment would be aided by a WDFW PR program to inform irrigators of the consequences of not having an approved screen on their diversion. This is especially true for the urban irrigators where it is believed most of the unscreened pumping stations and diversions remain.

Riparian Buffer Installation

Riparian buffer installation is not required by law however, it is one of the primary actions required under the Early Action Plan agreement with NMFS and USFWS. Primarily USDA and the state under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), which is administered, by the state Conservation Commission have provided funding for riparian buffer installation. Walla Walla County has roughly 25% of the CREP for the entire state of Washington. The CREP program is currently experiencing a shortage of state funds that could jeopardize its effectiveness in the future.

• Accomplishment to Date -- 2900 acres and 150 miles of riparian buffer installed.
• Work Remaining -- It is estimated 2/3 of the buffer work has been completed on eligible Walla Walla County streams.
• Where Help is Needed --Ensure state funding is adequate to partner with the CREP program.

Flow Meter Installation

Flow measuring devices are required by RCW 90.03.360. Flow meters will allow DOE to monitor compliance with irrigation water rights but, more importantly, they will allow the irrigator to document water use thus protecting water rights from relinquishment. We also believe water will be saved because flow meters will allow the irrigator to voluntarily abide by their water right. DOE and SRFB provide funding for the flow meter program. This program is administered in tandem with the fish screen program with assessment and design conducted by the WWCCD project staff. Contracts to install meters are awarded on a low bid basis.

• Accomplishment to Date -- 50 new irrigators signed up for the program in addition to, 35 irrigators assessed, 25 designed, and 160 installed.
• Work Remaining -- Estimate 500 to 600 diversions without meters.
• Where Help is needed -- Recruitment would be aided by a WDOE PR program to inform irrigators of the consequences of not having an approved flow-measuring device.

Irrigation Efficiency

We believe this program has enormous potential to significantly increase flows in the Walla Walla Basin. As with the CREP program, the Irrigation Efficiency Program is administered through the Conservation Commission. WWCCD works in concert with the WWCC, Irrigation Technology group to execute this program. WWCCD acquires funds, subcontracts with the college for technical assistance on assessments and designs and bids out actual construction of the project. We have completed construction of our 3rd irrigation efficiency project and are currently assessing the possibility of a 4th project. These projects have resulted in significant savings of trustable water during the critical spring and fall fish passage months.

• Accomplishment to Date -- 50 irrigation projects assessed, 3 projects completed, none under construction, 1 project under design. There are also two irrigation water conveyance (piping) projects under design (Lowden 2 and Touchet East/West Irrigation District).
• Work Remaining -- Estimate 10 additional projects in biennium
• Where Help is needed -- Ensure integrity of current arrangement between Conservation Commission and DOE.

Instream Habitat Restoration

In-stream work has become very difficult because of environmental compliance requirements which has forced WWCCD to focus our efforts elsewhere. Shining examples of WWCCD’s achievements are located throughout the county but Coppei Creek is the example that WDFW and SRFB like to use as a showcase for the basin.

• Accomplishment to Date -- 323 in-stream structures installed
• Work Remaining -- Accurate estimates are impossible at this time
• Where Help is needed -- Assistance from WDFW and DOE on environmental compliance issues is critical.

Fish Passage Barrier Removal

• Hofer Dam (Touchet River)
• Gose Street (Mill Creek)

Conservation Tillage

The WWCCD shares office space with the USDA and works closely with NRCS and FSA. The accomplishments of USDA often go unheralded. In Walla Walla County we currently have 153,616 ac in USDA programs (i.e. CRP) that convert marginal cropland to native ground cover, with an additional ~23,000 acres of conservation tillage under contract in the EQIP program.

City of Walla Walla Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Program

Number of ASR Wells: The city has converted two wells to ASR. The first conversion was completed in 1999. The second was completed in 2003. Amount Injected: 441 MG/year average injected since 1999. Together, both wells can inject between 650 – 950 MG/year. Injected water is treated with ozone and chlorine. Municipal Supply: The program was originally developed to provide off-stream storage for the City’s Washington water permit No. 13121. This permit provides for a 20 cfs seasonal water diversion from Mill Creek which was to be used for municipal purposes as the City grew. This permit has yet to be developed into a water right due to water transport issues associated with delivering the water to the location of the City’s primary water right diversion at the City’s intake in Oregon. The City of Walla Walla has an Oregon surface water right that provides up to 100% of our water resources. ESA Response/Stream flow enhancement: The scope of the program has broadened to include ESA concerns (bull trout, steelhead) due to the City’s involvement in watershed planning and the development of a bi-state HCP. The City is working with OR Department of Water Resources and state and Federal agencies to optimize hydropower capability in return for enhancing in-stream summer flows. The proposal utilizes the ASR program to store water diverted under WA water permit 13121 and uses increased hydropower revenues to help fund the necessary capital improvements. Watershed Fire Response: In 1999, the Forest Service warned the City of a substantial threat of a catastrophic watershed fire occurring in the Mill Creek Watershed. It has been over 100 years since there was a fire in the watershed. The city projects that full surface supply would be impacted and it would take up to 6 years to recover. The ASR program allows the City to bank water for municipal supply when the watershed fire event occurs. Future Development: The City’s ASR program and participation in stream flow enhancement is limited by the supply of non-turbid water. Development of additional ASR wells and storage capability will first require filtration or turbidity reduction of the Mill Creek supply. This is a financial commitment beyond the City’s ability to fund on its own. The City is exploring partnering options with both state and Federal agencies who have a stake or interest in optimizing Mill Creek for municipal and environmental benefits.	Well No. 1 Conversion
	Ozone Treatment
	Well No. 6 ASR Conversion

City of Walla Walla Fish Screen Installation

Bull Trout	Specifications: Stationary screen. Automated facility. Combined air/water pressurized cleaning system. Capacity: 48 cfs. Location: The City’s intake facility is in Oregon. The new screen replaced a traveling screen originally installed in 1988 during replacement of its 14-mile transmission line between the Mill Creek Watershed and the City. Chronology: In March 1999, the City met with USFW, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in response to concerns over Bull Trout take. On July 28, 1999, the City in conjunction with the agencies developed a schedule to bring City facilities into compliance with new screening standards. On October 8, 1999, the City completed improvements on the existing screening facility as an interim measure. In 2000, a joint design team panel was convened with input from USFW, NOAA Fisheries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Construction on the new screen commenced during the summer of 2001 and was completed by September 26, 2001. Funding: The City partnered with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and OR Department of Fish and Wildlife to provide the necessary $425,000 in funding. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) were instrumental in recommending the project to the BPA. Fish Release: Subsequent to the installation, the City assisted CTUIR in reintroducing spring Chinook into Mill Creek.
New Fish Screen Platform
City Intake with Fish Ladder