Lacey Smith

The meeting included a public hearing and presentation regarding the Comprehensive 2026-2035 Water System Plan Update. Key business involved the adoption of the 2026-2035 Water System Plan via Resolution 25-559. Additionally, the Board authorized sole source purchases through several resolutions: Resolution 25-560 for Trojan Technologies Ultra Violet (UV) Light Disinfection System Modules for the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and Resolution 25-561 for Hidrostal brand pumps for the WWTP Headworks Pump System. Resolution 25-562 authorized the sole source purchase of Fairbanks Morse brand grinder pumps for the Bridge Street Sewer Lift Station. Bids were awarded for an emergency backup generator for the River's Bend Booster Pump Station and for a 2026 utility truck and service body. Manager reports covered BPA's FY 2026 Power Financial Reserves Policy surcharge, the State Department of Ecology's temperature TMDL regulation impacting the WWTP, and updates on the 6th and 7th Streets Sewer Main Replacement Project and the electric cable replacement for Quail Ridge Golf Course.

The meeting addressed several key resolutions and bid awards. The Board adopted the 2026 PUD Budget via Resolution 25-555. Resolution 25-556 set the 2026 Water Rates, Charges, and Fees, including increases across various categories such as consumption rates, monthly minimum charges, and installation fees. Resolution 25-557 established the 2026 Sewer Rates, Charges, and Fees, with specified increases for county and city customers and modifications to connection and development fees. Furthermore, Resolution 25-558 approved waiving competitive bidding for the electrical distribution line replacement serving Quail Ridge Golf Course, awarding the work to Clearwater Power Company. Bids were awarded for the Well No. 3 Onsite Chlorine Generator system to Filtration Technology, Inc., and for 2026 Capital Improvement Projects materials (water main, valves, fittings, and stock material) to Consolidated Supply Co. and Core & Main. The date for the subsequent regular meeting was changed from December 23, 2025, to December 22, 2025, to accommodate a Water System Plan Update presentation and public hearing.

This Watershed Plan for the Middle Snake Watershed (WRIA 35) provides a roadmap for managing water quantity, water quality, instream flow, and aquatic habitat. It encompasses detailed assessments of various implementation areas, including Asotin Creek, Middle Snake Mainstem, Pataha Creek, Tucannon River, and Grande Ronde. The plan aims to develop management objectives and strategies to address in-stream flow needs for fish and out-of-stream needs for people, aligning with the Watershed Planning Act, with projections extending to 2025.

This document outlines instream flow management recommendations for Water Resource Inventory Area 35 (WRIA 35), designed to integrate into the Middle Snake River Watershed Management Plan. The core strategy focuses on balancing in-stream flow requirements for fish with out-of-stream water needs for human use. Key recommendations include the promulgation of administrative rules by Ecology to restrict new water rights based on instream flows and year-round closures in priority streams without sufficient data, and the commitment to conduct additional instream flow studies. The plan emphasizes continued stream flow monitoring and a five-year review cycle to ensure the protection and enhancement of salmonid populations and to facilitate sustainable water resource allocation within the watershed.

This document provides a comprehensive watershed assessment, detailing the planning process, legal basis, and involved parties. It characterizes regional watershed features including geology, hydrology, climate, land use, and aquatic habitats. The assessment includes detailed analyses of surface and groundwater resources, water demand projections, water rights, and water quality for specific implementation areas. It concludes with an evaluation of data adequacy and recommendations for future work to support integrated watershed management.