This contract covers the expense portion of the Manastash Creek Instream Flow Enhancement Project, which is part of the larger Manastash Creek Restoration Project.  The capital portion is covered by CR-87294.
In Manastash Creek, several man-made structures (dams and unscreened diversions) reduce or eliminate fish passage, create the potential for fish entrainment into ditches, and contribute to diminished flow creating a low-flow or no-flow fish passage barrier. These diversions date to the 1870’s and have been actively diverting water for irrigation and stockwater since then. Water rights in this watershed have been adjudicated and the Court’s conditional final order is in place.
The overall Manastash Creek Restoration Project includes providing fish screen to protect fish from entrainment in irrigation systems, removing barriers to fish passage and improving instream flow.  Funding is in place through BPA and the Washington Department of Ecology to complete the screening and passage portion of the project.
The Manastash Creek Instream Flow Enhancement Project's purpose is to accomplish the third goal, improving instream flow in lower Manastash Creek, by identifying and implementing projects.  The KCCD will work with all water right owners to identify water conservation projects in water delivery systems and water application systems (on-farm), potential options to convert to groundwater, and to match water right owners with groups who purchase or lease water rights. This contract not only identifies projects and implements projects, it will also serve to identify and secure additional funding sources to complete projects.  The Manastash Steering Committee will play a key role in prioritizing projects for implementation.