TO: Members of the City Council
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CONTACT(S):
|
Public Works |
Dave Juarez |
425-556-2733 |
DEPARTMENT STAFF:
|
Public Works |
Jessica Atlakson |
Environmental Geologist |
|
Public Works |
Amanda Balzer |
Science and Data Analytics Supervisor |
TITLE:
title
Redmond Paired Watershed Study Trend Analysis Results
OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
recommendation
Council will be provided with the results and key findings from the first four years of monitoring of the Redmond Paired Watershed Study (RPWS). The RPWS measures the effectiveness of efforts taken by Redmond and King County to restore urban streams and is funded through the Stormwater Action Monitoring Program.
body
☒ Additional Background Information/Description of Proposal Attached
REQUESTED ACTION:
☒ Receive Information ☐ Provide Direction ☐ Approve
REQUEST RATIONALE:
• Relevant Plans/Policies:
Community Strategic Plan, Comprehensive Plan, Environmental Sustainability Action Plan, Redmond Watershed Management Plan
• Required:
NPDES Permit WAR04-5538, Section S8.
The current contracts for the RPWS expire on December 31, 2021.
• Council Request:
NA
• Other Key Facts:
The Redmond Paired Watershed Study (RPWS) and partnership between King County, Herrera Environmental Consulting (Herrera), and Redmond started in 2014 to measure the health of streams in Redmond and unincorporated King County. The goal of the RPWS is to measure the effectiveness of actions taken by Redmond’s Stormwater Utility and King County to restore urban streams on a watershed scale. The City is focusing restoration efforts in priority watersheds identified in the 2013 Watershed Management Plan.
Many studies have occurred nationally that measure the declining health of streams after urbanization of a watershed. This Study does the opposite by measuring the health of streams in already urbanized watersheds and the impact local governments can have in trying to restore the urban streams to good health.
The effectiveness monitoring to date has established baseline conditions in seven streams. The Study is ‘paired’ because it measures the health of streams that either:
1. Redmond and King County are working to improve,
2. Are not targeted for improvement, or
3. Are relatively pristine and located in Redmond’s Watershed Preserve Park.
By ‘pairing’ watersheds, it will be easier to identify if actions taken by Redmond and King County specifically made an improvement in stream health.
The recently finalized trend analysis report can be found here:
<https://www.ezview.wa.gov/Portals/_1962/Documents/SAM/RPWS-WY16-19TrendAnalysisReport_Feb2021.pdf>
OUTCOMES:
This staff report will summarize results from monitoring performed over the first four years of RPWS implementation; including lessons learned from retrofit installations of stormwater detention vaults in the Evans Creek watershed and documented improvements in water quality from increased street sweeping frequency in the Monticello Creek watershed.
COMMUNITY/STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND INVOLVEMENT:
• Timeline (previous or planned):
N/A
• Outreach Methods and Results:
N/A
• Feedback Summary:
N/A
BUDGET IMPACT:
Total Cost:
$407,005 (current biennial budget)
Approved in current biennial budget: ☒ Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A
Budget Offer Number:
000214
Budget Priority:
Healthy and Sustainable
Other budget impacts or additional costs: ☐ Yes ☒ No ☐ N/A
If yes, explain:
N/A
Funding source(s):
100% grant funded through the Stormwater Action Monitoring (SAM) Program
The RPWS is planned to continue through 2025 with 100% funding from the SAM program, which is a collaborative stormwater monitoring program in Western Washington funded by Phase I and II municipal stormwater permittees and administered by the Washington Department of Ecology. Redmond pays into the SAM program as part of the fee requirements for the City’s stormwater permit.
Budget/Funding Constraints:
N/A
☒ Additional budget details attached
COUNCIL REVIEW:
Previous Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
11/19/2019 |
Business Meeting |
Approve |
|
5/11/2021 |
Committee of the Whole - Planning and Public Works |
Provide Direction |
Proposed Upcoming Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
N/A |
None proposed at this time |
N/A |
Time Constraints:
The contracts for the RPWS will need to be amended every two years to align with multi-agency budget cycles and secured funding by all parties. Council is being provided with background information in preparation for approval of amendments to the existing contracts for the RPWS in 4Q 2021.
ANTICIPATED RESULT IF NOT APPROVED:
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: RPWS Introduction Factsheet
Attachment B: RPWS Trend Analysis Factsheet
Attachment C: RPWS Budget and Grant Funding