WALLA WALLA WATER 2050Strategic Planning Advisory Committee MeetingSeptember 22, 2021

INTRODUCTIONS

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Roll call

REMINDER: Unmute yourself to speak to the group.

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• WELCOME

• INTRODUCTIONS

• REVIEW AGENDA

• REVIEW & APPROVE MEETING SUMMARY

AGENDA

• Welcome, Introductions, Review Agenda• Updates• Project Presentations:

• Mill Creek Floodplain Restoration Work• Dayton Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade• Bennington Diversion Dam Fish Passage

• Governance Structure Update• October Community Engagement Plan• Public Comment• Updates and Next Steps

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AUGUST MEETING SUMMARY

• Questions, comments, edits?

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REMINDER: Use the chat or hand raise function to submit questions and comments and/or request to speak to the group.

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Updates

UPDATES

• Implementation WG 9-11am Thursday September 30th

• USGS Groundwater Study

• Update on data gathering to date

• Discuss need for additional monitoring wells

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UPDATES

• Funding for Reestablished Streamflow Gages

• Touchet River @Luckenbill Road

• Walla Walla River @ Peppers Bridge Road

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Project Presentations

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Mill Creek Floodplain Restoration Work

(Strategy 1.01)Renee Hadley, WWCD

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Dayton Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade

(Strategy 1.18)Cynthia Wall Fuller, Commerce

Lucy Peterschmidt, Ecology

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Bennington Diversion Dam Fish Passage

Update (Strategy 1.23)Cindy Boen, USACOE

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Break until 2:50 P.M.

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Governance Structure Update

TRI-SOVEREIGNS UPDATES

• Updates from Quarterly Meeting• Memorandum of Agreement• Bi-State Water Management • Next Steps• SPAC Questions/Discussion

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UPDATED ADVISORY COMMITTEE

• Background:• The intent of the Advisory Committee over the next

phase of the WWW2050 Process is to provide advice and recommendations to advance and implement the WWW2050 Strategic Plan.

• Seeking individuals to represent the diverse interest groups to support plan implementation.

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ROLES AT A GLANCE

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WWBAC Tri-Sovereigns

Membership Diverse interest groups to represent broad perspectives of the Walla Walla Basin

• CTUIR Department of Natural Resources

• Ecology• Oregon Water Resources Department

(OWRD)

Primary Functions Provide advice and recommendations to advance and implement the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan.

• Guide the work of the WWBAC including making decisions on recommendations provided by WWBAC.

• Support bi-state water management • Coordinate with CTUIR Board of

Trustees and Governors’ Offices

Decision-Making Consensus-based recommendations Consensus-based decisions

Meeting Frequency Monthly Quarterly

ADVISORY COMMITTEE: ROLES

• Keep those they represent informed of WWBAC efforts, solicit input on issues discussed, and share this input with the WWBAC. This is a key responsibility of members; it is important that members represent the broad perspectives of the interest they represent.

• Actively participate in all WWBAC meetings and contribute to discussions. Consistency in attendance is important. Remote participation will be allowed.

• Actively participate in at least one Working Group.• Work to build partnerships, connections, and enthusiasm for implementation of

the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan. • Advocate for funding and other resources needed for success.• Work between meetings to educate themselves on issues. Members accept the

responsibility to come to meetings prepared for the discussion. • Work cooperatively with each other, the facilitator, and staff to accomplish the

purpose of the WWBAC.• Follow the discussion Ground Rules included in Appendix A.

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TRI-SOVEREIGNS: ROLES

• Support and guide the work of the WWBAC. • Serve as a link between the consulting teams and the WWBAC. • Review and provide feedback on draft materials prepared for the WWBAC and

Working Groups. • Ensure and enable a smooth and effective process that meets established goals

and timelines. • Coordinate to ensure that cross-state issues are identified and addressed.• Meet quarterly to discuss Walla Walla watershed management issues.• Provide guidance to and make decisions on recommendations provided by the

WWBAC. o Note: If a recommendation is not accepted by the Tri-Sovereigns, the

reasoning will be clearly communicated to the Advisory Committee, and if appropriate, will include a request for revisions or reconsideration.

• Coordinate with CTUIR Board of Trustees and Governors’ Offices. • Support bi-state water management options and consult with the WWBAC.• Provide guidance to the technical staff of each Sovereign.

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE: INTEREST GROUPS

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Interest Group Number of Seats Potential Sub-Interest GroupsAgriculture 3-4 • Dryland agriculture

• Irrigated agriculture• Vineyard• Trade association

Environment 2 • Local entity • State or regional entity

Recreation/ Quality of Life

1 n/a

Economic Development

1 • Chamber of Commerce• Port of Walla Walla

Local Government 4 • Cities• Counties

State Government 2 • ODFW or DEQ• WDFW

Federal Government 2 • NOAA/NMFSS• USACOE

Tribal Government 1 n/a

ADVISORY COMMITTEE: CRITERIA

• Ability to make decisions on behalf of their entity or interest group. Commitment to engaging in education and outreach to the interests they represent and to the broader community, including connecting with interest group outside of AC meetings.

• Ability to commit to a 2-year term.• Willingness to rely on consensus decision-making.• Commitment to building partnerships and connections to ensure

outcomes that benefit the entire basin including recommendations to:• Holistically address the basin’s longstanding struggle to address

instream and out-of-stream uses to ensure enough water for fish, farms, and people.

• Identify and prioritize actions need to implement the Strategic Plan.• Willingness to advocate for the Strategic Plan to drive legislative and

funding support.

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE: SELECTION PROCESS

1. Interested parties should submit an interest form by October 15, 2021.2. The Tri-Sovereigns will collate all responses and submit to existing

members of the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee (SPAC). 3. SPAC members will review the list of interested persons and submit

recommendations for WWBAC membership. 4. Tri-Sovereigns will review recommendations and distribute WWBAC

invitations by November 5, 2021.5. The new WWBAC membership will begin meeting in late fall 2021 or

early winter 2022.

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE: QUESTIONS FOR APPLICANTS

Interest Form Questions:• Please briefly describe why you are interested in serving as a member

of the WWBAC (3-4 sentences)• Please briefly describe any past experiences building partnerships and

consensus within diverse interest groups (3-4 sentences)• Are you able to make decisions on behalf of your entity? (Yes or No)• Are you able to commit to a 2-year term? (Yes or No)• Please share any additional recommendations, comments or

suggestions to advance and implement that WWW 2050 Strategic Plan (Optional)

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October Community Engagement Plan

BACKGROUND

• The Tri-Sovereigns will be holding 1-on-1 meetings on October 4th and 5th with SPAC members, elected officials and key implementers in the Basin.

• Purpose:• Discuss the governance and implementation of water

management in 2022 and beyond. • Update key stakeholders and partners on the WW2050 process

and governance going forward.• Hear directly from key partners on their work as it relates to water

management in the Basin• Seek feedback on the planning process to date and future

participation/partnership with the WWBAC.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What are your impressions of the WWW2050 process to date? How could we improve coordination and participation going

forward? What are your organization/interest group’s priorities for water

management over the next two years? How does your current or planned future work integrate with

the WW2050 Strategic Plan? Where do you see the greatest funding needs for WWW2050

strategies?

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SIGN UP FOR A 1-ON-1 MEETING

Sign up here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1F_uJNQCW7DqPh160MjLilwxgsj_6rKmK1xSOHhGuodQ/edit?usp=sharing

Email Caroline Burney at caroline@cascadiaconsulting.com if none of the time slots work for you!

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PUBLIC COMMENT

• Comments/questions?• Public comments may also be submitted online at

anytime: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WWW2050• Anyone may submit comments at this link throughout

this process.

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Next Steps

UPDATES

• Action Items• SPAC

• October 28 from 1 – 4:30 p.m. • Implementation Working Group

• September 30 from 9 – 11 a.m. • October Outreach meetings 10/4 and 10/5

• Sign up for a time

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REMINDER: Use the chat or hand raise function to submit questions and comments and/or request to speak to the group.