Chehalis Basin Partnership briefs council on low July river flows, restoration projects and internships

Chehalis — Representatives of the Chehalis Basin Partnership told the City Council on July 28 that the basin faces water-availability strains, noting the Chehalis River was “at a historic low for July,” and reviewed restoration, monitoring and education activity across the watershed.

Kirsten Harmon, who gave the presentation, said the partnership — created in 1998 after statewide flooding concerns — functions as an open forum where local governments, tribes and natural-resource stakeholders share data and coordinate projects. Harmon said recent Partnership focus areas include streamflow and water availability, nitrate issues, restoration projects such as work on the Skookumchuck and Satsup rivers, and coordination with the Office of the Chehalis on fish and flood work.

Harmon described several recent activities: presentations on water-quantity topics and reclaimed-water uses, briefings on the Department of Ecology’s Streamflow Restoration grant funding, technical analysis of permit-exempt wells in places such as Scatter Creek, and field tours of on-the-ground restoration work. She also said the Partnership has supported internships: summer student projects produced recommendations about outdoor water-use conservation and possible demonstration landscaping projects.

Terry Harris and other Partnership members encouraged local officials to use the group as an information forum; staff representatives from the city said they have been contributing technical staff to the Partnership. Councilmembers asked whether the Partnership engages colleges and high schools for internships and about federal participation; the response from Partnership staff was that coordination is ongoing and Ecology staff are active partners.

Harmon also referenced the Washington State Supreme Court Hirst decision-era reforms and the state Streamflow Restoration program as part of the legal and funding landscape that has shaped watershed work. The Partnership requested continued city engagement and noted several county and state-funded projects are in various stages of implementation and contracting.