Manastash Cr Acquisition & Restoration

The Kittitas County Public Works Department had planned to use this grant to buy and restore nearly 2 acres of floodplain on Manastash Creek in Kittitas County, just below the Brown Road Bridge. The purchase could have prevented further development in this important reach of Manastash Creek. The restoration portion of the original grant applications included demolition of the existing home and outbuildings from the upland area, removal of the levee, and revegetation of the floodplain with native plants. Kittitas County also proposed to purchase conservation easements on three high priority parcels, totaling ~17 acres. The proposed easements were located on the Manastash Creek delta at the Yakima River and along the Manastash Creek corridor from Brown Road to the delta. Manastash Creek is used by mid-Columbia River steelhead, which are listed as threatened with extinction under the federal Endangered Species Act, as well as by Chinook and coho salmon and rainbow and cutthroat trout.


The goals for this project looked attainable when the project began, but after the property appraisals and appraisal reviews were delivered to the landowners, there was a hesitancy on the part of the landowners to accept the offers. Only one of the three landowners of the proposed conservation easements expressed interest in continuing negotiations towards acquisition. However, that parcel was located across from the 2ac property proposed for acquisition and restoration; without also acquiring the 2ac property, minimal benefits would be realized from this single conservation easement so it was not pursued. After multiple attempts to engange the landowners, we decided to close this project and make the money available to another deserving project through the Recreation and Conservation Office.

All Properties: Permanently protect the stream, riparian vegeation, and floodplain.



On the Wise Property: Reconnect the stream with its floodplain and enhance floodplain habitat by installing large wood and native plants throughout the floodplain.