Yakima River Basin Watershed Management Planning - Lower/Upper Yakima & Naches (WRIA 37/38/39)

Lead agency contact:

Jim Milton, Director
Yakima Basin Water Resources Agency
(509) 574-2650 Fax (509) 574-2651

Ecology contact:

Greg Schuler
Department of Ecology
(509) 454-3619
grsc461@ecy.wa.gov

Implementation phase:

Planning phase: Plan Approved by Planning Unit December 2002, County Approval (Benton, Kilickitat, and Yakima Counties) 2005

Optional elements: Quality, Habitat, Storage

Plan due: Completed

Grants awarded: $1,810,000 through June 2005

Plan website: Watershed Plan Document

Progress

On December 18, 2002, the Yakima Basin Plan became the first in the State to be approved by a Planning Unit and forwarded for additional public consideration and adoption by the Counties. The Plan addresses water quantity, water quality and habitat, and provides multiple recommendations and strategies to improve water resources management. A copy of the plan is available from the web site listed below under Other Resources.

Implementing the strategies and actions contained in the plan will require continued and improved cooperation and coordination by local, state and federal governments and other entities. While state level rule-making and ordinance development are given consideration in the plan they are not formally assigned as an obligation to state or local governments.

Although a diversity of interests participated in plan development, environmental organizations and the Yakama Nation chose not to participate. However, the Plan expresses a strong desire to have these interests involved in implementation efforts and use of appropriate parts of the watershed plan to help guide and support other related activities, such as salmon recovery. One of the critical factors to enable successful implementation remains availability of necessary funding and resources.

Detailed Implementation Plan

In September of 2006 the Yakima Basin Water Resources Agency received a grant from Ecology to proceed with Phase IV Implementation for WRIA’s 38 and 39. The first year grant requires the development of a Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP). This DIP is currently under development by the Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC). For further information see website listed below.

Studies or data relevant to planning for this area

Other resources

Assessment, Technical Memoranda, Plan and Detailed Implementation Planning Process

Washington State Department of Ecology home page

Please send additions or corrections to Chris Anderson, (360) 407-6634.