Background
Water is short in the Yakima Basin. Irrigators, communities,
businesses, households, and endangered fish all share this valuable
resource, and more is needed for their continued health. Ecology is
committed to finding that water.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation (Bureau) studied the problem for a number of years. As a
result of those studies, Ecology selected an integrated water resource
management approach as its preferred alternative for addressing water
issues in the Basin. The approach is composed of seven elements:
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Fish Passage
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Fish Habitat Enhancement
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Modifying Existing Structures and Operations
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New Storage
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Market-Based Reallocation
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Groundwater Storage
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Enhanced Water Conservation
More
information about the previous studies and the Ecology’s
integrated water resource management preferred alternative.
Download the
Integrated Water Resource Management Focus Sheet

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Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project (YRBWEP)
Work Group
In June 2009, Ecology and the Bureau brought
representatives from Yakama Nation, irrigation districts, environmental
organizations, and federal, state, county, and city governments together
to form a working group to develop a consensus-based solution to the
Basin’s water problems. Although Ecology’s integrated water resource
management preferred alternative serves as a starting point, the work
group is considering many options.
The work group agreed upon a
preliminary plan in December 2009. The elements of the plan will be
refined during 2010. A final plan will be submitted to Congress and the
legislature once the workgroup makes its final endorsement.
The preliminary plan builds upon Ecology’s
Integrated Water Resource Management approach and includes:
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Adopting best management practices (BMPs) to
reduce water demand through extensive water conservation and
efficiency measures for agricultural and municipal water users, and
residential water users not connected to a municipal delivery
system.
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Developing additional water supply through a
suite of at least some of the following actions:
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Building a storage reservoir between
Yakima and Ellensburg at Wymer.
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Raising the pool level at Cle Elum Dam.
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Tapping into the inactive storage at
Kachess Reservoir.
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Enlarging Bumping Reservoir.
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Pumping water from the Columbia River for
storage at Wymer, Burbank and Selah Creek locations.
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Providing additional analysis of a
tributary enhancement project such as the Ahtanum Creek
Watershed Restoration Program, including a Pine Hollow Reservoir
Project.
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Exploring possibilities for additional
power generation opportunities.
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Developing groundwater storage including
infiltration and municipal aquifer storage and recovery.
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Developing water marketing.
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Modifying existing facilities and operations
including:
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Completing Wapatox Canal piping.
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Subordinating some or all of the Roza and
Chandler power plants for fish flows during spring.
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Evaluating Roza diversion alternate supply
and associated dam removal.
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Improving Kittitas Reclamation District
canals through measures, including piping, to improve flow in
tributaries.
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Building fish passage at all six Yakima
Project reservoirs.
- Enhancing habitat by:
Download the
Preliminary Integrated Water
Resource Management Plan for the Yakima River Basin.
More information about the YRBWP Work Group
Draft EIS for Cle Elum Fish Passage Released
Ecology and the Bureau of Reclamation have
completed the Cle Elum Fish Passage Facilities and Fish Reintroduction
Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The purpose of the
project is to construct fish passage facilities at Cle Elum Dam that
will provide fish access to historic habitat and restore biodiversity
and the natural production of salmon, lamprey, and seagoing trout in the
upper Cle Elum subbasin.
A public review and comment period will run
through March 22, 2010. Comments may be submitted orally,
electronically, or by mail. Oral comments may be presented at the
following public meeting:
February 18, 2010
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
City of Cle Elum Council Chamber Room
119 West 1st Street
Cle Elum, Washington
Please send written comments to Ms. Candace
McKinley, Environmental Protection Specialist, at the Bureau of
Reclamation, 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima WA 98901, or by email to
sha-uca-fishpassage@usbr.gov. Questions about the report may be
directed to Ms. McKinley at (509) 575-5848, ext. 612; or by fax to (509)
454-5650. TTY users may dial 711 to obtain a toll-free TTY relay.
Download the DEIS
You
can also visit the
Bureau's website
for the news release and related information. |