YBSA Monthly Report February, 2007

YBSA Monthly Report
February, 2007

Executive Committee Meeting: The 2007 budget was discussed at the Executive Committee meeting. Preparation of the budget was postponed while YBSA reviews the response to the packets sent asking for financial assistance. A plan of action for the next two years was discussed. The BOR will take up to a year preparing the study prior to releasing it to the public for the Environmental Impact Review.

Washington D.C.: Rockey Marshall is representing YBSA in Washington D.C. He will meet with Senators Murray and Cantwell, Representative Doc Hastings and others. Cassidy and Associates will schedule meetings with other federal agencies.

Meeting with Kristin Eby: Rockey and Chuck met with Kristin Eby from Senator Cantwell’s office. Discussed the $2.5 million the BOR needs to complete the Storage Study, the Senators continued support for the Black Rock Project, how the new Congress will address budget issues, and when and how we can get help writing legislation that addresses the environmental issues in the Yakima River Basin to include all the water and fish problems.

Meeting with Yakama Nation: Sid, Charlie and Chuck met with Phil Rigdon and Tom Ring of the Yakama Nation. The discussion centered on how the Yakama Nation would develop projects for fish enhancement with or without Black Rock. YBSA stated fish enhancement and more clean, cool water will only exist with a completed Black Rock Reservoir. The Black Rock Project will benefit fish, agriculture (Wapato Irrigation Project), and our municipal and industrial growth for the next 75 to 100 years.

Phil acknowledged the Yakamas have a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation and will continue to work toward completion of the Yakima River Basin Storage Study.

Realtors: John Hodkinson organized a meeting with the Yakima Realtors. YBSA’s presented the Recreation and Economic Development Study and asked the realtors to endorse the study and send letters of support to other organizations. We answered questions about power generation, jobs, and the progress of the Storage Study. YBSA indicated we needed their help in promoting the project and would appreciate some financial support. The Black Rock Project needs to have support from all interests in the Yakima Basin.

Roundtable: YBSA received a letter form the BOR to participate in a roundtable group to review the Storage Study goals, look at suggested alternatives with potential for meeting the Storage Study goals and refining methods to be used in comparing the alternatives. The roundtable will not be a formal advisory group or a decision making body. YBSA will participate.

Senator Murrary’s Office: Rockey met with Jaime Shimek from Senator Murray’s Office. She’s new and was gathering information about Black Rock. Her position is Legislative Assistant on Agriculture and Department on Interior Matters. She stated YBSA should reduce the BOR request for $2.5 million and that it’s too early to move on legislation to address the water and environmental needs of the Yakima Basin.

Meetings Attended: Charlie spoke to the Northwest Professional Women Mortgage Brokers group about Black Rock in the Tri-Cities.

Sid spoke to the Washington Society of Professional Engineers in the Tri-Cities.

YBSA attended the Roza-Sunnyside Joint Board Meeting.

Upcoming: YBSA will be the program at the Yakima County Conference of Governments meeting on March 21, 2007.