YBSA Monthly Report January, 2006

YBSA Monthly Report
January, 2006

BOR Alternatives Evaluation: The BOR has distributed to Stakeholders, for discussion only, a report, “Yakima River Basin Alternatives Technical Information and Hydrologic Analysis”. Included in the report are three Yakima River basin alternatives: Bumping Lake enlargement, Wymer Dam and Reservoir, and Keechelus-to-Kachess pipeline. The technical information and hydrologic analysis will be used to determine which alternatives, if any, should be studied further in the Plan Formulation Phase of the Storage Study. These alternatives were formulated to determine if they would provide more storage of Yakima River water for the benefit of irrigation, threatened and endangered fish species, and municipal water supply in the basin. The BOR will decide which alternatives will be carried forward to the Plan Formulation Phase of the Storage Study.

BOR has concluded that, based on current information, a potential Black Rock storage alternative appeared to be technically viable and could meet the water supply goals of the Storage Study. The Black Rock storage alternative is being carried forward into the Plan Formulation Phase.

BOR will meet with the Stakeholders as soon as possible for input on which alternatives if any should be included in the Plan Formulation Phase of the storage study prior to completing it.

Yakima Nation Contract: YBSA is still working to get a contact between the Yakama Nation and BOR completed. The BOR has two more years to complete the Feasibility Study and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA)-State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The participation by the Yakama Nation is crucial in gathering the information for a complete EIS.

Recreation Around Black Rock: Benton County, Port of Sunnyside, Yakima County, and YBSA are in the process of adopting an interlocal agreement to explore the recreational opportunities and benefits associated with Black Rock. YBSA met with Yakima County Commissioner Mike Leita to explain the importance of adopting the interlocal agreement.

Olympia Meeting: Members of YBSA will be meeting with the Governors Chief of Staff and others to encourage them to stay the course and complete the Black Rock Feasibility Study. The Governor has indicated numerous times her support of the Black Rock project.

YBSA Board Activities: Several planning meetings were held this month.
1. Contracts with Benton and Yakima Counties and the City of Yakima have been signed for 2006. Their continued support is an important part in getting Black Rock completed.
2. Discussed present and future fund-raising as we are determining how much money is required for YBSA to operate effectively now and in the future.
3. We are reevaluating our expenses of the past to better understand what will be required to meet our goals in the future.
4. We are considering better methods of communication with those who have supported the Black Rock effort to-date

Updates have been given to the following: labor organizations, city and county employees, Yakima Central Labor Council, and Carpenters Local 770.

Meetings were held with the Port of Sunnyside discussing the importance of the recreational component of the Black Rock project.

BOR has attended our board meetings and provided an update on the feasibility study.

Discussions were held with the Regional Director of the Department of Ecology Derek Sandison about the remaining timeline, financing, and the SEPA document of the Black Rock Feasibility Study.