YBSA Monthly Report March, 2007
YBSA Monthly Report
March, 2007
BOR Stakeholders Roundtable: YBSA attended the stakeholders roundtable, hosted by the Bureau of Reclamation, to discuss the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study/Feasibility Analysis and NEPA/SEPA EIS. The opening statement at the Roundtable was, “We will follow the Legislation and will look at alternatives based on meeting the goals of the Study”.
Chairman Morrison reminded the members of the stakeholder roundtable that the Study has 3 goals. The goals are water for fish, agriculture, and municipal use.
Discussion was held about the amount of water needed for irrigation (70% is the goal in the study). Comments included: “we don’t want to set a goal larger than we need and we don’t need to use 70% for nonproratable districts”. The large majority of stakeholders present felt the need for a firm water supply as stated in the original goal. The (they felt) would eliminate worry about water shortages in multiple drought years. Yakima County will not adopt a mediocre plan and will not accept anything but the optimum. Kittitas County needs 70% minimum and needs to do what has to be done and not look at just the money. The Black Rock Project will benefit all the people.
Benton County indicated a need to move toward a more normative river, continue to demand no less than 70% of the entitlement during a water short year, and enough water for municipal and industrial growth for the next 100 years.
American Rivers indicated the need to look at nonproductive land, non-structural, and non-storage. They felt that there may not be a need for normative flows in the river.
Numerous stakeholders said, “Don’t talk about how much, how firm, and how flexible but on what we can do with a large amount of water.” They expressed the need to consider how climate change will affect the Yakima Basin.
The Yakama Nation needs water for fish and agriculture, but water isn’t the only item needed for Salmon Recovery. More habitat, fish passage and continued funding for a fish enhancement project (not just to build a reservoir) are also needed.
The Wymer project could provide some benefit for fish and some small opportunities that do not require a large amount of water. Wymer could provide a better supply during normal years.
Items that need to be considered are: The study needs to consider climate change and how to deal with power generation, recreation, and economic development. The cost analysis will be done at the end of the study.
Joe Hubble will host a technical working group meeting on March 19 to evaluate how much water is needed for instream flow.
Sid Morrison and Jeff Tayer suggested the group start 800 a/f in reviewing the need for each reach.
March 29 has been set by the Bureau of Reclamation for the 2nd stakeholder roundtable.
County of Governments: YBSA presented a program at the Yakima County Conference of Governments meeting. The COG membership includes all the cities in Yakima County. The program consisted of how the storage study is progressing, why YBSA believes Black Rock is the best and the only solution that will provide the water needed in the Yakima Basin for the next 100 years, and how the additional water will benefit the economy and people of the Yakima Basin and beyond.
We also distributed YBSA’s Critique of the BOR Storage Study and a packet explaining YBSA’s need to keep the Black Rock Project moving forward.
Instream Flow Technical Work Group: Jeff Tayer and Sid Morrison suggested the technical work group start with 800 a/f of water which would be available with Black Rock operational when reviewing the needed water for each reach.
March 19 the BOR convened a Storage Study Technical Working Group to discuss the purpose for and intended use of instream flow targets and what method to use to compare the alternatives (Black Rock and Wymer) for fish. The discussion revolved around the amount of water needed in the five reaches: Easton, Cle Elum, Upper Yakima, Lower Naches, and Wapato. The Prosser at Tieton reachs were added to the list. The review is to be completed for the 7 regions for three seasons: winter, spring, and summer.
Concern was expressed about how the model was used and that more review of the models is needed. Other comments included using a more normative flow terminology instead of unregulated flows, and do not fail to consider potential for habitat restoration by opening up additional floodplain, link water volume/flow goals to specific conditions, look at fish passage over existing reservoirs, and remember to consider climate change. In order to choose the best alternative, knowledge of the needs of each reach and the things that can be done without adding more infrastructure are necessary.
The amount of water needed includes the needs for fish, agriculture, and municipal uses. The group was reminded that this is a storage study and the BOR has to provide answers to the storage alternatives.
Meeting with Roza Irrigators: Members of YBSA met twice with the irrigation community. The Irrigators are concerned about water rights, cost of project and distribution of costs. Dave Wykoff reminded the Roza Board they need to take climate change very seriously when looking at future water needs. Roza irrigators asked YBSA for some help developing their scoping comments for the Bureau.
Joint Board Meeting: At the Joint Board meeting Charlie and Tom provided language YBSA felt needed to be transmitted to the BOR. Language such as, the storage study as envisioned by Congress, must be completed on schedule, the study needs to provide 70% of water for proratable acreage, needs to meet the goals for both fish production and municipal needs for the next 100 years. The projections of the Washington State Climatologist must be considered as part of these long range requirements. From the Storage Study will come many of the answers we seek about water rights, benefits, and how costs will be shared among a wide array of beneficiaries.
State Migrant Council: Jaime Avalos from Granger, Vice Chairman of the Washington State Migrant Council, invited Tom Carpenter to a meeting in Sunnyside to talk about Black Rock. Tom explained how Black Rock will benefit the Yakima Basin. The members of the Migrant Council voted to continue their support of the Black Rock Project. Jaime has helped YBSA set up and man the fair booth for a number of years and assisted with other projects. Thanks Jaime.
Letters of Thank You: YBSA Board sent letters to all our contributors thanking them for their support and contributions. We couldn’t have reached this point in the Storage Study without their continued support.
Contact with Realtors: A draft letter supporting Black Rock was given to the Yakima Realtors with a request they distribute to other Realtor organizations and other groups.
Stakeholder Roundtable: The 2nd stakeholder roundtable is scheduled for March 29. Activities and discussion at that meeting will be distributed as soon as possible in April
Web Site Update: Met with Joe Schmitt, Ousel Internet Development, Inc., who manages YBSA’s web site and developed a procedure to keep our site current. Look for the new updated web pages at www.ybsa.org.