YBSA Monthly Report October, 2007
YBSA Monthly Report
October, 2007
Fair Booth: YBSA’s booth at the Central Washington Fair in Yakima was a huge success. The people who stopped by were interested in the progress of the Study, if there was any problem that would not be solved, and were in favor of Black Rock. Thanks to the Board members and volunteers who spent time at the booth answering questions.
City of Yakima Economic Development Committee: YBSA met with the Economic Development Committee. We discussed the process the Storage Study will follow prior to its completion and the need to continue the support for Black Rock. Black Rock potential benefit to the region is more than $7 billion. The committee voted to recommend continued funding of YBSA to the City Council.
Senator Cantwell: Chris Endresen, Senator Maria Cantwell’s new State Director, met with YBSA in Yakima. Chris was very interested in the project and how it is progressing. YBSA presented her all the background material about the Storage Study and Black Rock Reservoir. With climate change progressing, Black Rock is a possible solution to the Yakima Basin water problems.
Executive and Finance: To be able to continue our push to make the Black Rock project a reality, the Executive and Finance Committees met numerous times to plan Rally for the Rock II and to design a letter requesting support for YBSA. We are near the end of the fourth year of a five year Storage Study that concludes in December, 2008. The Rally was very successful (see the report on Rally for the Rock II) and the letter to our supporters will be mailed this week.
Yakama Nation Review Newspaper Article: There is an article in the Yakama Nation Review explaining the benefits of Black Rock and a request for assistance from the Nation. The time has come to prepare legislation that deals with what can be done by managing the Yakima River system for fish and wildlife. We invite the Yakama Nation to participate in this process. Also included in the newspaper was an article describing the presentation Jack Stanford, the Director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station, made to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. He stated there is only one place in the basin, and probably in the entire continental United States, that favors a return to something more like the past – the Yakima River. Both articles will be emailed in the near future.
Board Meeting: The October YBSA Board Meeting was canceled. The next meeting will be Monday, November 5 at 5:30 pm.
Rally of the Rock II
YBSA Executive and Finance Committee met and organized the Rally for the Rock II. The purpose of the Rally was to inform people of the Yakima Basin that the Storage Study concludes in December, 2008 and there are no fatal flaws which could derail the project. Also, with climate change Black Rock becomes more important for the economy of the Yakima Basin. Breakfast was served to about 200 people and YBSA Chair Sid Morrison opened the Rally at 7:20 am.
The following presentations were made:
Gerald Kelso, BOR – seepage and mitigation
Mitigation methods include additional barriers, drainage tunnels, holes to intercept the drainage and trenches to move the water. Barriers can be constructed where Dry Creek meets Cold Creek. Water can be reduced by pumping. The BOR has built dams and used seepage barriers and other methods to reduce seepage. These methods have been used on other dams throughout the west.
Sid Morrison, Chair YBSA
New industries and agriculture are always looking for water.
Dave Wykoff – climate change
Black Rock is the best possible solution for the water problem in the Yakima Basin. Water is the major issue we need to look at and solve. With climate change we will have more years without sufficient water. Temperatures are increasing dramatically about 3.5 degrees in the next 20 years.
In the Comparison of Simulated Runoff in the Yakima Basin by the University of Washington Impact Group on Climate Change, the USGS and the BOR report; water will run off earlier and faster, there will be a greater number of low water years and a greater need for additional storage – Black Rock is the best.
Sid Morrison
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is concerned about flooding with accelerated runoff.
Jerry Menninick, Yakama Nation
The Yakama Nation is in support of the completion of the study. There has to be a contribution to fish and the ecosystem. We need water for the surface and the aquifer. Yakama delegation went to Washington, D.C. to support the study. Once the Yakamas have answers the Nation will or will not support the project.
Sid Morrison
YBSA is working on draft legislation to meet all the needs in the Basin and is sending an invitation to the Yakama Nation to assist in developing legislation to address their concerns.
Rick Valicoff, Roza Board Chair
Roza wants to see the Storage Study finished and the completed E.I.S. We are in favor of any additional storage and hope Black Rock will be successful.
Sid Morrison
Bumping Lake is almost impossible to build. Any storage in the Yakima Basin will only be viable if we have higher mountains to keep our snowpack with climate change.
Dave McFadden, Yakima County Development Association – economic benefits
The Yakima area needs more water for municipal growth and to take care of the environment. Black Rock is the only long term solution that will work for the Yakima Basin.
Interest in resorts has increased in recent years and Black Rock will provide a platform for development. Recreation would become a multi-million dollar industry for the Yakima Basin.
Sid Morrison
The Storage Study will indicate Black Rock Project will provide the water necessary for fish, municipal growth, and agriculture.
Bob Hall, Finance Chair YBSA
At the present time our economy is very good. We are not facing problems in agriculture or manufacturing. We have our highest employment and lowest unemployment now. This project is not for us it’s for our children and grandchildren.
It’s time to ask for everyone’s commitment over the next 24 months for both financial and personal support of the Black Rock Project. YBSA needs all of your help to make this project successful.
Questions and Answers:
Q. Why not pump water directly from the Columbia River to the Yakima River?
A. Timing, there’s not enough water in the Columbia River in the summer time, the only way is a water exchange with Black Rock Reservoir.
Q. Is it possible to have another get together after the E.I.S. process?
A. Yes, Rally for the Rock III.
Q. Is there competition for Columbia River Water?
A. Yes, but the only viable project is Black Rock and everyone needs to support Black Rock.
Q. What’s the cost to build Black Rock and how will the cost affect the payment by agriculture?
A. $5 billion to build. Gerry Kelso, BOR stated, “the cost to agriculture is based upon ability to pay.”
Thanks to the following for sponsoring Rally for the Rock II:
Yakima Central Labor Council ALF-CIO
Hop Growers of Washington
New Vision
Pacific Power and Light
State Fair Park
Yakima Chamber of Commerce
Yakima Valley Dairy Rederation
Yakima Valley Growers and Shippers
Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau