YBSA Monthly Report October, 2008
YBSA Monthly Report
October, 2008
Presentation by Dr. Stanford: Dr. Jack Stanford’s presentation pointed out the possibilities of the return of 1 million Salmon to the Yakima River Basin. Those numbers can only be reached with more water available in the Yakima River managed for fish. YBSA sent a letter thanking Mose Squeochs, Chairman of the Yakama Nation General Council, for his attendance at the presentation. The letter, which also included an invitation to join together with all those interested in making Salmon recovery happen, as presented by Dr. Stanford. It was sent as a cc to Tribal Council Chair Mel Sampson, Jr. and the Chairs of the Yakama Nation Legislative and Fish Committees.
Benefits of Additional Water: YBSA has to define what the cost of doing nothing would be without securing additional water for our Basin and must continue to point out the benefits of the additional water made available by the Black Rock Project. Due to the restrictions of the Federal guideline the Bureau of Reclamation had to follow in the Storage Study, the true benefits of the project could not be included.
We cannot continue with a piecemeal approach to solve the water shortage that exists and will continue to deteriorate with climate change. The plan for the next 6 months is to explain why a large amount of additional water is the only real solution for the diverse needs in the Yakima Basin.
BOR Report on Fish Ladders: The report “Fish Ladders Feasibility at Yakima River Basin Storage Reservoirs” states the 2 year Federal Study concluded that it is feasible to add fish ladders at two Yakima River Basin Storage Reservoirs, the Cle Elum and Bumping. The plan by BOR is to launch an environmental review and complete design construction costs for Cle Elum dam. Its estimated cost is about $100 million.
The report said in years with average water supply, fish could use the Cle Elum ladder from March to the end of June. The plan projects that adult fish returning to the dams would then be trapped and then hauled around the dam and placed in the lake.
Fish ladders are an important part of a comprehensive program to recover 1 million Salmon as proposed in the Yakima Basin Environmental and Salmon Recovery program (see www.ybsa.org). With more water remaining in the existing reservoirs because Black Rock would provide water for irrigation, the fish ladder proposal would be greatly enhanced and be able to be used more than four months. The cost of the proposal to truck fish for the next 100 years should be evaluated. A cost-benefit analysis for this project, which could continue to cost the public for the next 100 years, should be completed. The BOR report can be found at www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ucao_misc/fishpassage/index.html.
A comprehensive solution as described in the Yakima River Basin Environmental and Salmon Recovery proposal would provide all the water needed for fish, agriculture, and municipal and industrial needs.