YBSA Monthly Report September, 2011

YBSA Monthly Report
September, 2011
Fair Booth: YBSA’s booth at the Central Washington State Fair displayed information about the Integrated
Water Resource Management Plan (IP) and a Pumped Storage/Wind Integration project (CRESP). See the
picture of the display which included materials explaining the IP and CRESP. Discussions were held with fair
goers mostly about the need for more water for the Yakima Basin and the cost to provide that water. Many
were interested in how pumped storage/wind integration creates a storage battery for electricity when the wind
doesn’t blow.
Bob Tuck at AFS: The 141st Annual Convention of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) was held at the
Washington Convention Center in Seattle. Major topics of interest included climate change impacts on fisheries
resources, status of sockeye restoration in the Okanogan River, and habitat restoration. Some of the
presentations dwelt with the Columbia River and tributaries, including the Yakima and Okanogan River.
Graphs and tables presented showed a shift from snow to rain, with peak runoff occurring several weeks earlier
as we progress further into the 21st Century. Some of the evidence indicates that we may not have a decrease in
total runoff in the Columbia Basin, but it will be earlier. Projections for both the Yakima and Okanogan Basin
indicate both an earlier runoff and decrease in total supply.
Several presentations dealt with sockeye migration and temperature; it is clear that sockeye do not move into
water with a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius or higher. They do not move from local areas of cool water, if
they exist. Several biologists familiar with Yakima Basin planning process and the Integrated Plan indicated
that they did not have a problem with the projected salmon numbers, but are highly dubious that significant
sockeye restoration will be successful without addressing water temperatures and habitat in the lower river.
They indicated that salmon restoration in the Yakima Basin will not be viable long-term unless water supplies
are increased to counter expected negative impacts of climate change.
Letter to Ken Salazar: YBSA sent a thank you letter to Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, for meeting in
Yakima to review and emphasize the need to address the Yakima Basin’s water supply problems. The letter
was also sent to Senator Cantwell, Congressman Hastings, and Governor Gregoire and YBSA included the
leadership from both legislative and executive branches of the Federal and State Governments.
YBSA fully supports the Yakima River Basin Integrated Management Plan and YBSA particularly emphasized
our support for pumped storage using water from the Columbia River with an interbasin transfer of water,
which will produce a reliable water supply that is necessary for returning salmonoids and is critical for
agriculture and municipal growth. Because of more frequent droughts due to climate change more storage is
needed for the Yakima Basin.
For additional information see www.ybsa.org