YBSA Monthly Report April, 2014

YBSA Monthly Report

April, 2014

Scoping Summary for Lake Kachess Pumping Inactive Storage: The Bureau of Reclamation and the Washington State Department of Ecology have distributed the Scoping Summary Report for the proposed Lake Kachess pumping of inactive storage (the original lake water) during drought years and transferring water from Lake Keechelus to Lake Kachess. There are two concerns that need to be answered. “Is there enough water in the basins available to refill Lake Kachess after a drought year,” and “who will have the right to the water?” The second concern is how much will it cost and who will pay for the construction and maintenance of the pipeline and pumping plant.

There are approximately 350 scoping questions and comments that will need to be answered during the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement. Then questions and comments that were submitted can be found at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/kkc/kkceis.pdf in YRBWEP Reports.

Scoping Summary for Lake Cle Elum Pool Raise: The second Scoping Summary Report is for raising the elevation of the water in Lake Cle Elum 3 feet. The Cle Elum Pool Raise is a structural and operation element in the Integrated Plan. The proposal is to add 14,600 acre-feet of storage to the reservoir for annual release. The increase would be used to meet instream flow needs. A new type of fish ladder would be developed to allow fish to return to the Yakima River below the dam even when the lake is drawn down to its lowest level in late summer and fall. The returning salmonoids would be trapped below the dam and transported around the dam and deposited in the lake. The concerns and question, such as “what is the costs per acre feet of the newly stored water,” “what is the continuing operation and maintenance costs along with the mitigation costs should be researched and estimated?” Also, “who will pay the annual cost of the project?”

There are approximately 220 scoping questions and comments to be answered in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement. Those comments and questions can be found at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/cleelumraise/scoping/scopingsum.pdf in YRBWEP Reports.

Go to www.ybsa.org for additional information.