YBSA Monthly Report August, 2015
YBSA Monthly Report
August, 2015
With two-thirds of 2015 behind us where are we in our attempt to provide water for instream flow and out of stream use? Ongoing projects included in the June 3rd Integrated Plan for the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement include fish enhancements, fish passage studies, ground water analysis, tributary enhancements, purchase of the Teanaway Forrest, and Storage projects.
Accomplishments to date include additional habitat construction, additional conservation, management of the Teanaway Community Forrest, Manastash enhancement, and creating access to the base of Lake Cle Elum Dam. Storage projects which are crutial to enshre the Yakima River Basin water supply are the Wymer and Bumping Projects which continue to be analyzed and the Kachess inactive storage project.
Draft EIS of Keechelus-Kachess: The Draft EIS for the Keechelus and Kachess project was distributed. With uncertain information on the Draft, the EIS time period was extended. With the extended time period over, everyone is waiting for a decision to move forward with the project or drop it.
Drought: The 2015 drought has reduced the ability for salmon/sockeye to move throughout the Yakima River Basin and damaged our agricultural economy. With the predictions of a less than adequate snowpack this winter 2016 could be another year with insufficient water.
IP Appraisal of Columbia River Water: The material distributed at the Integrated Plan Work Group Meeting on June 3rd listed, “Begin appraisal of potential projects to transfer water from the Columbia River to the Yakima Basin”/ The Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study was completed in 2008 and was determined not to be cost effective. Times have changed since 2008 and a project which could be a possible answer to future droughts by brining Columbia River water to the Yakima Basin should be immediately reevaluated.
Go to www.ybsa.org for additional information.