YBSA Monthly Report June, 2016

YBSA Monthly Report

June, 2016

Meeting with Committees of IP: YBSA met with members of the Executive and Implementation Committees of the Integrated Plan Work Group. The discussion revolved around the projects that are being implemented and the need for additional stored water.

YBSA presented the group with a form that needed to be completed by the Bureau of Reclamation to show how much stored water is included in the Integrated Plan and what water will be available in the 30 year plan with various options and weather conditions.

Water Supply: This year’s snowpack in the central Cascades was greater than 100%. The water available for Roza Irrigation District is about 85%. With climate change the water supply in the Integrated Plan and the cost of the storage plan along with who will pay for it should be verified.

Environmental Impact Statement for Kachess Project: The EIS for the Lake Kachess drawdown project continues to be developed. Final determination of a location of the Keechelus-to-Kachess conveyance and the Lake Kachess pumping plant needs to be completed. Once completed the costs of construction, operation, mitigation for the surrounding area, and the effect of Bull Trout in the Kachess Basin. The target date for completion of the EIS is late 2016 or early 2017.

River Flow: A lower Yakima River subgroup has been developed to review the instream flow and the warm water impact on salmonoid (Sockeye) returning to spawn in the rivers and streams in the Yakima Basin.

Go to www.ybsa.org for additional information.