YBSA Monthly Report August 2020
Storage: The 5 reservoirs in the Yakima Basin are at 48% full which is average for this time of year.
With Rimrock Reservoir at 83% of capacity the procedure called flip-flop will begin in the first couple weeks of September. Flip-Flop is the increase of water flow in the Naches River and a reduction of flow in the upper Yakima & Cle Elum Rivers to help save and improve fish habitat.
Lake Cle Elum Fish Passage: The tunnel to move the juvenile fish from Lake Cle Elum to the Cle Elum River is still being constructed. The innovative structure (the Helix) to get the fish from the lake should be completed in 2020. The facility will be used to enable the fish to reach the tunnel from April through June in most years. Fish returning to the Lake Cle Elum Dam will be trapped and hauled up to and placed in the lake.
Sockeye Study: The Yakama Nation and Bureau of Reclamation are studying the movement of fish from the Columbia River to Roza Dam.
Another study is attempting to find how many Sockeye migrate from Roza Dam to Lake Cle Elum Dam. Results found in 2019 showed very low migration success for Sockeye primarily due to high water temperatures in the river.
Work continues on designs to allow fish to pass on both Box Canyon Creek and Clear Creek Dam. The
Lake Cle Elum pool raise will affect both the Wish Poosh Campground and the Salmon La Sac Road. Plans are for both to be completed by May 2021.
Surface Water Storage: Lake Kachess Drought Relief Pumping Project is still being considered. The enormous cost and the amount of mitigation has Roza Irrigation District, the Department of Reclamation, and the Department of Ecology developing a new plan.
Consideration of site requirements is on going for Wymer Reservoir and Bumping Lake Reservoir Enhancement Project.
Fish enhancement programs continue to be identified and improved. With the low flow and high-water temperature in the lower Yakima River very few fish will be able to survive to use the improvements.
Once again, we continue to develop ways to enhance fish passage and distribution of irrigation water, but no new water has been made available.
Try the Columbia River!