YBSA Monthly Report September, 2014
YBSA Monthly Report
September, 2014
The proposed Cle Elum Pool Raise Project would store 14,600 acre/feet of water at a cost of $9,901,000. The cost does not include property acquisition that would be required.
The stored water would be managed for instream flow to benefit fisheries or, if authorized, for proratable water users during drought years.
The project could provide additional flow in the Cle Elum River during winter as a high priority. Typical fall and winter flows in the Cle Elum River could be increased from 180 cfs to 220 cfs in years when the additional pool volume is available (on average 73% of the years of record).
The complete EIS is available online for more detailed information.
Draft EIS for Cle Elum Pool Raise Project
The Bureau of Reclamation and Washington State Department of Ecology prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Cle Elum Pool Raise Project. The proposed project is a component of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan.
The Draft EIS evaluates five alternatives:
- Alternative 1 – No Action Alternative.
- Alternative 2 – Additional Stored Water Used for Instream Flow with Rock Shoreline Protection.
- Alternative 3 – Additional Stored Water Used for Instream Flow with Hybrid Shoreline Protection.
- Alternative 4 – Additional Water Used for Total Water Supply Available with Rock Shoreline Protection.
- Alternative 5 – Additional Water Used for Total Water Supply Available with Hybrid Shoreline Protection.
Common components to all alternatives are:
- Modifying the radial gates at Cle Elum Dam to provide an additional 14,600 acre-feet of storage capacity in Cle Elum Reservoir;
- Providing for shoreline protection of Cle Elum Reservoir; and
- Accomplishing necessary environmental mitigation.
The purpose of the Cle Elum Pool Raise is to increase the capacity of the reservoir and improve aquatic resources for fish habitat, rearing and migration in the Cle Elum and upper Yakima Rivers. The project was authorized under Title XII of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. The Draft EIS satisfies National Environmental Policy Act and Washington State Environmental Policy Act requirements. Questions or comments on the Cle Elum Pool Raise Draft EIS will be accepted until November 25, 2014. Comments may be submitted to cepr@usbr.gov, by mail to the Bureau of Reclamation, Attn: Ms. Candace McKinley, Environmental Program Manager at 1917 Marsh Road, Yakima, WA, 98901; by telephone to (509) 575-5848, ext. 613; or by facsimile to (509) 454-5650. Hearing impaired citizens may dial 711 to obtain a toll free TTY relay.
Oral comments may be presented at one of two public meetings from 4 to 7 p.m. at the following locations:
October 21, 2014
Hal Holmes Center
209 N. Ruby Street
Ellensburg, WA 98926
October 22, 2014
U.S. Forest Service
Cle Elum Ranger District
803 W. 2nd Street
Cle Elum, WA 98922
Reclamation and Ecology offices and local libraries will have copies available for viewing. Or view online at: http://www.usbr.gov/pm/programs/eis/cleelumraise/index.html.
The public meeting facilities are physically accessible to persons with disabilities. Requests for special assistance should be made by October 10th to Ms. McKinley at the contact information above.
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Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at www.usbr.gov.