YBSA Monthly Report April, 2010
YBSA Monthly Report
April, 2010
Work Group Participation: Yakima Basin Storage Alliance (YBSA) continues to participate with the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project 2009 Work Group during 2010. The basin study effort will evaluate potential actions for addressing the water and aquatic resource needs of the Yakima River Basin. A goal of sufficient instream flows and out-of-stream needs during consecutive drought years is paramount to solving the water needs of the basin for future generations. Since all water in the Yakima Basin is already spoken for and potential climate change changing the amount of snow pack and the timing of runoff an inter-basin transfer of water using a pump/storage needs to be considered. A scorecard identifying the cost and benefit for more water and fish of each proposal is crucial when seeking funding for the plan..
Letter from Energy Secretary: Energy Secretary urges pump/storage investment to support an expanded electricity transmission grid. In a letter from Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in response to a letter from the four Pacific Northwest Governors stated pump/storage has unique potential in the Pacific Northwest. A percentage of wind generation has already been integrated into the region transmission system than anywhere else in the nation.
BPA: Stephen Wright, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), speaking to the water and power committee on natural resources of the United State House of Representatives stated pump/storage is one way to facilitate wind integration. Elliot Mainzer (BPA) testimony stated BPA is working with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on their study on various storage options including pumped storage.
Additional Benefits of Pump/Storage: In addition to water for fish, agriculture, and municipal growth pump/storage of Columbia River water for the Yakima Basin would provide an opportunity to support the region’s transmission system and could provide electricity for the Yakima Basin including the Yakama Nation electrical distribution system.
More Water: YBSA’s interest in creating more water for the Yakima Basin lies with a plan which would implement the three criteria listed in the legislation approved by Congress. The criteria included a more normal flow in the Yakima River for fish, not less than 70% of the water needed for proratable irrigation districts during droughts, and water for municipal growth for the next 50 years. The Yakima River Basin Storage Feasibility Study completed by the Bureau of Reclamation identifies a solution.
See updated information at www.ybsa.org