YBSA Monthly Report January, 2010

YBSA Monthly Report
January, 2010

YBSA is pleased to see the Integrated Water Planning process for the Yakima Basin go forward under the direction of DOE. Our position has been for the last year to support the least cost alternative that meets the needs stipulated in Federal criteria. We believe it is imperative to compare these alternatives on an ”apples to apples” basis. We are working with our partners at Yakima, Benton and Kittitas to be sure this scorecard works for all interests.

We were pleased to hear from the Irrigation community that the BOR commissioner and the administration are supportive of water storage construction projects that provide a sustainable water supply for irrigation, environmental and municipal needs and have a power component and help compliance with treaty rights. We also know that the whole country needs projects that create lasting jobs.

The December 2009 report of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project 2009 Work Group presented a “Preliminary Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRMP) for the Yakima basin. The IWRMP consists of the following proposed phases: Phase I to be implemented within the first 10 years (2011-2020) following Congressional and State legislative authorization and funding, and Phase II potential projects for implementation in years 11 through 30+ (2021-2040) subject to results and findings from the Phase I projects and factors such as population growth, fish flows, and effects of climate change resulting in changed water needs.

The IWRMP report includes bar graphs on page 18 (Figures 3 and 4) showing the estimated Total Water Supply Available (TWSA) and irrigation proration levels which could occur with implementation of Phases I and II and a repeat of the water supply conditions during the three year drought of 1992-1994 and the single year drought of 2005. These graphs present a “false sense of security” for improving the water supply reliability in the Yakima basin because (1) the IWRMP currently includes projects that may be eliminated as the result of environmental issues and inadequate water and includes fish passage and habitat improvements which could impact the basin’s water supply, and (2) Phase II projects which may never be funded and implemented.

With the current snow pack far below average it is imperative we understand what the Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (IWRMP) has included to improve the Yakima Basin water supply. The bar graph below shows the TWSA and the irrigation proration levels for drought years 1994 and 2005 with the addition of Phase I projects under the following assumptions:

1. with all of the proposed Phase I projects implemented (water conservation, Wymer Reservoir, Bumping Lake Enlargement, tapping into some of the inactive pools at the existing reservoirs, and groundwater storage);
2. with all of the Phase I projects implemented with the exception of Bumping Lake Enlargement; and
3. with all of the Phase I projects implemented with the exception of Bumping Lake Enlargement and groundwater storage.

Phase II projects consisting of additional water conservation, inactive storage, groundwater storage, and pumping from the Columbia River are not included in the bar graph. These projects are dependent on future Congressional and State legislative funding 11 to 30+ years “down the road” after Phase I.

For additional information see www.ybsa.org