YBSA Monthly Report June, 2008

Published June 29, 2008 | By Jon

YBSA Monthly Report
June, 2008

Proposed Legislation Review: Yakima Basin Storage Alliance Executive Committee met numerous times to discuss legislation for restoration of the Yakima River Basin. YBSA is continuing to refine the language in the Yakima Basin Environmental and Salmon Restoration Act. The Act will identify what is necessary to make the Yakima Basin the most productive region for salmon recovery in the Northwest. Titles I, II, & II of the act includes:

Title I. BLACK ROCK WATER EXCHANGE PROJECT

Section 101. Purpose and Authorization
(a) Purpose. Title 1 of this Act is for the purpose of (1) improving the Yakima Project water supply for the benefit of (A) the anadromous fishery of the Yakima and Columbia River basins (including current endangered and threatened species) by means of stream flow enhancement in the mainstem Yakima and Naches Rivers of the Yakima basin, (B) improving the reliability of the Yakima Project irrigation water supply for junior water rights in dry years when water deficiencies occur, and (C) providing a surface water supply from the Yakima Project to meet future municipal water needs; and (2) providing future recreation and hydropower generation opportunities.
(b) Authorization of a Black Rock Water Exchange Project
(c) Recreation
(d) Hydropower Pump-Generation
(e) Integration with and be a Division of the Existing Yakima Project

Section 102. Water Exchange with the Roza Division and the Sunnyside Division
(a) Columbia River Water Withdrawal
(b) Delivery of Exchange Water
(c) Dry-Year Irrigation Water Supply
(d) Water Rights

Section 103. Conjunctive Operation of the Yakima Project
(a) Integrated Project Operation and Maintenance
(b) Tri-Party Ecosystem Operation Group
(c) Dry-Year Irrigation Water Supply
(d) Municipal Water Supply
(e) Pumping Power and Hydropower Generation

Title II. ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

Section 201. Purpose and Authorization
(a) Purpose. Title II of this Act is for the purpose of re-establishing ecosystem functions in the Yakima basin to biologically sustain the life stages of anadromous fishery by a comprehensive habitat restoration program in the mainstream floodplains of the Yakima and Naches Rivers and in the tributaries. This involves the participation of the Yakama Nation, local, state, federal entities and agencies, and qualified private groups, and the use of federal and non-federal funds to investigate and implement measures. The focus of this cooperative undertaking is (1) acquisition of lands and physical alterations in the major floodplain areas to address constraints which have adversely affected the hydrologic connectivity of these floodplains and the mainstem rivers, and (2) streamflow improvements and riparian habitat restoration measures in the Yakima basin tributaries.
(b) Authorization
(c) Mainstem Yakima and Naches Rivers Floodplain Areas
(d) Yakima Basin Tributaries

Section 202. Fish Passage at Yakima Project Storage Dams

Title III. Funding Plan

Project costs for construction and funding options along with operating costs and funding operating costs are still being developed and refined.

Study on Ground Water: Department of Interior, US Geological Survey representative John Vaccaro presented a report on the study of ground water in the Yakima Basin. The report was prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation, the Yakama Nation and the Department of Ecology. Points that were made included:
 Yakima Basin is the most complicate basin in the State to study ground water.
 62,000 square miles in the Yakima Basin.
 40,000 ground water wells in the basin most are located in Yakima County.
 500,000 acre-feet of water is authorized to be pumped from the ground.
 Ground water recharge occurs quickly during irrigation season in the shallow wells.
 The more headwater flows in the river the cooler the temperature of the water is maintained.
 Water is coming of early and there is a decrease in the flows in March, April, and May when people are permitted to draw water for irrigation.

Go to http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2007/5007// for the complete report.

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