YBSA Monthly Report December, 2006

YBSA Monthly Report
December, 2006

Meeting with BOR: YBSA met with the BOR to review and comment on the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study Plan Formulation Phase. BOR and DOE will decide how to proceed with the Storage Study based on comments made at the meetings. The following concerns were expressed by YBSA.

Feasibility Study Stakeholder Meetings December 2006: The Plan Formulation Report does not present the Black Rock alternative in its best light. This is true in terms of meeting study objectives, operational assumptions/criteria, costs and benefits.

Study Assumptions and criteria do not show the true potential of Black Rock for hydrologic/fisheries benefits. The way that the study is set up, Black Rock is essentially a victim of “lowest common denominator” constrained by the limitations (minimum flow criteria) of the Wymer+ alternative.

With its far larger storage, Black Rock could provide more improvements to instream flow than shown in the current analysis. Black Rock takes no water from the Yakima River system: it offers the opportunity to add water to improve fishery conditions.

Black Rock could also provide significant benefits in meeting objectives for lowering stream temperature.

Members of the Alliance indicated that they believed habitat restoration should be looked at and the Black Rock project offers far greater opportunity for such restoration than any other alternative.

Has the influence of projected climate change been considered in the needs and operations analysis? If not, will this factor be included in the next phase of study? [Reclamation responded that climate change has not been factored in at this point, but would be considered in the Feasibility Study analysis].

Black Rock cost assumptions can be improved: additional information will be made available by the YBSA.

The “lost hydropower” cost shown in Reclamation’s analysis is questionable. The Alliance is exploring potential for Black Rock to be operated for pump storage power benefits as well as meeting Storage Study goals. These benefits could more than offset the lost hydropower cost.

It is also relevant that regional economic benefits are not part of this federal-level analysis; these benefits could significantly change the benefit/cost picture for Black Rock. [Reclamation confirmed that regional economic benefits will be considered during the Feasibility Study].

In the next round of analysis, Black Rock needs to be studied from the perspective of exploring the maximum potential of each to achieve Study goals.

Meeting with Northwest Power and Conservation Council: YBSA presented information on the progress of the Black Rock Study to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council in Portland. A PowerPoint presentation “Someone to Carry Water” by Ted and Theo Strong explained Black Rock would enable the Yakima River to flow more freely and normally and create a hydrologic connection between the river and the flood plains. Anadromous fish are the biggest beneficiary of Black Rock and its ability to support a goal of unregulated flow in the Yakima River providing wetland storation, floodplain connectivity to the river, and habitat complexity.

Water Exchange Project: Black Rock is a water exchange project where each bucket of water taken from the Columbia River will be returned to the Columbia with fish. The project will also provide power generation and recreation without any reduction in water quantity.

Attended the Columbia River Enhancement Program: Department of Ecology is the lead agency and is developing guidelines for conservation projects which would meet the requirement set by the Washington State Legislature.

Meetings to Present Information: YBSA Executive Committee has held a number of meetings to decide how to present the information the Power and Recreation Studies will provide on the value the Black Rock Project will have on the Yakima River Basin and the State’s economy.

Meeting with Kennewick Irrigation District: A project update was presented to the Kennewick Irrigation District’s Board of Directors. Discussions of the value of the Kennewick Pumping Project and the Black Rock Project will have on the Yakima Basin and fish passage.