YBSA Monthly Report July, 2006
YBSA Monthly Report
July, 2006
Recreation Study Proposals: YBSA along with the Port of Sunnyside, Benton and Yakima Counties are in the process of choosing a consultant to perform a recreation and economic development analysis of lands around the proposed Black Rock Reservoir. The committee will meet Wednesday, August 2nd to review proposals and rank those proposals 1st, 2nd, and 3rd with the first choice invited for an interview.
Salmon Roundtable: The Yakima Basin Storage Alliance is sponsoring a roundtable on salmon restoration August 15-16 at the Yakima Sun Dome.
Hosted by local businesses, this roundtable is in an opportunity for tribal leaders, growers, natural resources managers, recreationists, environmental policy makers and directors, government agencies, and others to hear about and discuss issues that directly affect the ecological health of the Yakima River Basin, fish and wildlife, farming, community life, water rights and management and related topics.
Additional information on the Roundtable will be distributed soon. Please mark your calendar and attend the conference.
Rosa Sunnyside Joint Board: Sid Morrison and Charlie de la Chapelle were invited to present an update on the progress of the Feasibility Study on Black Rock Reservoir. It was emphasized that there were no fatal flaws found during the recent drilling. The preferred alternatives will be announced in November, 2006 and carried forward to the completion of the study. The environmental review and study will be completed December, 2008. It was also pointed out how important recreations, fish, and power generation is to the cost/benefit ratio that will be developed for the study.
Representative Dan Newhouse pointed out to the Rosa-Sunnyside Joint Board that the people of the Yakima Basin need to speak with one voice to make the Black Rock project happen.
DOE/Storage Study: YBSA discussed with Derek Sandison the progress of the storage study. He indicated that direct pump on demand cannot be done under current rules. The DOE will request that $3.1 million be put in their budget to cover the State’s share of the cost to complete the study. The State plans to hold the BOR to their schedule which is to choose the preferred alternatives by November, 2006 and complete the study in December, 2008.
Presentations: YBSA continues to perform the public relation part of the storage study making presentations to various groups about the real value of the Black Rock Project.