YBSA Monthly Report, July 2012
YBSA Monthly Report
July, 2012
YBSA Concerns with Integrated Plan: Yakima Basin Storage Alliance (YBSA) continues to support the Integrated Plan (IP) but there exists water supply problems that have to be solved for the Plan to succeed. Some of the concerns are
a) Does the IP provide sufficient water to provide a minimum of 70% of the water needed by all the Irrigation Districts?
b) How will the IP provide water to address the second and third years of a drought?
c) With the return of additional salmonoids, especially sockeye, predicted in the plan, who will provide the water needed for their return?
d) Climate changes will affect when runoff will occur. How will the flow be managed?
Meeting with Yakima County Commissioners: During a meeting with the Yakima County Commissioners the concerns expressed were that the twenty to thirty year completion timeline of the IP does not provide the water that will be needed in the next decade. The Columbia River pump exchange, a one to one water exchange with theYakima River, should be included in the early implementation plan. Success of the IP depends on providing additional water in theYakimaBasin.
No Guarantee for Irrigation Districts: At an Implementation Committee presentation it was stated that the water available in the IP does not guarantee water for proratable Irrigation Districts.
Discussions with Environmental Groups: YBSA is having discussions with the Sierra Club and others to understand their concerns with the IP and how we can solve theYakimaBasin water problems.
Salmon Viewing: Viewing of Salmon in the following rivers in theYakimaBasin will occur:
AmericanRiver– August 5 through 20
LittleNachesRiver– September 1 through 20
CleElumRiverbelow Dam – September 14 through October 6
aboveLakeCleElum – September 25 through October 15
Bob Tuck will provide information on site. Please contact YBSA if you are interested in attending. Email klarichcj@charter.net or phone (509) 854-1041
See www.ybsa.org.