YBSA Monthly Report February, 2013
YBSA Monthly Report
February, 2013
Testimony at House & Senate: YBSA attended and testified at the House and Senate Hearings on the proposed legislation authorizing the Yakima River Basin Water Resource Management Plan. The concept of the Integrated Plan is admirable, but to address the historic and future water needs in the Yakima Basin and the effects of climate change a large amount of storage is needed to prevent future droughts (see article at http://news.yahoo.com/climate-contradiction-less-snow-more-blizzards-161708650.html). The adequacy and reliability of the storage elements will not meet the long-term instream and out-of-stream needs.
Evaluate Bumping Lake Enlargement First: Bumping Lake Enlargement is the largest proposed new storage projects within the Basin and without the additional stored water the Yakima Basin will continue to be short of its needed water. During the last three decades the Bumping Lake Project has failed to be developed due to insufficient drainage area, flooding old growth timber and habitat, reduction in bull trout habitat, and its location near the designated wilderness area. The first project to be evaluated by the Department of Ecology should be “can Bumping Lake Enlargement be completed”. Without the new water we will continue to create problems for fish and agriculture as we have for the last twenty plus years.
Consider Columbia River Water: Wind powered pumped storage of Columbia River water should be considered with the new benefits such as fish ladders, Sockeye returns, and increased agricultural values as identified in the Integrated Plan. The storage portion of the Integrated Plan includes an evaluation of an interbasin transfer of water from the Columbia River.
Possible Eastern Oregon Use of Columbia River Water: Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and a task force comprised of farmers, environmentalists, and tribal interests signed a deal to pursue diverting more Columbia River water in the winter which is less detrimental to fish for agricultural use in Eastern Oregon (see article at http://www.keprtv.com/politics/Needs-of-farmers-salmon-sought-with-Columbia-River-water-deal-191482991.html). The Yakima Basin also needs and additional source of water.
Go to www.ybsa.org for full report and updated information