YBSA Monthly Report
March, 2009

Solution to Our Water Problems: The goal of YBSA has been from the start of the Storage Study was to acquire water from the Columbia River to prevent droughts which harm fish, destroy the environment, damage the economy, including irrigated agriculture and leave the cities and towns with rationing. Mixing Columbia River water with Yakima River water would harm salmon returning to the Yakima River, damming up existing rivers creates problems, and direct pumping from the Columbia River during irrigation season would threaten the Columbia River flow targets, YBSA chose to pursue off stream storage as the solution. YBSA asked Congress to find a solution to ensure a sufficient water supply for the future even with climate change. Congress directed the Bureau to study how additional stored water could (1) improve anadromonous fish habitat by restoring Yakima and Naches River flow regimes to better approximate the naturally (unregulated) hydrograph, (2) improve the water supply for proratable (junior) irrigation entities by providing at least 70% irrigation water for districts during consecutive dry years, and (3) meet future municipal water supply needs for the next 50 years. The Storage Study concluded the best and only method to accomplish the 3 tasks was stored water from the Columbia River. YBSA’s draft Yakima River Basin Environmental and Salmon Restoration program was developed as a possible program to satisfy the needs of the Yakima Basin for the next 100 years.

BOR Report to YBSA Board: Wendy Christianson and Kim McCartney reported the BOR is reviewing comments on the EIS. The Bureau is considering Benton County, Yakima County, and YBSA’s request to delay the Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD decision at this point in time would recommend No-Action. Unless Congress gives the Bureau of Reclamation an exception to find the best cost alternative that answers the three criteria set by Congress the Bureau can not proceed to draw a conclusion.

Movement Toward Solution to Water Problem: YBSA and guests presented to the Roza Sunnyside Joint Board of Control reasons why everyone in the Yakima Basin should join together to find a more permanent solution to prevent additional water short years. Predictions by the University of Washington Climate Impact Group (see www.cses.washington.edu/cig/outreach/waccia/index.html ) show a possible 30% reduction in snow pack by the 2020’s and up to 65% by the 2080’s. Since two-thirds of our water during the summer and fall comes from snow pack, available water from snow could be reduced by approximately 400,000 a/f in the year 2020. The Yakima Basin reservoir system, which provides approximately one-third of the water needed, will be less likely to supply water to all its users, especially those with junior water rights without the available water to fill the reservoirs with the reduction in snow pack.

The inclusion of Bumping Lake enlargement as means of acquiring more water for the Basin is not feasible. Bumping Lake Reservoir, if expanded, violates all sorts of existing policy by building a dam on an active stream, endangered species exist in the current reservoir and the river that would be impounded, it’s adjacent to a Federal Wilderness Area, and the release of water will further deteriorate the habitat in Bumping River. Bumping Lake, as a storage component, has been rejected by the Bureau of Reclamation repeatedly.

YBSA is now willing to step back and let a different level of government see if they can work with both the State and Federal Governments and meet the criteria established by Congress. YBSA has worked for years to find a solution to the water shortages in the Basin and were pleased that the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility showed the only solution for survival in the future for fish, agriculture, and municipal needs is an inter-basin transfer of water from the Columbia to the Yakima Basin.

See our website at www.ybsa.org

YBSA Monthly Report
January, 2009

Review of Study: Yakima Basin Storage Alliance, with professional help, reviewed the Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Ecology’s solutions to solve the problem of insufficient water available in the Yakima Basin. Both of their studies fail to adequately incorporate existing and future impacts to the Basin and fail to address the basin’s future vitality. The Study was to find a way to improve fish passage, create a more normal flow in the Yakima River, insure a minimum of 70% water supply even in consecutive drought years, and provide enough water for municipal growth for the next 50 years. The conclusion the Bureau arrived at was to do nothing. The Ecology’s program was to continue the programs that have existed for decades with no appreciable increase in available water. Both conclusions leave the Yakima Basin in the same position we’ve been in for decades, which is a very small number of fish returning to the Yakima River and its tributaries, drought conditions every few years and not enough water for municipal growth. Add to that the climatologists’ predictions which state the Yakima Basin could have drought conditions every other year.

Conference with Director of DOE: In a video conference with Jay Manning, Director of the Department of Ecology, YBSA was informed that Bumping Lake was still an option even though it was eliminated as a storage site because the enlarged lake would not fill annually and it would infringe upon an environmentally sensitive area. There was no cost/benefit analysis, but it was still included as the only storage option in the Yakima Basin in the Ecology proposal.

Continuing the Storage Study: YBSA concurs with Benton and Yakima Counties position of continuing the Storage Study for another year. The final report of the Yakima River Basin feasibility Study would explain how the request from Congress to generate more water for fish, restoring the flow of the Yakima River as close to an unregulated hydrograph as possible, provide a minimum 70% of irrigation water to all proratable districts, and provide additional surface water for population growth to the year 2050 could be accomplished. By taking a do noting position the $18 million spent to find a solution to solve the water problems identified by Congress leaves the Yakima Basin high and dry.

New Guidelines: On November 8, 2007 the Water Recourses Development Act required the Corp of Engineers to revise the 1983 Principals and Guidelines. The revisions are to reflect national priorities, encourage economic development, and protect the environment such as: maximizing sustainable economic development, avoid the unwise use of flood-prone areas and to protect and restore the functions of natural systems. The new guidelines may make the Bureau’s No-Action result in direct conflict with the new Principals and Guidelines.

Ground Water Study: The ground water study that will be available shortly will show a direct connection between instream flow and ground water. There already exist moratoriums preventing the use of wells because of a drop in the water tables. How do you recharge the aquifers? You provide a greater amount of instream flow so the increased volume of water would recharge the shallow aquifers. The only solution to solve the water needs in the Yakima Basin is a large storage project.

To find more information on the reasons why the Bureau of Reclamation should continue the Study see www.ybsa.org.

YBSA Monthly Report
December, 2008

Feasibility Study: The final amended final planning report of the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study tells us that the Black Rock Reservoir and water distribution system is technically feasible, can be built and is the only option that meets all the water supply criteria established by Congress. The criteria set by Congress includes: to improve anadromous fish habitat and create a more natural flow in the Yakima and Naches Rivers, to provide proratable (junior) irrigators with not less than 70% water supply during dry years, and maintain a full municipal water supply for future growth. The Yakima Basin Storage Alliance and supporters of a comprehensive solution to the water problems in the Yakima Basin agree with the findings and will continue to pursue authorization of the Yakima River Basin Environmental and Salmon Recovery proposal which includes the Black Rock Project.

The important additions to the Study included; methods for mitigation of ground water movement when completed would not affect the containments in the sediments at the Hanford Site. (see pages 4-36, 37) Reductions in flows in the Columbia River would occur when water would be stored in Lake Roosevelt and Banks Lake. These reductions would be in addition to pumping under the Black Rock Alternative but would not prevent pumping to Black Rock Reservoir in September, even in drought years. The impact would be reduced, however, because the Black Rock Alternative would increase discharges down the Yakima River during September by about 700-1000 cfs. (see pages 4-16, 17)

Under the Black Rock Alternative the irrigation proration level is improved to the 70% goal in the third year of the 3-year dry cycle. (see page 4-12) With approximately 400-600 thousand a/f available when Black Rock Reservoir is operational the negative affect of the flip-flop will be eliminated. (see 4-123, 124)

DOE Draft EIS: The Department of Ecology Supplemental Draft EIS of the Storage Study misses the point entirely. There is not enough water in the Yakima Basin to satisfy our needs every year for fish, agriculture, and municipal use. The proposed Water Resource Management Alternative program reduces the existing supply and with possible climate change will create a greater problem in the future. The smorgasbord of projects (pages s-2, 3) listed might be funded over a period of years without the possibility of additional water therefore our problems would increase. The Draft suggests additional storage which is not an option in the Yakima River Basin. The Yakima Basin doesn’t need additional dams and the proposed Bumping Lake enlargement is not only a detriment to the environment it would only have 4,418 a/f available during dry years. (see table D-3 monthly volume of water available for storage at Bumping Lake 1981-2005) The cost estimates for the Resource Management Alternative is $2.4 billion and our problem of not having enough water in the Yakima Basin would still exist.

Comment Period DOE Draft EIS: The Department of Ecology has set their public comment period from December 10, 2008 to January 16, 2009 to respond to the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement based upon SEPA. We encourage everyone to respond reminding the DOE that the project was to improve fish habitat by restoring flows that resemble the natural hydrograph, assure proratable irrigation districts at a 70% supply during consecutive dry years, and meet municipal needs by supplying additional surface water for future growth which would not occur under the Water Resource Management Program. The report can be found at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cwp/cr_yak_storage.html.

Comment Period BOR PR/EIS: The Bureau of Reclamation has published its Final Planning Report and Environmental Impact Statement, Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study. It contains new analysis on seepage mitigation measures and additional information on river flow, availability of water from the Columbia River and the amount of water available for fish and irrigation from Black Rock. A 45 day review and comment period is necessary because of the additional information on seepage from Black Rock. Comment may be submitted electronically to storagestudy@pn.usbr.gov. Comments must be postmarked by February 3, 2009. The Final PR/EIS can be found at: www.usbr.gov/pn.programs/storagestudy.

YBSA Advertisements: YBSA is continuing to publicize the benefits of the Yakima River Basin Environmental and Salmon Recovery program which includes the Black Rock Reservoir project on television, the radio, and newspapers. (See the attachment
YES IT CAN
NO ACTION = NO FUTURE

See www.ybsa.org for the real benefits that will occur with the Yakima River Basin Environmental and Salmon Recovery Plan which includes the Black Rock Reservoir Project.

YBSA Monthly Report
November, 2008

Public Relation Campaign: Yakima Basin Storage Alliance implemented a public relation campaign to illustrate how important the Black Rock Reservoir project is to Central Washington, the State of Washington, and the Nation. See informational video on bottom left of page at www.futureofourvalley.com. The project improves instream flow with an additional water supply for the Yakima River of about 600,000 acre-feet annually. With the availability of more water managed for salmon recovery, approximately 1 million salmon would return to the Yakima River and its tributaries. The Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study does not include 1 million salmon returning as a fish non-use benefit.

The Black Rock Project would add at least $469 million to the local and regional economy, create approximately 6,000 jobs, and the recreation benefit would exceed $1 billion. Again the Storage Study does not credit the Black Rock Project with the enormous benefit to the economy. See www.ybsa.org, BOR report, critique of the BOR benefit analysis.

With the economy in the doldrums a public works project, the Black Rock Reservoir, would create jobs, inject money into the economy and provide the Yakima Basin with the additional water which would benefit the Northwest for the next generation.

Obama’s Opinion: “Implementing a meaningful salmon population recovery plan will be a key environmental priority of my administration, and I support efforts to create a salmon recovery plan that balances all of these important environmental, agricultural, and renewable energy interests,” President-Elect Obama said in April in response to a written question from the Idaho Statesman. The newspaper followed up on that noncommittal reply with a direct question on dam breaching, and Obama aide Nick Shapiro replied, “Barack Obama believes action must be taken to protect the salmon population and ensure its survival for generations to come. To that end, he believes all efforts to restore habitat must be exhausted before dam breaching is considered.”

Value of Black Rock: Dr. Michael Barber, Director of the Washington Water Resource Center at WSU, said, “We have a finite amount of water. We need water. We need it for growth. People are coming. Our cities are expanding. Most places have population projections that are still trending upward. There are huge issues related to how much water is needed for salmon, and we still get a good portion of our GDP from agricultural sources.” Competition for our resources comes from fish, farms, and towns; there is another thing to consider.

“When you superimpose the problems associated with climate change, where we have perhaps more water in the winter but less water in the summer, when we all need it, we are setting ourselves up for some very tough years.”

“‘Black Rock Reservoir” is a proposal being evaluated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, would take water out of the Columbia River during winter time, or high flow periods, pump it up into an off-channel reservoir, off-channel means it’s not on an existing stream, it’s on a kind of dry gulch, and then they would release it for irrigation purposes in the Yakima Valley, and the Yakima irrigators would not take their water out of the Yakima River. So the river flows would be higher for salmon.”

“We have water during the peak snow melt. In general we don’t have a shortage in March or April. We have our shortages in July, August, and September. Their plan would be to take that water when it wasn’t needed in the Columbia, pump it up over a hill into a different watershed. While it’s technically feasible to do that, the real impediment is going to be cost.”

Storage Study Completion: Kim McCartney, Storage Study Manager, reported that the final report of the Yakima River Basin Storage Study will be published late December, 2008. It is in final review by the Bureau of Reclamation in Boise, Idaho. There will be two volumes; one will be the original Study and the second volume will contain the EIS comments and the answers to those comments. The seepage mitigation report will be completed by late December. There will be a 45 to 60 day comment period for comments on the mitigation report prior to completion. Fish non-use values will be discussed in the answers developed based upon the EIS comments. NO change in value will be presented for fish-nonuse.

DOE Feasibility Study: The Department of Ecology is in the process of finalizing the “Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement”. The Supplemental Draft EIS is expected to be released in early to mid-December, 2008.

YBSA Monthly Report
October, 2008

Presentation by Dr. Stanford: Dr. Jack Stanford’s presentation pointed out the possibilities of the return of 1 million Salmon to the Yakima River Basin. Those numbers can only be reached with more water available in the Yakima River managed for fish. YBSA sent a letter thanking Mose Squeochs, Chairman of the Yakama Nation General Council, for his attendance at the presentation. The letter, which also included an invitation to join together with all those interested in making Salmon recovery happen, as presented by Dr. Stanford. It was sent as a cc to Tribal Council Chair Mel Sampson, Jr. and the Chairs of the Yakama Nation Legislative and Fish Committees.

Benefits of Additional Water: YBSA has to define what the cost of doing nothing would be without securing additional water for our Basin and must continue to point out the benefits of the additional water made available by the Black Rock Project. Due to the restrictions of the Federal guideline the Bureau of Reclamation had to follow in the Storage Study, the true benefits of the project could not be included.

We cannot continue with a piecemeal approach to solve the water shortage that exists and will continue to deteriorate with climate change. The plan for the next 6 months is to explain why a large amount of additional water is the only real solution for the diverse needs in the Yakima Basin.

BOR Report on Fish Ladders: The report “Fish Ladders Feasibility at Yakima River Basin Storage Reservoirs” states the 2 year Federal Study concluded that it is feasible to add fish ladders at two Yakima River Basin Storage Reservoirs, the Cle Elum and Bumping. The plan by BOR is to launch an environmental review and complete design construction costs for Cle Elum dam. Its estimated cost is about $100 million.

The report said in years with average water supply, fish could use the Cle Elum ladder from March to the end of June. The plan projects that adult fish returning to the dams would then be trapped and then hauled around the dam and placed in the lake.

Fish ladders are an important part of a comprehensive program to recover 1 million Salmon as proposed in the Yakima Basin Environmental and Salmon Recovery program (see www.ybsa.org). With more water remaining in the existing reservoirs because Black Rock would provide water for irrigation, the fish ladder proposal would be greatly enhanced and be able to be used more than four months. The cost of the proposal to truck fish for the next 100 years should be evaluated. A cost-benefit analysis for this project, which could continue to cost the public for the next 100 years, should be completed. The BOR report can be found at www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/ucao_misc/fishpassage/index.html.

A comprehensive solution as described in the Yakima River Basin Environmental and Salmon Recovery proposal would provide all the water needed for fish, agriculture, and municipal and industrial needs.

YBSA Monthly Report
September, 2008

Marketing Campaign: Yakima Basin Storage Alliance has contracted with Enigma marketing to design a brochure and program explaining the real values of Black Rock for our future and for design of a booth for the Central Washington State Fair. The five key elements presented in the brochure are fish health, water storage, power generation, recreation and economic impact. See www.futureofourvalley.com.

Dr. Stanford Presentation: Dr. Jack Stanford, an exert on river ecology and restoration, presented his thoughts on how to restore 1 million salmon and steelhead in the Yakima River Basin. Dr. Stanford believes there is no better place in the lower 48 states to accomplish this goal.

Dr. Stanford Discussion with Basin Biologists: Dr. Stanford stated that the Kol River in Russia is similar in flows and floodplain area to the Yakima and produces 5-7 million salmonids/year with 30% harvest rates. The Yakima has all the elements needed to restore salmon; it just needs the water to reconnect. This project hasn’t been done: “Grand River Restoration:, the question is: how to get it completed. They have remote sensed 1200 rivers around the North Pacific rim: the Yakima River Basin comes out very high in intrinsic value and floodplain habitat. The Yakima is still #1 in the lower 48. The Yakima has been the most productive node in the Columbia Basin historically and still can be.

A representative from the Yakama Nation stated that Jack needs to see the Yakama Nation comments and that “The Yakima Nation still supports storage if all tools in the toolbox are used, and that passage at the upper reservoirs has to be foremost in any solution.” Dr. Stanford asked, “Are you keeping the lower river in view.”

Dr. Stanford said the model flipped in 1978 and just flipped again this year, which is good for the Pacific Northwest as currents & their nutrients will be more favorable. Don’t forget that climate change is logarithmic, minimum temps in winter are climbing, so restoration must keep climate change in mind. The salmon are fighting for survival against cultured fish escapees from Japan and Russia mostly pink and red.

Dr. Stanford’s comments in the afternoon public session were:

 Real salmon recovery has to start at the mouth of the Yakima River and continue to its headwaters.
 The Yakima River has the most potential for restoration but has water problems.
 Need Columbia River water to make the restoration of salmon runs in the Yakima River happen.
 One million fish can come back to the Yakima with the addition of more water and habitat and giving the fish the chance to come back (aka not harvesting them).
 The Yakima can be one of the major fish producers in the Northwest.
Just trade water from the Columbia River for water in the Yakima for irrigation purposes.
 The 3 main items that need to be done for fish are:
o Model the Yakima River on what can de done with more water for habitat.
o Diversify the stock, bring all the species back.
o Correct the method of catching salmon. It is impossible to select for specific stocks with gill nets, whereas other methods would allow you to release unwanted fish unharmed.
 Let the fish find their own way into spawning channels.
 You can restore Yakima fisheries without taking out mainstem dams, but it’s more difficult on the Snake River because the dams further upstream pose a problem to fish passage.
 More natural flow in the Yakima is much more favorable for native fish than hatchery fish.
 Non-native fish have proliferated under the regulated flows of the rivers.
 Restoring habitat with augmentation of water makes the million fish possible (along with the full gamut of restoration activities).
 Continuing with the status quo of salmon recovery sucks!

DVD copies of the presentation are available from Y-Pac at (509) 575-6092 for $20.00 each.

Kim McCartney, Yakima River Basin Storage Study Manager, Reported: The final EIS report will be completed by late December. The seepage report will be completed by the end of September and will include some mitigation procedures. The seepage report will be added to the final EIS. There will be a 45 day comment period after the final EIS is completed and then the Study will be presented to the Office of Management and Budget. After the review the BOR Regional Director (Boise) in conjunction with the Department of the Interior will make the final recommendations to Congress. A water report of when water is available from the Columbia River will be included.

See www.ybsa.org for more information.

YBSA Monthly Report
August, 2008

Draft Legislation: The Yakima Basin Storage Alliance developed a draft legislation package to start the process of describing how to restore the Yakima and Naches Rivers to a more natural state. The package includes additional water for fish passage, fish habitat and environmental restoration during drought years. It also provides a minimum of 70% water for proratable irrigation districts during dry years and water for municipal and industrial growth for the foreseeable future. No longer would we suffer through multiple drought years as predicted by experts studying the affects of climate change. YBSA would appreciate any and all suggestions to be include in the legislation package. For detailed information on the content of the draft package go to www.ybsa.org and click on the links on the bottom of the page. Your assistance would be appreciated so when the Storage Study is completed we will have a document that all our neighbors and interests can support to restore more water for all interests in the Yakima Basin.

Website: The following can be viewed on www.ybsa.org:
An Introductory Letter
The Executive Summary
Draft Legislation
Draft Financial Plan
Recreation Study
Power Generation Study
YBSA’s Benefit Package
Monthly Reports
Other Information

Salmon Recovery Conference: YBSA is planning for a Salmon Recovery conference in September. Dr. Jack Stanford, an expert in salmon recovery, will be the main speaker. Dr. Stanford is working on a project outside the United States and a date will be set when he returns. Dr. Stanford, author of the Reaches Project, has tremendous knowledge of the needs for salmon recovery in the Yakima River Basin.

BOR Report: Kim McCartney reported that the Storage Study team is completing the report answering the questions raised during the EIS process. The Seepage Report will be completed by the Bureau of Realcamtion by the end of August. It will include the modeling of ground water and mitigation features. The Department of Energy study on the groundwater at Hanford will not show mitigation and could be finished something in 2009. Any request for construction of a new storage facility will have to be made to the Department of Interior and Congress by petition.

Plans for Promotion: Plans are being developed to do a public relation promotion of the Environmental and Salmon Recovery program and a display for a booth at the Central Washington State Fair.

Presentations during August were made to the Benton County Commissioners and the Lower Yakima Valley Realtors.

Contact YBSA at yakimabasinstoragealliance@yahoo.com if you would like a presentation made to your organization.

YBSA Monthly Report
July, 2008

Dr. Jack Stanford International Salmon Restoration Expert: Charlie de La Chapelle and Ted Strong met with Jack Stanford and his associate to request he attend a conference in Yakima to present his recovery proposal for the Yakima River Basin. Jack again stated there is no better place in the lower 48 states than the Yakima for salmon recovery. He stated if we do it right, recovery of 1 million fish is possible. Jack stated that reach based recovery fails, you must integrate the parts starting from the mouth, and have the water volume to moderate temperatures. Jack who authored the “Reaches Study” for the Yakima River also suggested that an update on the Reaches Study maybe appropriate at this time. He likes the Osoyuse (sp) strain of sockeye, and thinks that if left alone, in 50 years the stocks from the Hanford Reach will repopulate the Yakima. “They are tough beasts.” He believes the Leopard frog is a good indicator species for salmon recovery, you recover the habitat for them then you will be able to support large numbers of fish.

There are 3 rivers in the lower 48 that interest Jack: Klamath, Umqua, and the Yakima. He believes the others south of the Frasier are too difficult to restore.

Meeting with Roza: YBSA met with the Roza Irrigation District Board to explain proposed legislation for environmental and salmon recovery. It includes a guarantee of 70% minimum water supply for all proratable districts during drought years. The draft business plan for the legislation includes that the proratable irrigation districts are levied a fee of $18/ac based on the BOR study which found 4.2 million in benefits to agriculture, and agriculture can not be made to pay more than the amount by which it is expected to benefit.

Yakima County Commissioner Mike Leita said that there was no more important issue for the Yakima Basin’s future than water for our basin and how well we handle it will dictate the next 100 years. The county wants to facilitate the best decision possible. He added that the Umatilla River which once was dry was a great example. Once the Tribes, irrigators and businessmen agreed to the solution of the water exchange program with the Columbia River; the politicians delivered it. The board was interested to know what the Yakama Nation thought of our draft legislation. YBSA had yet to hear from them

Rick Valicoff, Roza chair said there were many ongoing processes going on and that Roza would wait to see how things turned out before they commit to a project..

Columbia Snake River Irrigators Association Meeting: YBSA was invited and included in the program of the Columbia Snake River Irrigators Association Annual Business meeting. Special guests at the meeting were State Representative Bill Gant, House Speaker Frank Chopp and Ecology Director Jay Manning. YBSA presented a proposed financial business plan which included a total cost of all construction work for Black Rock Reservoir and Conveyance Systems of $2,253,409,200 and miscellaneous expenses of $2,246,590,800 for a total cost to complete the project of $4.5 billion. (These numbers can be found in the Bureau of Reclamation Storage Study.)

The proposed funding options include Federal, State, local shares with the Federal share of 65% based upon the ratio agreed to in the Title XII legislation. The Title XII program was developed to improve conservation and provide more water for instream flow and fish. The Black Rock Project would provide about 600-800 thousand a/f annually for instream flow. Power for pumping 600,000 a/f annually was estimated at $50 million with maintenance costs estimated $10 million (Bureau numbers). Funding for pumping and operating costs was dived among BPA, power generation revenue and others.

All the Legislators present were very interested in the project and ask to be included in the development of the proposal including the financial package.

Executive Summary: The Executive Summary of the proposed Yakima River Basin Environmental and Salmon Restoration Act will be available shortly. Check YBSA’s website www.ybsa.org.

Scoping Meeting: YBSA members attended the Department of Ecology scoping meeting. The State is exploring options to acquire more water and fish in the Yakima Basin. Their EIS will go beyond the options found in the BOR’s Storage Study. YBSA suggested the DOE review all studies that have been completed over the years, to consider climate change and include salmon recovery values in their development of the EIS.

County Commissioners: YBSA discussed with the Kittitas Commissioners the timeline remaining for completion of the Yakima River Basin Storage Study and the value of a large volume of water that would become available with Black Rock Reservoir operational. We provided a copy of the Executive Summary of the Environmental and Salmon Recovery Act to the commissioners for their perusal. In addition the commission was interested in the changes that would occur in the volume of water in the existing reservoirs, the effects on ground water, the guaranteed 70% minimum water for proratable irrigation districts, additional fish runs, fish passage over existing reservoirs and the economic value of this project to Kittitas County.

Meeting with Candidates: Sid Morrison met with the legislature and county commissioner candidates and provided them with an update on the need for additional water in the basin and the benefits Black Rock would provide. He also met with Suncadia’s new manager to enhance his understanding of the environmental and salmon recovery project that would be accomplished with more water available for instream flow..

Information Dissemination: The YBSA Executive committee has been formulating a process to better inform our elected officials and the people who reside in the Yakima River Basin about the development of the Environmental and Salmon Recovery Act and the need for more water in the Yakima Basin. The concerns raised are Black Rock is too expensive, seepage from Black Rock will accelerate pollution of the Columbia River, we don’t need storage just conservation, water marketing will solve the problem and Black Rock won’t help fish we just need more habitat. YBSA will answer those questions. A comprehensive long term plan for the Yakima Basin has to include a large volume of water.

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.

YBSA Monthly Report
May, 2008

Meeting with State Representatives: YBSA met with State Representatives Chandler & Newhouse to provide them with an update on the Storage Study. Our Representatives supported the idea of preparing legislation to provide more water for the Yakima River Basin and to restore the environment and salmon runs. Representative Chandler will review the history of BOR project funding and provide YBSA information on different State funding options. Agriculture will not pay more than what they get in benefit. YBSA is proceeding with the Yakima River Basin Environmental & Salmon Restoration Act.

BOR Report: Kim McCartney, Manager of the Yakima River Basin Storage Study, reported:
 Normative river has many definitions depending on the needs of the program to address a specific problem.
 All the fish biologists met and determined the need for water in each reach – needed more water.
 The Storage Study shows that all the target flows in the Columbia River can be met and still provide water for Black Rock even during water short years.
 Bumping Lake and Wymer were reviewed thoroughly and the conclusion will be included in the report with the EIS comments.
 The Bureau of Reclamation may have to do a supplemental EIS to answer the seepage question. A mitigation report on seepage will be available in August or September, 2008.
 The Study team will again look at the value of fish non-use based upon EIS comments concerning the amount of money spent on Salmon Recovery.
 The questions and some answers on the EIS comments will be posted on the BOR website.

Yakama Nation Meeting: YBSA scheduled a meeting with the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Committees. Very few Yakima Nation members attended the luncheon. Sid opened the discussion stating we were there to work together as neighbors to solve the ongoing water needs in the Yakima Basin for fish, agriculture and municipal use. The staff from the Nation indicated they were tired of hearing about Black Rock and would like to continue the study of Bumping Lake and Wymer. Charlie stated YBSA will proceed with preparing legislation which would start the restoration of the environment and salmon in the Yakima Basin.

See Attachment of proposed legislation.

Professional Review: The YBSA Board authorized the development of a professional review of the hydrology and seepage around Black Rock Reservoir.