YBSA Monthly Report
April, 2008

Executive Committee: The executive committee met numerous times and discussed the types of communications that would be necessary to inform the public of the value the Black Rock project is to our Region and State. Information on the value of salmon recovery, agriculture beyond farm-gate, recreation and jobs were not included in the National Economic Development Benefits in the storage study. If regional benefits were included the benefits would exceed the cost.

YBSA will continue to support the Yakima River Basin Storage Study. The Study demonstrates how the Black Rock project will provide water for a more normative river for the environment and fish, a minimum 70% guaranteed water every year for the proratable irrigation districts, and more water for future municipal growth.

YBSA will pursue discussions with other interested parties to develop a package that includes the environmental health and salmon restoration in the Yakima Basin

Kim McCartney: Kim’s Report: Yakima River Basin Study Team is compiling the comments received on the Storage Study EIS, will distribute those comments to the appropriate people to answer the questions and then will publish a response. The Study Team will have to scan each comment prior to making them available to YBSA as requested.

The law at the present time reads the Yakima River will have a minimum flow of 300 a/f during dry years and 600 a/f during normal years. The Storage Study indicated Black Rock could provide 13,000 to 15,000 a/f for instream flow. The Black Rock project would provide water for Roza and Sunnyside Irrigation Districts. The water that remains in the Yakima River can be managed to make the river function as it did to move side channels, move sediment, create wetlands, develop habitat, and create passage into some of the existing reservoirs.

Editorial Board: Chairman Morrison met with the Yakima Herald Republic Editorial Board along with representatives of the Yakama Nation and Roza Irrigation District. See attached editorial.

CSRIA: YBSA met with Columbia Snake River Irrigation Association. Chuck and Court Wyckoff were also in attendance. Discussion centered on what other project would YBSA support, how long will it take to build Black Rock, and where will the money come from to finance the project. YBSA’s answer was we will support any project that provides a long term solution as defined by Congress and are in the process of developing a financial plan. CSRIA stated they are not concerned with seepage from Black Rock. Chuck Wyckoff commented that Black Rock was not dead; it would put more water in the Columbia River at critical times, and is the only long term solution for our water problems.

Irrigators: YBSA met with Yakima Basin Irrigators at their April 25th meeting. We emphasized the need to work together to create a long term solution to our water problem which will benefit all irrigation districts in the basin. We need to meet the needs of the environment and salmon restoration along with guarantee of water for irrigation purposes.

Yakama Nation: Members of the YBSA board attended a luncheon with members of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and others. The discussion was about how we as neighbors can come together to solve our common water, environmental and fish problems here in the Yakima Basin.

Dairy Federation: YBSA met with members of the Dairy Federation to inform them of the progress of the Storage Study and the value of Black Rock and seek their support.

Board Members Meetings: YBSA board members met with: Realtors and others in the Tri-Cities to discuss a workshop, Ted Strong to review salmon recovery and environmental concerns, Alex Conley – Executive Director, Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board – discussed what needs to be done to continue to develop salmon recovery in the basin.

YBSA Monthly Report
March, 2008

Weekly Meetings: Yakima Basin Storage Alliance Executive Committee met weekly to develop a process to respond to the Yakima River Basin Storage Study Draft Planning Report/EIS.

Benefits: YBSA reviewed the Planning Report and found a tremendous number of benefits either left out or downsized to meet the Principle and Guidelines (P & G) that were followed by the Bureau. We prepared a response identifying the items omitted and how the benefits to the Yakima River Basin and the Regional Economic Development (RED) account would exceed the required value to justify the Black Rock alternative as the preferred solution. (see www.ybsa.org) We urged all interests to send their comments to the Bureau of Reclamation prior to the March 31st deadline.

Meeting with Military: YBSA met with Yakima Training Center Commander Colonel Pullar and others to discuss the Black Rock project. YBSA felt it was necessary to talk with Colonel Pullar about the proposed operation of the reservoir. The location of Black Rock probably would not create an undue hardship on the training center.

Meeting About Need for Water: At the Columbia River Policy Advisory Group meeting Mike Lester, Yakima County Commissioner, pointed out the following:
 Drought is now a frequent event in the Yakima Basin
 Structures built 50 years ago are insufficient for current problems.
 We need to address both growth and protection of endangered species which require water.
 There are permanent crops in the Yakima Basin (orchards, vineyards, hops) that cannot survive without annual water.
 The Yakima Basin is on the verge of failing. We need more than a 5-10 year solution.
Discussion and presentations followed on what can be done with the drawdown of Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam.

Benefits for Fish: The consultants hired by the Bureau of Reclamation reviewed the benefits for fish in the Yakima Basin for the three alternatives: Black Rock, Wymer, and Wymer+. The Storage Study fisheries D EIS modeling results for each species showed Black Rock alternative created the greatest benefit for salmon recovery.

A Healthy Run for Fish: YBSA attended the Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Program on some of the habitat restoration projects going on and what that means in terms of improving the overall health of the Yakima River. The program started with an excellent presentation of “History and Condition of the Yakima River” by Dr. Morris Uebelacker, a geography professor at Central Washington University. A question from the audience provided an opportunity for YBSA to share some of the benefits Black Rock would provide for salmon recovery by freeing up more than 400,000 a/f of water to rewater the six reaches identified in the “Reaches Report” by Jack Stanford.

Status of Seepage Report: The status of the Hanford Reservation’s seepage report was discussed with Woody Russell, Environmental Compliance Officer for the Department of Energy at Hanford. It appears the report will not be completed until this winter.

Presentations: The following is a list of presentations made during the month of March.
 Tri-City Homebuilders in the Tri-Cities
 Colonel Pullar, commander, Yakima Training Center
 Columbia River Policy Advisory Group in Ellensburg
 Tri-City Realtors Association breakfast meeting in Kennewick
 Bureau of Reclamation Storage Study Fisheries D EIS results report in Yakima
 Association of Engineers in Yakima
 Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board in Ellensburg

YBSA Board Meeting at 5:30 pm, April 7th at New Vision in Yakima.

Check www.ybsa.org for further information

YBSA Monthly Report
February, 2008

Realtors: The Washington State Realtors Association along with contributions from Yakima, Lower Yakima Valley, and the Tri-Cities contributed $55,000 to YBSA to promote Black Rock Reservoir. The realtors believe Black Rock will have a high impact on the “Quality of Life” in the Yakima Basin and the State of Washington. A press conference was held Feb 7th when the presentation was made. See www.ybsa.org.

The BOR reported: Kim McCartney, BOR, reported the Draft PR/EIS of the Storage Study is available and he distributed copies of the Executive Summary. The draft can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/storage_study. After a 60 day comment period the BOR will compile all comments, including those from the 4 public hearings, then the Bureau will answer the questions raised and forward the report with answers to the Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency for review and comments.

The EPA will place the report in the Federal Register for a 30 day comment period. The Record of Decision will be made by the Department of Interior.

The Department of Energy is doing a study on the possible effects ground water from Black Rock will have on Hanford. The DOE will study the information based on the Bureau’s seepage study and when the study is released at the end of March it will include a mitigation program.

Olympia Trip: YBSA traveled to Olympia on Feb 12th & 13th and met with Governor Gregoire, members of the Legislature, and the State Labor Council. The value of the Black Rock Project was discussed. Everyone was surprised that the study did not make an effort to include benefits to the State of Washington and the Yakima Basin.

With hundreds of millions of dollars spent annually on fish, the study did not include that as a benefit. The study also narrowed down the benefits that would be derived from agriculture and recreation by not including the value to the region with a consistent supply of water. Also we discussed the possible seepage problem. The Bureau as indicated the seepage can be mitigated and the Department of Energy Study of Ground Water Movement would be finished at the end of March. The report will include a mitigation program.

The Governor and the Legislature were surprised the study did not take into consideration the effects of how climate change can effect the water availability for fish, agriculture and municipal use. The State of Washington is taking climate change seriously and during the Legislative session are making plans to help address the problem.

Jack Stanford: Jack likes the Yakima River for salmon recovery because not many structures need to be removed, and flood plains are still largely available as habitat. Warm water temperature is a problem and rearing flows are too small to access side channel habitat with the water available currently. He said the Yakima Basin was a “fish factory”. Jack has already done some analysis of the Yakima Basin and concluded the potential is high for Chinook, Steelhead, Coho, Sockeye, and Bull Trout. He believes the Yakima is the only place he knows of that has a chance to significantly restore salmon. The Yakima River, in his book: The Rivers of North America and in Jacks “Reaches Report”, describes the potential for large increases of salmon returns to the Basin.

Meetings and Hearings: Board members attended the public hearing on the Storage Study’s EIS process. Many people who attended the Bureau of Reclamation’s Public Hearings on the Storage Study spoke in favor of the Black Rock Project. A meeting was held with groups in the Tri-Cities to discuss the EIS process. A presentation was made to the Kiwanis in Yakima and a question and answer program was aired on KIT Radio.

See www.ybsa.org

YBSA Monthly Report
January, 2008

BOR Report: YBSA discussed items which appear in the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study found at http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/storage_study/reports/eis/draft-pr-eis.pdf . It is important that everyone understands how necessary the Black Rock Project is to the survival of salmon and steelhead in the Yakima River and the economy in the Yakima Basin. YBSA will be distributing information on why the Study by the BOR did not do a complete evaluation of the benefits of the Black Rock Project. They continue to review the benefits based upon what has happened in the past, did not consider climate change, and did not consider the new habitat that would be developed with additional water. Also, BOR did not consider what would happen to the Yakima Basin in the future without a Black Rock Project.

Visit by Jack Stanford: Jack Stanford, the author of the Reaches Report and an expert on salmon recovery, will be visiting our area to point out how additional water in the Yakima River can produce an abundance of fish.

Realtors: A special thanks to the Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Lower Valley Boards of Realtors for their contribution to YBSA and their success in acquiring a $50,000 donation from the State Board of Realtors.

Meeting with Irrigation Districts: A meeting was held with the Columbia and Kennewick Irrigation Districts in the Tri-Cities. Both irrigation districts need additional water. Seepage (return flow) from Black Rock piped and could provide an important benefit to the Tri-City area. With the tremendous growth around the Tri-Cities, more water is needed.

Displays: YBSA provided a display at Bleyhls and the Hop Growers Meeting. The display pointed out the benefits of the Black Rock Project. Many of the members at the meeting stopped by the display and stated their support for the project.

YBSA distributed a news release, “Study Underestimates Value, Urgency of Black Rock Reservoir Project” explaining about the items omitted and/or not fully evaluated in the Draft Planning Report/Environmental Impact Statement in the Storage Study.

Some key messages related to the Black Rock Project are
(1) Developing a sustainable water supply for the Yakima River Basin cannot wait. Demand for water in the basin will increase as a result of climate change.
(2) The Black Rock Reservoir project is a critical component of successful salmon recovery efforts in the Pacific Northwest.
(3) The Reservoir provides a diverse set of benefits to Native Americans, farmers, cities, and people in the Pacific Northwest.

Don’t forget to monitor YBSA’s website at www.ybsa.org.

YBSA Monthly Report
December, 2007

Landowners Meeting: YBSA held a landowners meeting to discuss with the residents and property owners the need for Black Rock and to answer questions. Benton County Commissioner Max Benitz provided the introduction and explained the need for additional water in the Yakima Basin. He stated at the present time we don’t have enough water in the Basin for fish and people. Yakima County Commissioner Ron Gamache stated the importance of Black Rock goes beyond fish and irrigation; it’s also a quality of life project.

Tom Carpenter, YBSA Board Member, explained YBSA’s broad base of support for Black Rock. He stated Black Rock is a multi-interest, multi-benefit project which will provide the needed water for generations.

Bob Hall, YBSA Finance Chairman, said, Black Rock will solve the water problems and YBSA will work with everyone to address their needs.

Questions: Twelve property owners attended the meeting. Others who couldn’t attend requested a copy of the minutes.

The following were questions brought up at the meeting.

Will the water be able to be used to irrigate outside irrigation districts boundries?
No this water is to be used to guarantee at least 70% of the water needed in proratable districts.

Will seepage be available for use?
Probably, it can be considered return flow and be treated in the same manner.

What will be the cost of the water?
That number has not been determined by the BOR. At present costs Irrigation Districts pay a portion of the maintenance and operation.

What about water level fluctuation in Black Rock?
There is water available in the Columbia River for short periods of time throughout the year that can be pumped to keep the reservoir as full as possible.

What about erosion in and around the lake?
That will be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement.

What will the cost of pumping be?
Pumping costs will vary based on the time of day and the time of year. Also, electricity will be generated by this project that could be used to offset the cost of pumping.

What about the purchase of property?
The Federal guidelines require negotiations and the County Commissioners present stated there will be no condemnation of property.

Where will Highway 24 be located?
No determination has been made, but the north side of the lake is much leveler and will have more frost and ice free days and be safer.

BOR Report: Kim reported the Storage Study Team is still working on the Report for NEPA and SEPA. The public draft will be printed and ready at the end of January, 2008. There will be a public review period for 60 days. During that time there will be a 1 hour open house prior to the hearings in both the Tri-Cities and Yakima. Oral and written testimony can be presented at that time.

Climate Change: The Study Team believes there are a lot of discrepancies among reports on climate change. Because of that conclusion the team feels they don’t have enough information to make a model to deal with water availability due to climate change.

Fish: The following fish will be presented in the Storage Study: Spring Chinook, Fall Chinook, Coho, and Steelhead.

Jack Stanford, Director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station: Jack Stanford is very interested in the improvement the Black Rock project would make for fish in the Yakima River. He will meet with YBSA and others within the next month. The BOR included information in Jack Stanford’s “Reaches Report” in their Storage Study.

Yakama Nation: The Yakama Nation is interested in the benefits of Black Rock. YBSA will request meetings with the Yakama Nation’s leadership and committees to ask for their input into what needs to be done in the Yakima Basin to restore salmon runs and provide water for out of stream use.

YBSA Investors: Letters to investors were mailed asking for a pledge for the next 24 months. The revenue would provide YBSA with funding necessary to attempt to secure funding for the Black Rock Project in 2009. All 3 counties and every city in the Yakima Basin were asked to participate. Board members will do a follow-up by phone.

Executive Committee: The Executive Committee met numerous times to plan a response to the seepage report. The seepage can be considered return flow and would be beneficial to both industrial and agricultural interests. YBSA will continue to seek interested parties who could use the seepage water.

At a meeting with Gerry Kelso, BOR manager, he stated the Bureau will plan to control the seepage, but it will take money. Seepage is estimated to be about 25,000 acre/feet or 22 CFS. They will determine how big a well will be needed to intercept the water. The EIS will include a report on seepage and mitigation costs. The EIS report will use what habitat exists at the present time to determine the number of fish that will return to the Yakima River. YBSA agrees with the Jack Stanford’s “Reaches Report”, that improvements in the habitat will increase the number of fish 6-10 times the number estimated by the Storage Study.

Columbia River Policy Advisory Group: Department of Ecology is finalizing their Legislative report. It will appear on their website by the end of the month.

A panel discussed the demand for additional water in the Columbia River
– operational supply and climate change
– what is the water from “Crab Creek” to be used for
– we need new water to fill the gaps
– how do we meet the Yakama Nation’s demand and who pays for the water
– we need to do both storage and instream flow including improving habitat at the same time

The proposed drawdown of Lake Roosevelt would make more than 130,000 a/f available if needed. 82,500 a/f would be used annually for instream flow, to provide surface water for the Odessa Aquifer, and municipal use.

An idea was presented by Grant PUD that would increase the level of water in the Wanapum Reservoir by 3½ feet which could provide approximately 70,000 a/f of additional storage.

See www.ybsa.org for more information.

Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Think Big

YBSA Monthly Report
November, 2007

Roundtable 4: The Bureau of Reclamation held roundtable 4 of the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study. The report indicated there would be no change in the irrigation or municipal supply targets. The Fisheries Target flows were still being updated with additional information based upon climate change. The schedule and milestones for the Storage Study are release a draft PR/EIS to the public in January, 2008; a public review period for sixty days; hold informational meetings and hearings during the public review period; and prepare the final PR/EIS publication for presentation to Congress December, 2008.

Newspaper Advertisement: YBSA placed an information letter in the Yakama Nation Review along with a list of benefits available from the Black Rock Project.

Meeting with Strong and Meninick: The YBSA Executive Committee met with Ted and Theo Strong and Jerry Meninick. Ted indicated the ad YBSA ran in the Yakama newspaper was very timely and created discussion among the staff and members of the Yakama Nation. He said the Yakama Nation is getting more concerned about climate change and that the Nation needs to find water soon to take care of problems. Ted asked Jerry to relay to the executive committee comments he received about the advertisement in the Review during meetings with the tribal leaders and staff.

Jerry pointed out the following questions need to be answered: who is YBSA, how is Washington State involved, how much authority does BOR have, and why YBSA isn’t meeting with the Yakama Nation. The Nation needs to be involved in writing the legislation necessaryto ensure the Yakima River Basin Restoration Act include the resource management plans that have been approved. The new water from Black Rock needs to be made available to continue salmon restoration and the Cle Elum Supplementation project. YBSA needs to meet with tribal council and the natural resource and legislative committees.

YBSA’s policy position should include building the legislative process around (S-2322).

Meeting with Chandler: The Executive Committee also met with Gary Chandler, Association of Washington Business (AWC). Gary was a Grant County Commissioner and State Legislator from Moses Lake. He emphasized that we need storage. Without storage in place within the next twenty years we will fail. Add the effects of climate change on our available water and the problem worsens. We need to step forward and find a solution and storage is the answer. Seepage is a concern, but it can be addressed. Gary commented that cost was not a factor when one looks at the benefits of such a project in real terms.

Contact with Jack Stanford: The Executive Committee participated in a conference call with University of Montana’s Jack Stanford, who is director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station and an expert on salmon recovery. YBSA and Jack have a common goal: salmon recovery in the Yakima River. Our discussion included, besides additional water in the river, other issues such as habitat needs to make our common goal a reality. Chairman Sid Morrision asked, “What do we do to work with you to get salmon recovery accomplished?” Jack stated we need to get water in the river and develop some visualization of flow and habitat needed to accomplish our goal.

Jack will come to Yakima between Christmas and the middle of January to meet with YBSA and others to discuss our needs to meet our common goal, “salmon recovery”. Jack states, “If we don’t fix a couple of these rivers the size of the Yakima River it won’t meet my expectations, I would be disappointed.”

Contribution Request: The Finance Committee met numerous times. Letters were sent asking Black Rock Supporters to contribute to YBSA so we can continue the push to make the environmental restoration of the Yakima River Basin a reality.

See www.ybsa.org for additional information.

YBSA Monthly Report
October, 2007

Fair Booth: YBSA’s booth at the Central Washington Fair in Yakima was a huge success. The people who stopped by were interested in the progress of the Study, if there was any problem that would not be solved, and were in favor of Black Rock. Thanks to the Board members and volunteers who spent time at the booth answering questions.

City of Yakima Economic Development Committee: YBSA met with the Economic Development Committee. We discussed the process the Storage Study will follow prior to its completion and the need to continue the support for Black Rock. Black Rock potential benefit to the region is more than $7 billion. The committee voted to recommend continued funding of YBSA to the City Council.

Senator Cantwell: Chris Endresen, Senator Maria Cantwell’s new State Director, met with YBSA in Yakima. Chris was very interested in the project and how it is progressing. YBSA presented her all the background material about the Storage Study and Black Rock Reservoir. With climate change progressing, Black Rock is a possible solution to the Yakima Basin water problems.

Executive and Finance: To be able to continue our push to make the Black Rock project a reality, the Executive and Finance Committees met numerous times to plan Rally for the Rock II and to design a letter requesting support for YBSA. We are near the end of the fourth year of a five year Storage Study that concludes in December, 2008. The Rally was very successful (see the report on Rally for the Rock II) and the letter to our supporters will be mailed this week.

Yakama Nation Review Newspaper Article: There is an article in the Yakama Nation Review explaining the benefits of Black Rock and a request for assistance from the Nation. The time has come to prepare legislation that deals with what can be done by managing the Yakima River system for fish and wildlife. We invite the Yakama Nation to participate in this process. Also included in the newspaper was an article describing the presentation Jack Stanford, the Director of the Flathead Lake Biological Station, made to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. He stated there is only one place in the basin, and probably in the entire continental United States, that favors a return to something more like the past – the Yakima River. Both articles will be emailed in the near future.

Board Meeting: The October YBSA Board Meeting was canceled. The next meeting will be Monday, November 5 at 5:30 pm.

Rally of the Rock II

YBSA Executive and Finance Committee met and organized the Rally for the Rock II. The purpose of the Rally was to inform people of the Yakima Basin that the Storage Study concludes in December, 2008 and there are no fatal flaws which could derail the project. Also, with climate change Black Rock becomes more important for the economy of the Yakima Basin. Breakfast was served to about 200 people and YBSA Chair Sid Morrison opened the Rally at 7:20 am.
The following presentations were made:

Gerald Kelso, BOR – seepage and mitigation
Mitigation methods include additional barriers, drainage tunnels, holes to intercept the drainage and trenches to move the water. Barriers can be constructed where Dry Creek meets Cold Creek. Water can be reduced by pumping. The BOR has built dams and used seepage barriers and other methods to reduce seepage. These methods have been used on other dams throughout the west.
Sid Morrison, Chair YBSA
New industries and agriculture are always looking for water.

Dave Wykoff – climate change
Black Rock is the best possible solution for the water problem in the Yakima Basin. Water is the major issue we need to look at and solve. With climate change we will have more years without sufficient water. Temperatures are increasing dramatically about 3.5 degrees in the next 20 years.
In the Comparison of Simulated Runoff in the Yakima Basin by the University of Washington Impact Group on Climate Change, the USGS and the BOR report; water will run off earlier and faster, there will be a greater number of low water years and a greater need for additional storage – Black Rock is the best.
Sid Morrison
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is concerned about flooding with accelerated runoff.

Jerry Menninick, Yakama Nation
The Yakama Nation is in support of the completion of the study. There has to be a contribution to fish and the ecosystem. We need water for the surface and the aquifer. Yakama delegation went to Washington, D.C. to support the study. Once the Yakamas have answers the Nation will or will not support the project.
Sid Morrison
YBSA is working on draft legislation to meet all the needs in the Basin and is sending an invitation to the Yakama Nation to assist in developing legislation to address their concerns.

Rick Valicoff, Roza Board Chair
Roza wants to see the Storage Study finished and the completed E.I.S. We are in favor of any additional storage and hope Black Rock will be successful.
Sid Morrison
Bumping Lake is almost impossible to build. Any storage in the Yakima Basin will only be viable if we have higher mountains to keep our snowpack with climate change.

Dave McFadden, Yakima County Development Association – economic benefits
The Yakima area needs more water for municipal growth and to take care of the environment. Black Rock is the only long term solution that will work for the Yakima Basin.
Interest in resorts has increased in recent years and Black Rock will provide a platform for development. Recreation would become a multi-million dollar industry for the Yakima Basin.
Sid Morrison
The Storage Study will indicate Black Rock Project will provide the water necessary for fish, municipal growth, and agriculture.

Bob Hall, Finance Chair YBSA
At the present time our economy is very good. We are not facing problems in agriculture or manufacturing. We have our highest employment and lowest unemployment now. This project is not for us it’s for our children and grandchildren.
It’s time to ask for everyone’s commitment over the next 24 months for both financial and personal support of the Black Rock Project. YBSA needs all of your help to make this project successful.

Questions and Answers:

Q. Why not pump water directly from the Columbia River to the Yakima River?
A. Timing, there’s not enough water in the Columbia River in the summer time, the only way is a water exchange with Black Rock Reservoir.

Q. Is it possible to have another get together after the E.I.S. process?
A. Yes, Rally for the Rock III.

Q. Is there competition for Columbia River Water?
A. Yes, but the only viable project is Black Rock and everyone needs to support Black Rock.

Q. What’s the cost to build Black Rock and how will the cost affect the payment by agriculture?
A. $5 billion to build. Gerry Kelso, BOR stated, “the cost to agriculture is based upon ability to pay.”

Thanks to the following for sponsoring Rally for the Rock II:
Yakima Central Labor Council ALF-CIO
Hop Growers of Washington
New Vision
Pacific Power and Light
State Fair Park
Yakima Chamber of Commerce
Yakima Valley Dairy Rederation
Yakima Valley Growers and Shippers
Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau

YBSA Monthly Report
September, 2007

Black Rock Approval Coming: About 16 months from now the Storage Study will be presented to Congress. YBSA will have to work with a new President and Congress to get approval for construction of Black Rock. Because it’s a critical time, we need to increase our efforts to gain additional support for the adoption of Black Rock as the preferred project of the Storage Study. YBSA needs to generate enough capital to gather the expertise to present our position.

Rally for the Rock II: Rally for the Rock II will be held at the State Fair Room – SunDome in Yakima, WA Friday, October 19, 2007 from 7:00 to 9:00 am; a complimentary breakfast will be served. The program will include: timeline to construction, the most up to date information on the project, the responsibilities of all stakeholders, the risk of a “no action” alternative, and how it will affect the economy and future of our basin.

Pump-Storage is Valuable: The Bureau of Reclamation concluded that engineering and economic factors do no justify inclusion of a pumped-storage feature as an option to the Black Rock Project. The Bureau did not take into consideration climate change and the future need for power generation in our region. See Sid Morrision’s letter attached.

Hanford Cleanup Failure: The Yakima Herald-Republic editorial, “Hanford Cleanup Failure Befouls Worthy Project”, points out the need to move forward with the Black Rock Project. The seepage report by the Bureau of Reclamation states some concern about ground water movement within the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. YBSA believes the groundwater movement needs to be addressed. YBSA is working with the Bureau to develop a plan to mitigate the seepage problem. See editorial attachment.

Black Rock Seepage Presents Enormous Opportunities: The Bureau of Reclamation has the knowledge and ability to neutralize or reduce the hydrologic pressure on groundwater. The seepage is additional water that can be used for industrial, agriculture, and for new development in the area. Water is very valuable in Central Washington. The water can also be pumped back to the Columbia River or to the Yakima River for resue. Mitigation of seepage is a small portion of the cost of the Black Rock option.

Columbia River Policy Advisory Group Presentation: Sid Morrison and Chuck Klarich attended the Columbia River Policy Advisory Group meeting to present the values and benefits of the Black Rock Project. The large group meets monthly to develop plans for beneficial use of Columbia River water for both instream and out of stream flows with no net loss.

Black Rock is a water exchange program that meets those goals. The information presented included benefits to fish, instream flow, water for irrigation, and municipal and industrial use.

Black Rock is needed to offset possible climate change, and to better manage water remaining in the Yakima Basin for fish. This project will return the water that was drawn from the Columbia River back to the Columbia full of fish.

A few questions were asked after the presentation. Sid gave a positive answer to all questions and concerns. He emphasized that YBSA’s goal is to make Black Rock a restoration and Salmon Recovery Project.

The group was very receptive and could see the value of Black Rock.

YBSA Website: YBSA new website is being hosted by Benton REA and is operational. The site will be updated weekly. If you have questions contact klarichcj@charter.net. You can access the site at ybsa.org.

Tour of Irrigation Projects: Warren Dickman, YBSA Board Member, participated in the annual tour of irrigation projects in the Yakima Basin. The projects included the Wapato diversion dam being modified to help control future water episodes and repairs of the fish ladder. The tour also included stops at the Sunnyside and Roza equalizing sites which will help conserve water. YBSA supports water conservation.

DIP: YBSA testified in favor of the adoption of the Detailed Implementation Plan which was developed to continue to implement the recommendations in the Yakima River Basin Watershed Plan. The Board of Commissioners from Benton, Klickitat, and Yakima Counties approved the plan.

Fair Booth: YBSA will have a booth at the Central Washington State Fair. It will be located in the SunDome. Stop by to gather information and show your support for the Black Rock Project. If you are interested in helping in the booth stop by or contact us and let us know.

Rally of the Rock II

YBSA Executive and Finance Committee met and organized the Rally for the Rock II. The purpose of the Rally was to inform people of the Yakima Basin that the Storage Study concludes in December, 2008 and there are no fatal flaws which could derail the project. Also, with climate change Black Rock becomes more important for the economy of the Yakima Basin. Breakfast was served to about 200 people and YBSA Chair Sid Morrison opened the Rally at 7:20 am.
The following presentations were made:

Gerald Kelso, BOR – seepage and mitigation
Mitigation methods include additional barriers, drainage tunnels, holes to intercept the drainage and trenches to move the water. Barriers can be constructed where Dry Creek meets Cold Creek. Water can be reduced by pumping. The BOR has built dams and used seepage barriers and other methods to reduce seepage. These methods have been used on other dams throughout the west.
Sid Morrison, Chair YBSA
New industries and agriculture are always looking for water.

Dave Wykoff – climate change
Black Rock is the best possible solution for the water problem in the Yakima Basin. Water is the major issue we need to look at and solve. With climate change we will have more years without sufficient water. Temperatures are increasing dramatically about 3.5 degrees in the next 20 years.
In the Comparison of Simulated Runoff in the Yakima Basin by the University of Washington Impact Group on Climate Change, the USGS and the BOR report; water will run off earlier and faster, there will be a greater number of low water years and a greater need for additional storage – Black Rock is the best.
Sid Morrison
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is concerned about flooding with accelerated runoff.

Jerry Menninick, Yakama Nation
The Yakama Nation is in support of the completion of the study. There has to be a contribution to fish and the ecosystem. We need water for the surface and the aquifer. Yakama delegation went to Washington, D.C. to support the study. Once the Yakamas have answers the Nation will or will not support the project.
Sid Morrison
YBSA is working on draft legislation to meet all the needs in the Basin and is sending an invitation to the Yakama Nation to assist in developing legislation to address their concerns.

Rick Valicoff, Roza Board Chair
Roza wants to see the Storage Study finished and the completed E.I.S. We are in favor of any additional storage and hope Black Rock will be successful.
Sid Morrison
Bumping Lake is almost impossible to build. Any storage in the Yakima Basin will only be viable if we have higher mountains to keep our snowpack with climate change.

Dave McFadden, Yakima County Development Association – economic benefits
The Yakima area needs more water for municipal growth and to take care of the environment. Black Rock is the only long term solution that will work for the Yakima Basin.
Interest in resorts has increased in recent years and Black Rock will provide a platform for development. Recreation would become a multi-million dollar industry for the Yakima Basin.
Sid Morrison
The Storage Study will indicate Black Rock Project will provide the water necessary for fish, municipal growth, and agriculture.

Bob Hall, Finance Chair YBSA
At the present time our economy is very good. We are not facing problems in agriculture or manufacturing. We have our highest employment and lowest unemployment now. This project is not for us it’s for our children and grandchildren.
It’s time to ask for everyone’s commitment over the next 24 months both financial and personal support of the Black Rock Project. YBSA needs all of your help to make this project successful.

Questions and Answers:

Q. Why not pump water directly from the Columbia River to the Yakima River?
A. Timing, there’s not enough water in the Columbia River in the summer time, the only way is a water exchange with Black Rock Reservoir.

Q. Is it possible to have another get together after the E.I.S. process?
A. Yes, Rally for the Rock III.

Q. Is there competition for Columbia River Water?
A. Yes, but the only viable project is Black Rock and everyone needs to support Black Rock.

Q. What’s the cost to build Black Rock and how will the cost affect the payment by agriculture?
A. $5 billion to build. Gerry Kelso, BOR stated, “the cost to agriculture is based upon ability to pay.”

Thanks to the following for sponsoring Rally for the Rock II:

YBSA Monthly Report
August, 2007

Media Campaign: The YBSA Board of Directors has authorized a media campaign to inform the general population on the value of the Black Rock Project. The information will be distributed through the media this fall.

Legislative Package: The Black Rock Project is part of a Yakima River Basin Environmental and Salmon Restoration Program. YBSA is developing a comprehensive legislative package that will meet the fisheries and fish passage, habitat, irrigation, and municipal and industrial water needs of the Yakima River Basin. The comprehensive proposal, along with the additional water that will be available from Black Rock, will address the environmental concerns in the Yakima Basin.

Meeting with Legislators: Members of YBSA met with our 15th District Legislators, Senator Honeyford, and Representatives Newhouse and Chandler and provided them with a progress report on the Black Rock Project. The discussion included water for fish passage and habitat and the cost of the project. The total benefits exceed the cost of the project when you include power production, recreation, and the large number of salmon that will return to the Yakima Basin.

Update on Storage Study: YBSA met with Gerry Kelso and members of the Yakima River Basin Storage Study Team at BOR headquarters for an update on the Storage Study. Many of the parts have been completed. The Storage Study will be available for comment during the EIS process. Fish models are still being reviewed. The climate change study report, in conjunction with the University of Washington, will be completed shortly. The report on seepage and the methods to mitigate the seepage will be available by the first week of September. The Bureau again emphasized the leakage is not a fatal flaw, just a problem on how we need to deal with it.

Roundtable: The Bureau is planning to hold a roundtable meeting around the middle of September to update the interested parties on what is happening with the Storage Study.

Presentation to NWPCC: Chair Sid Morrison gave a report on the progress and benefits of the Black Rock Project to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NWPCC) at their meeting in Spokane. The council is increasingly interested in what is happening in the Yakima Basin.

Report on Climate Change: The NWPCC released a report on possible effects of climate change on the Columbia River which helps to make the case for pump storage (Black Rock). The report reflected concerns about winter and spring flooding, surplus water with a lesser need for power during that time. This is the time when Black Rock will need to be filled for future use and the surplus power can be used to fill the reservoir. Black Rock is a water exchange program; it will borrow the surplus water from the Columbia River for out of stream use and return the water that will not be removed for out of stream use in the Yakima River Basin to the Columbia River full of fish.

Fair: Visit the Black Rock booth at the Central Washington State Fair Sept 28-Oct 7.

YBSA Monthly Report
July, 2007

Meeting about Seepage: YBSA met with Gerry Kelso and the Yakima Basin Storage Study Team July 24.

The BOR has completed their estimate of seepage. It has been delivered to Hanford for their review and comment. The report will be available for everyone’s review by mid August.

The leakage from Black Rock is estimated to be between 1% & 3% and will follow a pathway down dry creek. Gerry Kelso indicated that there are many ways to address drainage such as additional barriers in the dam to reduce or limit the leakage, intercept the water with smaller dams, with wells to pump the water. Discussions with DOE and Hanford are occurring on how to manage the water.

Gerry stated, “Seepage is not a fatal flaw; it’s just a problem on how to deal with the seepage.”

A study on climate change is being done by the University of Washington Climate Change Group to provide scenarios for the increase in temperature that could occur. The Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Council report on climate change looks at problems of flooding, power generation, and the need for cool water to help temperatures in the Columbia River.

The BOR has completed the study of:
1) Amount of water in the Columbia River.
2) Water that might be available in the Yakima River to fill Wymer.
3) Both habitat and ground water.
4) The State will look at water marketing, conservation, and aquifer storage.
5) Models for water and fish needs.

The BOR plans to hold a roundtable meeting in September. They will put their monthly report on their webpage in August.

Cassidy and Associates: Denny Vaughn, representing Cassidy and Associates, met with members of the YBSA executive committee. Denny was able to attend the meeting YBSA had with Gerry Kelso and the Yakima River Basin Storage Team. He was pleased with the report by BOR and felt the Black Rock project is a doable project and will continue to support it in Washington D.C.

Letter to TRIDEC: A follow-up letter signed by YBSA chair Sid Morrison and Bill Lampson, member of our Board of Directors was delivered to Carl Adrian and the TRIDEC Executive Board. The Tri-Cities are a very important part of the Yakima River Basin and their support is vital to the success of the Black Rock Project.

Presentation to Building Trade: Rockey and Charlie made a presentation to the Washington State Building Trades delegates at their annual convention. Charlie met with their executive committee and asked for their financial support. He explained how YBSA uses their funds to publicize the Black Rock project. Rockey’s presentation was made to the 150 delegates at the convention. The Building Trades continue to support YBSA’s efforts to make Black Rock Reservoir a reality.

Informing the Public: YBSA Executive Committee is reviewing ways to inform the public of the values of Black Rock. The time for public comment on the Environmental Review will start in January, 2008. The value of the Black Rock project with an environmental and habitat component included needs to be explained to the people of the Yakima Basin prior to the public comment period on the Yakima Basin Storage Study.

Copy of Proposed Legislation: The Washington State Library forwarded a copy of Senator Dan Evans proposed legislation S-2322, to authorize certain elements of the Yakima River Water Enhancement Projects to YBSA. The S-2322 didn’t pass but YBSA believes a comprehensive solution can be met in the Yakima Basin with the increased water provided by Black Rock Reservoir. A Bill to authorize elements of the Yakima River Basin Water Restoration and Salmon Recovery Project, and for other purposes would address the needs for fish, agriculture, and municipal use.