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.

YBSA Monthly Report
June, 2007

Meeting with New Vision and Tri-Dec: Members of the Yakima Basin Storage Alliance and Ted Strong met with members of Yakima County Development Association (New Vision) and Tri Cities Development Association (Tri-Dec) in Prosser to discuss the value Black Rock Reservoir is to the economy of the Yakima River Basin.

Planning a Seminar: YBSA would like to hold a seminar or two in the Tri-Cities to present the value power generation and recreation will have when Black Rock is operational. Black Rock, a water exchange project, has the potential to allow the existing water removed from the Yakima River to remain in the river for fish making the Yakima River one of the most productive salmon rivers in the lower 48 states.

Letter to BOR: A letter signed by the chair of Benton, Kittitas and Yakima Counties and Sid Morrison, chair of YBSA, was delivered to the BOR requesting the Storage Study team adhere to their timeline which is to complete the study by December 2008 and to ensure the study complies with Public Law 108-7 Section 214.

Yakima River Basin Water Resources Advisory Committee: Attended the Yakima River Basin Water Resources Advisory Committee where organizations presented their Detailed Implementation Plan. These plans are being developed to identify areas that can be expanded for additional fish habitat. Once the Boards of Commissioners approve the list of projects, funding could become available for some of the projects.

Columbia River Policy Advisory Group: The Columbia River Policy Advisory group met at the Department of Ecology office in Yakima. A presentation on the progress of the Potholes Feed Route Study was made. The Bureau is looking at two options for moving water to the south end of the Potholes project. One of them would be through Crab Creek and the second would be via the French Hills wasteway. These routes would not provide additional water nor would they irrigate additional lands. They are means of augmenting the existing route, the East Low Canal, which is maxed out in the spring.

The BOR then made a presentation on the Odessa Subarea Special Study. The purpose of the study is to explore means of replacing groundwater pumping in the study area (which is located within the Odessa Ground Water Management Subarea designated by Ecology) with more reliable surface water supply from the Columbia Basin Project.

Jim Trull explained the Sunnyside Irrigation District is committed to a set of conservation and water quality projects. He also noted the progress that has been made in irrigation methods and that 95% of the sediment returning to the Yakima River has been eliminated.

Executive Committee Getting Word Out About Black Rock: The Executive Committee met to discuss the methods that could be used to provide information to the greatest number of people on the value and benefits of Black Rock Reservoir. It was decided to produce a number of strategic articles about Black Rock over the next six months using email, website, newspaper, radio, and television to get the word out.

YBSA Monthly Report
May, 2007

Meeting with Gerry Kelso: Members of YBSA discussed with Gerry Kelso the hypothetical Simulations of potential impacts to the Hanford Site Unconfined Aquifer from Black Rock seepage prepared by V.L. Freedman Pacific Nothwest National Laboratory. The study consists of how 27,000 acre/feet of water will move on the Hanford Reservation. The BOR is planning to complete a study on possible seepage from Black Rock Reservoir in the near future. Access to the complete report can be found at www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/storagestudy.

Dedication: YBSA attended the dedication of the Yakama Nation’s Fish Research and Hatchery in Prosser. The facility was designed to monitor and track salmon returns to the Yakima River. The Yakama’s are also using the facility to reintroduce sturgeon to the river.

Advisory Committee Meeting: YBSA attended the Yakima River Basin Water Resources Advisory Committee meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to review detailed implementation plans for water conservation and fish enhancement projects. A list of recommended projects will be presented to the Yakima River Basin Water Resource Agency and the Boards of County Commissioners. The commissioners will hold public hearings and meet jointly to approve the projects.

Report on Global Warming Impacts: As reported by the Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife News Bulletin – “A Report Exploring Global Warming Impacts on Columbia Basin”.

“Salmon habitat loss would be most severe in Oregon and Idaho with potential losses exceeding 40 percent by 2090,” according to “Climate Change Impacts on Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife,” a report released Monday by the Independent Scientific Advisory Board.

Mantua, of the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group, said climate change projections for the coming century show a “consistent picture of wet places getting wetter and dry places getting drier. Warmer temperatures will result in more precipitation falling as rain rather than snow. Snow pack will diminish, and stream flow timing will be altered.

The changed climate will bring a changed hydrology. Under natural, pre-dam conditions, peak flows in the Columbia at The Dalles were in early June; the lowest flows in October through April. A warmup would likely mean higher runoff from the available snowpack during late winter and early spring, and less water in the summer.

Some river basins, such as the Yakima, will be “more sensitive than the Columbia Basin as a whole” to that changing hydrology, Mantua said.

“Any action that can help minimize water temperatures increases or augment stream flow during summer and autumn would contribute to this end,” according to the report.

Some possible actions that could be taken on the mainstem to address climate change impacts include: flow augmentation from cool/cold water storage reservoirs; and open back water, slough, and other off-channel habitats along rivers and the estuary to encourage increased flow through these areas to help reduce water temperature and provide cool-water refugia.

Complete report can be found at http://www.cbbulletin.com/Free/215708.aspx

Executive Committee Meeting: The executive committee met to discuss how YBSA could better explain the values of Black Rock to the general public. A publication explaining the value of five areas: fish enhancement, water resources (irrigation), municipal needs, power generation, and recreation needs to be developed. The publication would need to be distributed by media outlets to reach the greatest number of people.

The executive committee agreed to email a letter explaining the Black Rock project. The information was derived from the process the BOR used to evaluate the three alternatives included in the Storage Study.

Presentations/Meetings: An update of the Storage Study and the value of Black Rock Reservoir was presented to Yakima Business Network.

Rockey Met with the Harrah City Council and gave them an update.

YBSA Monthly Report
April, 2007

Fisheries Technical Work Group: The Storage Study Fisheries Technical Work Group objectives are to provide the opportunity and flexibility to improve fishery resource conditions throughout the mainstem Yakima and Naches Rivers. They include improve conditions in all seasons and water years not just dry years, closely mimic natural flow patterns, and support fishery enhancement under current conditions and embrace expanding floodplain and habitat improvements.

The output of the proposed approach is an estimate of additional instream flow water volume needed to achieve the objectives in each reach of the mainstem Yakima and Naches Rivers.

Executive Committee: YBSA Executive Committee met a number of times and discussed our workplan for 2007-2008. Our goal is to make a list of needed improvements to create a more normal flow of water in rivers within the Yakima Basin and with the help of the stakeholders identify the needs for fish, irrigation, and municipal growth. With the list of needed improvements, YBSA will develop and promote, along with the development of Black Rock Reservoir, an Environmental Restoration Program for the Yakima Basin

YBSA continues to be concerned about climate change and how it will affect the water resources in the Yakima Basin. The Bureau of Reclamation will do an analysis of its effects on the basins water supply. The BOR along with the University of Washington Climate Impact Group will set the climate change scenarios in a time frame around the 2040’s. YBSA is pleased with the process developed by the BOR.

Ted Strong will assist YBSA by developing a strategy to move forward with a list of needed improvement for instream flow and the environment in the Yakima Basin. Also with Ted’s assistance YBSA will contact interest groups, such as the Northwest Power Planning Council, so YBSA can present an update of the Storage Study.

The Executive Committee felt it was time to request a meeting with the fish and wildlife committee of the Yakama Nation.

YBSA will continue coordinating with the BOR as they develop the Study and to remind everyone the Black Rock Reservoir will allow between 600,000 and 800,000 acre/feet of water to remain in the Yakima River that can be managed for fish and wildlife, that at least 200,000 fish can return annually because more habitat will be available, and drought years will be eliminated with 70% minimum flow for proratable irrigation districts.

YBSA met with a representative of American Rivers and explained how the Black Rock project would make sufficient water available for a more normal flow in the Yakima and Naches Rivers, open up more habitat for fish, provide an opportunity to create passage over all existing reservoirs and increase the return of fish to the Yakima River Basin by at least 200,000.

Yakima Basin Watershed Plan: The Yakima Basin Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) met to develop and approve a Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) to implement recommendations found in the Yakima Basin Wastershed Plan. The DIP is to be completed and approved by WRAC, and presented to the Boards of County Commissioners who must hold public hearings which must be completed by the end of September before they can give final approval. The Department of Ecology grant provides $125,000 for the first year and with approval of the DIP, the same amount for years two and three. In years four and five, the amount is $62,000.

Film Documentary: Members of a Television Station from Denmark were here and filmed and interviewed Charlie de La Chapelle and Ted Strong at the Black Rock site, stopped and filmed a farming operation, and met and filmed members of the YBSA Board of Directors at the Prosser fish hatchery. A documentary will be developed for Denmark Television on the livelihood of Native Americans in the United States including the Yakama Nation and how Black Rock would help fulfill the Yakama’s needs for fish and irrigation.

Yakama Nation Contract with BOR: A contract between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Yakama Nation has been signed. An overview of the Yakama Nation’s project includes guidance and recommendation on Cultural Resources, Geology and Ground Water, Wildlife, Irrigation Impacts and to appoint a liaison to review day to day activities during the development of the Storage Study. The contract with the Yakama Nation begins in the fiscal year 2006 and ends in the fiscal year 2008.

Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study:

Roundtable Meeting 3 (Final Meeting)
Feasibility Analysis and NEPA/SEPA EIS

Roundtable Objectives

Purpose
Help ensure the completeness, effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability of the Storage Study.

Objectives
1. Review/revisit importance, values, measures of success in achieving Storage Study goals
2. Discuss role & treatment of primary & secondary benefits
3. Review alternatives being considered
4. Help refine criteria, tools & techniques for alternatives comparison
5. Comment of findings of alternatives comparison
6. Input to factors, methods & level of detail in upcoming analysis

Comparative Analysis of Alternatives relative to new water supply targets/goals are:
-No action includes the conservation identified in the Yakima River Basin water enhancement program approximately 160,000 acre/feet.
-Wymer storage only would be filled with Yakima River water.
-Black Rock is a water exchange project. Water from the Black Rock Reservoir would serve Roza and Sunnyside Irrigation Districts.

The key criteria used in the analysis are not less than 70% for irrigation in dry years (except SVID and Yakima-Tieton), instream flows agreed upon by Fisheries Technical Work Group and municipal needs of 82,000 acre/feet annually.

The Alternatives Comparative Analysis shows that the Black Rock Project is the only alternative that meets the identified water needs for municipal future water needs (2050) and irrigation not less than 70% for proratables. Instream flow for fish meets or exceeds flow/volume water targets in the spring, summer and winter during average, wet and dry years when Black Rock is operational. Wymer has very little flexibility when managing water for all uses in the Yakima Basin.

Roundtable Wrap Up: The wrap up of the final roundtable meeting with stakeholders produced comments and questions.

Phil Rigdon – We need more water, better timing of flows, better fish passage, more habitat, etc. Money for Black Rock could impact funding for other projects.

Commissioner Bowen – We need to follow Federal Legislation, more water for stream flow and fish, more stream flow helps with ground water recharge and meet the 70% goal for irrigation.

Urban Eberhart – The YARWEP was an interim step to get to storage. Multiple drought years will eliminate agriculture in Kittitas County.

Sid Morrision – Errors in water needs should be on the side of excess. Escess water in Black Rock can provide more power production.

Ron Van Gundy – The big project would solve the water problem and provide the benefit we need. If the big project can’t be built we need to continue with small projects.

John Eastbrook – Dept. of Fisheries is very concerned about climate change. Status quo could not be met in the future. Black Rock does more for instream flow to meet all targets than others.

Derek Sandison – DOE has approved a block of water for Black Rock in 2004. 8 million has been appropriated by the State of Washington to match the Feds for the Storage Study.

Sid Morrision – Operating costs, power generation and wind integration should be part of the answer.

Michael Garity – Benefits of aquifer and ground water storage needs to be evaluated.

Jim Milton – The Yakima River Basin Watershed Plan includes the benefits of storage.

Sid Morrision – Water improvements using Black Rock Reservoir will help meet the Yakama Nation Treaty Rights.

Kim McCartney – Seepage and ground water modeling is continuing and information will be available by June 2007. Additional work is being done on the proposed Wymer project. Drilling has been done at the dam site and pumping plant site to determine the feasibility of the Wymer facility. Review of the old information about Wymer is being updated and will include the possibility of a maximum flood in the Wymer basin

On May 3, 2007 an open house and lunch will be provided at the Prosser Fish Hatchery. Everyone is welcome.

YBSA Monthly Report
March, 2007

BOR Stakeholders Roundtable: YBSA attended the stakeholders roundtable, hosted by the Bureau of Reclamation, to discuss the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study/Feasibility Analysis and NEPA/SEPA EIS. The opening statement at the Roundtable was, “We will follow the Legislation and will look at alternatives based on meeting the goals of the Study”.

Chairman Morrison reminded the members of the stakeholder roundtable that the Study has 3 goals. The goals are water for fish, agriculture, and municipal use.

Discussion was held about the amount of water needed for irrigation (70% is the goal in the study). Comments included: “we don’t want to set a goal larger than we need and we don’t need to use 70% for nonproratable districts”. The large majority of stakeholders present felt the need for a firm water supply as stated in the original goal. The (they felt) would eliminate worry about water shortages in multiple drought years. Yakima County will not adopt a mediocre plan and will not accept anything but the optimum. Kittitas County needs 70% minimum and needs to do what has to be done and not look at just the money. The Black Rock Project will benefit all the people.

Benton County indicated a need to move toward a more normative river, continue to demand no less than 70% of the entitlement during a water short year, and enough water for municipal and industrial growth for the next 100 years.

American Rivers indicated the need to look at nonproductive land, non-structural, and non-storage. They felt that there may not be a need for normative flows in the river.

Numerous stakeholders said, “Don’t talk about how much, how firm, and how flexible but on what we can do with a large amount of water.” They expressed the need to consider how climate change will affect the Yakima Basin.

The Yakama Nation needs water for fish and agriculture, but water isn’t the only item needed for Salmon Recovery. More habitat, fish passage and continued funding for a fish enhancement project (not just to build a reservoir) are also needed.

The Wymer project could provide some benefit for fish and some small opportunities that do not require a large amount of water. Wymer could provide a better supply during normal years.

Items that need to be considered are: The study needs to consider climate change and how to deal with power generation, recreation, and economic development. The cost analysis will be done at the end of the study.

Joe Hubble will host a technical working group meeting on March 19 to evaluate how much water is needed for instream flow.

Sid Morrison and Jeff Tayer suggested the group start 800 a/f in reviewing the need for each reach.

March 29 has been set by the Bureau of Reclamation for the 2nd stakeholder roundtable.

County of Governments: YBSA presented a program at the Yakima County Conference of Governments meeting. The COG membership includes all the cities in Yakima County. The program consisted of how the storage study is progressing, why YBSA believes Black Rock is the best and the only solution that will provide the water needed in the Yakima Basin for the next 100 years, and how the additional water will benefit the economy and people of the Yakima Basin and beyond.

We also distributed YBSA’s Critique of the BOR Storage Study and a packet explaining YBSA’s need to keep the Black Rock Project moving forward.

Instream Flow Technical Work Group: Jeff Tayer and Sid Morrison suggested the technical work group start with 800 a/f of water which would be available with Black Rock operational when reviewing the needed water for each reach.

March 19 the BOR convened a Storage Study Technical Working Group to discuss the purpose for and intended use of instream flow targets and what method to use to compare the alternatives (Black Rock and Wymer) for fish. The discussion revolved around the amount of water needed in the five reaches: Easton, Cle Elum, Upper Yakima, Lower Naches, and Wapato. The Prosser at Tieton reachs were added to the list. The review is to be completed for the 7 regions for three seasons: winter, spring, and summer.

Concern was expressed about how the model was used and that more review of the models is needed. Other comments included using a more normative flow terminology instead of unregulated flows, and do not fail to consider potential for habitat restoration by opening up additional floodplain, link water volume/flow goals to specific conditions, look at fish passage over existing reservoirs, and remember to consider climate change. In order to choose the best alternative, knowledge of the needs of each reach and the things that can be done without adding more infrastructure are necessary.

The amount of water needed includes the needs for fish, agriculture, and municipal uses. The group was reminded that this is a storage study and the BOR has to provide answers to the storage alternatives.

Meeting with Roza Irrigators: Members of YBSA met twice with the irrigation community. The Irrigators are concerned about water rights, cost of project and distribution of costs. Dave Wykoff reminded the Roza Board they need to take climate change very seriously when looking at future water needs. Roza irrigators asked YBSA for some help developing their scoping comments for the Bureau.

Joint Board Meeting: At the Joint Board meeting Charlie and Tom provided language YBSA felt needed to be transmitted to the BOR. Language such as, the storage study as envisioned by Congress, must be completed on schedule, the study needs to provide 70% of water for proratable acreage, needs to meet the goals for both fish production and municipal needs for the next 100 years. The projections of the Washington State Climatologist must be considered as part of these long range requirements. From the Storage Study will come many of the answers we seek about water rights, benefits, and how costs will be shared among a wide array of beneficiaries.

State Migrant Council: Jaime Avalos from Granger, Vice Chairman of the Washington State Migrant Council, invited Tom Carpenter to a meeting in Sunnyside to talk about Black Rock. Tom explained how Black Rock will benefit the Yakima Basin. The members of the Migrant Council voted to continue their support of the Black Rock Project. Jaime has helped YBSA set up and man the fair booth for a number of years and assisted with other projects. Thanks Jaime.

Letters of Thank You: YBSA Board sent letters to all our contributors thanking them for their support and contributions. We couldn’t have reached this point in the Storage Study without their continued support.

Contact with Realtors: A draft letter supporting Black Rock was given to the Yakima Realtors with a request they distribute to other Realtor organizations and other groups.

Stakeholder Roundtable: The 2nd stakeholder roundtable is scheduled for March 29. Activities and discussion at that meeting will be distributed as soon as possible in April

Web Site Update: Met with Joe Schmitt, Ousel Internet Development, Inc., who manages YBSA’s web site and developed a procedure to keep our site current. Look for the new updated web pages at www.ybsa.org.

YBSA Monthly Report
January, 2007

Press Conference: On January 3, 2007 at a press conference, Sid Morrison presented an overview of the Recreation and Energy Studies. The purpose was to inform the public that the value of recreation and energy exceeded the Bureau of Reclamation figures posted in the benefit portion of the Storage Studies cost/benefit ratio. He also invited everyone to a briefing by the two consultants that performed the studies at 2:00 pm, January 8 in the Yakima Convention Center. The briefing included a report on fish and wildlife in the Yakim River and the Black Rock Reservoir presented by Ted Strong.

Recreation and Energy Studies: John Nelson and Larry Felton presented their findings from the Recreation and Economic Development and the Energy Studies. The presentation was made at a public briefing held at the Yakima Convention Center The reports included information that was not included in the Bureau of Reclamation Storage Study. The Recreation Study showed a $2.8 billion increase and the Energy Study a $240 million increase over the BOR calculations. A large crowd attended the briefing, asked questions, and commented on the project.

Critique at Scoping Meeting: YBSA presented a critique to the Bureau of Reclamation at their scoping meeting. The critique included information no in the Storage Study on recreation, power generation, construction/jobs, fishery use/fishery nonuse, and irrigated agriculture which resulted in an increase of more than $6 billion in the benefit category of the cost/benefit ratio. If anyone would like a copy of the critique send your request to klarichcj@charter.net.

Process to complete Storage Study: Discussions were held with Jerry Kelso (BOR) and Derek Sandison (DOE) about the process to be followed in the next 2 years to complete the Storage Study, which would lead to a “record of decision”. The BOR’s notice of intent to prepare a combined NEPA and SEPA report was published in the Federal Register. A scoping process is being conducted to prepare the environmental document for the public to comment on.

Executive Committee Meetings: The YBSA Executive Committee held meetings to discuss our response to the BOR Storage Study at the scoping meeting, and distribution of the information we compiled on the value of the Black Rock Project. YBSA is going to provide additional communication to the public emphasizing the value of the Black Rock Project. We need to continue fundraising to move forward and push for a positive conclusion of the Black Rock Project.

Presentations: Presentations were made to the Sunnyside Rotary, the POM Club, and the Roza/Sunnyside Joint Board.

Sid Morrison participated in the dedication of the Hanford Reach Interpretative Center in the Tri-Cities.