YBSA Monthly Report
January, 2006

BOR Alternatives Evaluation: The BOR has distributed to Stakeholders, for discussion only, a report, “Yakima River Basin Alternatives Technical Information and Hydrologic Analysis”. Included in the report are three Yakima River basin alternatives: Bumping Lake enlargement, Wymer Dam and Reservoir, and Keechelus-to-Kachess pipeline. The technical information and hydrologic analysis will be used to determine which alternatives, if any, should be studied further in the Plan Formulation Phase of the Storage Study. These alternatives were formulated to determine if they would provide more storage of Yakima River water for the benefit of irrigation, threatened and endangered fish species, and municipal water supply in the basin. The BOR will decide which alternatives will be carried forward to the Plan Formulation Phase of the Storage Study.

BOR has concluded that, based on current information, a potential Black Rock storage alternative appeared to be technically viable and could meet the water supply goals of the Storage Study. The Black Rock storage alternative is being carried forward into the Plan Formulation Phase.

BOR will meet with the Stakeholders as soon as possible for input on which alternatives if any should be included in the Plan Formulation Phase of the storage study prior to completing it.

Yakima Nation Contract: YBSA is still working to get a contact between the Yakama Nation and BOR completed. The BOR has two more years to complete the Feasibility Study and the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA)-State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The participation by the Yakama Nation is crucial in gathering the information for a complete EIS.

Recreation Around Black Rock: Benton County, Port of Sunnyside, Yakima County, and YBSA are in the process of adopting an interlocal agreement to explore the recreational opportunities and benefits associated with Black Rock. YBSA met with Yakima County Commissioner Mike Leita to explain the importance of adopting the interlocal agreement.

Olympia Meeting: Members of YBSA will be meeting with the Governors Chief of Staff and others to encourage them to stay the course and complete the Black Rock Feasibility Study. The Governor has indicated numerous times her support of the Black Rock project.

YBSA Board Activities: Several planning meetings were held this month.
1. Contracts with Benton and Yakima Counties and the City of Yakima have been signed for 2006. Their continued support is an important part in getting Black Rock completed.
2. Discussed present and future fund-raising as we are determining how much money is required for YBSA to operate effectively now and in the future.
3. We are reevaluating our expenses of the past to better understand what will be required to meet our goals in the future.
4. We are considering better methods of communication with those who have supported the Black Rock effort to-date

Updates have been given to the following: labor organizations, city and county employees, Yakima Central Labor Council, and Carpenters Local 770.

Meetings were held with the Port of Sunnyside discussing the importance of the recreational component of the Black Rock project.

BOR has attended our board meetings and provided an update on the feasibility study.

Discussions were held with the Regional Director of the Department of Ecology Derek Sandison about the remaining timeline, financing, and the SEPA document of the Black Rock Feasibility Study.

YBSA Monthly Report
February, 2006

Olympia Trip: YBSA continues to pursue a broad base approach in support of storage in the Yakima Basin. During the February 2nd trip to Olympia at a meeting set by Rockey Marshall in the governor’s conference room, we met with Ron Judd, the governor’s senior staff person; Keith Phillips, water policy staff for the governor; John Little, political coordinator for the Northwest Carpenters Union; and Bob Abbot, political coordinator for the Northwest Labor Council. Concerns about the progress of the Black Rock Feasibility Study being performed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and the possible additional cost to complete the study were discussed. Also discussed were the SEPA and NEPA process and how the Columbia River Initiative (storage) might delay the progress of the Black Rock Study and the question of why the BOR had not contracted with the Yakama Nation to perform the culture, fish, irrigation and water rights portion of the Feasibility Study. The Yakama Nation component is required within this important study. Without meaningful participation in the study by the Yakama Nation, there will be no new water reservoir infrastructure. Ted Strong explained the BOR promise of including the Yakama Nation in the Feasibility Study has not materialized as expected by the Yakama Nation, and the Nation is rapidly losing patience in supporting this fine project because of the BOR’s performance. The success of the Umatilla Project with its productive fish returns, and enough water for the community and irrigators even during drought years was pointed out.
YBSA met with Senator Honeyford, Representative Chandler, and Representative Newhouse in the Senator’s office to review what was happening in the legislature and at home in regards to Black Rock. Proposed legislation to insure that the Black Rock Reservoir be included was reviewed and that possible language be added to the proposed legislation to make sure the Yakama Nation be included in the Feasibility Study on a contractual basis. Some time was spent discussing how financing might be secured to build the Black Rock Reservoir as well as keep the Black Rock Study on track. This would ensure that the Columbia River Proposal not detract from the goal of eliminating the water crisis in the Yakima Basin.
Black Rock is well known in Olympia. Throughout the Capital Campus the YBSA group was greeted with, “here are the people promoting Black Rock”.

Washington D.C.: Charlie de la Chapelle will be leaving Wednesday evening for Washington D.C. to meet with Washington’s Congressional Delegation and others. The discussion will revolve around cost and progress of the feasibility study, the participation by the Yakama Nation in the study, and how to expedite the study’s resolution.

State Legislation: YBSA was pleased with the passing of ESHB 2860 “Water Resource Management in the Columbia River Basin” which includes Black Rock Reservoir. Representative Dan Newhouse reported that at 5:00 pm Tuesday the House of Representatives passed the Bond Bill to finance the Capital Budget which includes $200 million to implement ESHB 2860. The House and Senate’s legislation will go to conference committee and then to the Governor for signature.

BOR: BOR presented information gathered on the alternatives evaluation of Bumping Lake, Wymer, and the Kachelus to Kachess pipeline to the stakeholder groups (irrigation, fisheries, SOAC, etc.). The BOR gathered feedback from stakeholders to finish the alternatives report. The Bureau will be sending a letter to each stakeholder explaining the report. Within the next two or three weeks the Bureau will complete the alternatives evaluation and forward the document for an internal review. It will be made public a few months thereafter.

Recreation Around Black Rock: The Port of Sunnyside, Benton and Yakima Counties, YBSA, and others are preparing to study the recreation potential around Black Rock Reservoir including a Master Planned Resort.

YBSA Activities: YBSA continues to hold informational meetings throughout the Yakima Basin presenting updates on the feasibility study. The fundraising effort is continuing, and we are getting closer to our goal for 2006. Everyone deserves a thank you for their continued participation.

YBSA Monthly Report
February, 2007

Executive Committee Meeting: The 2007 budget was discussed at the Executive Committee meeting. Preparation of the budget was postponed while YBSA reviews the response to the packets sent asking for financial assistance. A plan of action for the next two years was discussed. The BOR will take up to a year preparing the study prior to releasing it to the public for the Environmental Impact Review.

Washington D.C.: Rockey Marshall is representing YBSA in Washington D.C. He will meet with Senators Murray and Cantwell, Representative Doc Hastings and others. Cassidy and Associates will schedule meetings with other federal agencies.

Meeting with Kristin Eby: Rockey and Chuck met with Kristin Eby from Senator Cantwell’s office. Discussed the $2.5 million the BOR needs to complete the Storage Study, the Senators continued support for the Black Rock Project, how the new Congress will address budget issues, and when and how we can get help writing legislation that addresses the environmental issues in the Yakima River Basin to include all the water and fish problems.

Meeting with Yakama Nation: Sid, Charlie and Chuck met with Phil Rigdon and Tom Ring of the Yakama Nation. The discussion centered on how the Yakama Nation would develop projects for fish enhancement with or without Black Rock. YBSA stated fish enhancement and more clean, cool water will only exist with a completed Black Rock Reservoir. The Black Rock Project will benefit fish, agriculture (Wapato Irrigation Project), and our municipal and industrial growth for the next 75 to 100 years.

Phil acknowledged the Yakamas have a contract with the Bureau of Reclamation and will continue to work toward completion of the Yakima River Basin Storage Study.

Realtors: John Hodkinson organized a meeting with the Yakima Realtors. YBSA’s presented the Recreation and Economic Development Study and asked the realtors to endorse the study and send letters of support to other organizations. We answered questions about power generation, jobs, and the progress of the Storage Study. YBSA indicated we needed their help in promoting the project and would appreciate some financial support. The Black Rock Project needs to have support from all interests in the Yakima Basin.

Roundtable: YBSA received a letter form the BOR to participate in a roundtable group to review the Storage Study goals, look at suggested alternatives with potential for meeting the Storage Study goals and refining methods to be used in comparing the alternatives. The roundtable will not be a formal advisory group or a decision making body. YBSA will participate.

Senator Murrary’s Office: Rockey met with Jaime Shimek from Senator Murray’s Office. She’s new and was gathering information about Black Rock. Her position is Legislative Assistant on Agriculture and Department on Interior Matters. She stated YBSA should reduce the BOR request for $2.5 million and that it’s too early to move on legislation to address the water and environmental needs of the Yakima Basin.

Meetings Attended: Charlie spoke to the Northwest Professional Women Mortgage Brokers group about Black Rock in the Tri-Cities.

Sid spoke to the Washington Society of Professional Engineers in the Tri-Cities.

YBSA attended the Roza-Sunnyside Joint Board Meeting.

Upcoming: YBSA will be the program at the Yakima County Conference of Governments meeting on March 21, 2007.

YBSA Monthly Report
February, 2009

Review of “No-Action”: The Yakima Basin Storage Alliance reviewed the choice by the Bureau of Reclamation of the no-action alternative based upon a cost benefit ratio in the Storage Study. No-action leaves the Yakima Basin without sufficient water for the future. Also, the Department of Ecology used the Bureau’s estimated costs and included a small fraction of the benefits. Ecology did not take into consideration in their Integrated Water Resource Management plan that Bumping Lake expansion violates all existing policies by building a dam on an active river and the results of the Climate Change Study which predicted a decreased snow pack of nearly 30% by the year 2020. Both the Bureau and Ecology decisions would leave the Basin without an option to acquire additional water. YBSA felt it was necessary to ask the Bureau to delay the Record of Decision and continue the Study. The Bureau of Reclamation should identify and analyze the best cost alternatives for supplying additional water. A more complete watershed analysis of the Black Rock Reservoir as a component of an integrated Yakima River system needs to be completed. Additional time is needed to answer the three questions asked by Congress; improve anadromous fish habitat by restoring a more natural river flow, improving the water supply for proratable irrigation districts by providing at least 70% irrigation water during dry years, and meeting municipal water supply needs for population growth to the year 2050. With no plan to find the water needed to prevent droughts every few years, YBSA is requesting along with Benton and Yakima Counties a continuation of the Storage Study with an appropriation to accomplish the objectives stated in Federal Law.

Letter to Governor: Chairman Sid Morrison delivered a letter to Governor Chris Gregoire asking for her to support by requesting a Record of Decision delay and seeking the “redirection” of the study. YBSA is willing to step back and let a different level of government see if they can work with both the state and federal findings and meet the criteria established by Congress. This has been proposed by Yakima County and it deserves the opportunity to be successful. YBSA will be at the table, and so will the Yakama Nation, the irrigation community, state and federal fisheries, and the many other players whose futures depend on a reliable water supply.

Copy of Letter: A copy of the letter to the Governor was given to Representative Frank Chopp, Speaker of the House, in the Washington State Legislature and to David Johnson, Executive Secretary, State Building and Construction Trades Council. They agreed to send a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation suggesting a delay in the Record of Decision on the Yakima River Basin Storage Study.

Proposed Bill Language: The following is the proposed Bill language that was sent to Senator Maria Cantwell’s Office. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, shall continue and complete an integrated feasibility study in which BOR starts with the total water needs then find the least cost alternative which combines a Columbia River exchange with the Yakima River; in a comprehensive plan of water storage, water conservation riparian habitat restoration and fish passage measures to meet the 3 congressional criteria; irrigation supplies, normalizing instream flows and municipal supplies. The BOR should maximize this investment value for salmon recovery in the Yakima, climate change scenarios, recreational development opportunities and the integration of pumped-storage to reduce taxpayer burden and stimulate a new economic driver for Central Washington. There are authorized to be appropriated $1.5 million to complete this feasibility study.

The letter sent to the Bureau of Reclamation for a delay and a copy of the comments to justify the extension of the Storage Study can be found on Yakima Basin Storage Alliance web site at www.ybsa.org.