News Release Archive

Final EIS for the Cle Elum Pool Raise Project Released

Media Contact: Candace McKinley, (509) 575-5848 ext. 232, cmckinley@usbr.gov
Derek Sandison, dsan461@ecy.wa.gov

For Release: May 08, 2015

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Bureau of Reclamation and Washington State Department of Ecology have completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cle Elum Pool Raise Project (CEPR), which is being released in anticipation of its formal filing with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 15, 2015. The CEPR is a component of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (Integrated Plan).

The Final EIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act. The Final EIS evaluates four alternatives to increase the capacity of the reservoir by modifying the radial gates, providing shoreline protection and environmental mitigation, in addition to the No Action Alternative. Public comments received on the Draft EIS are responded to in the Final EIS.

Reclamation and Ecology have identified Alternative 3, Additional Storage Capacity for Instream Flow with Hybrid Shoreline Protection, as the Preferred Alternative. Under Alternative 3, Reclamation would improve instream flows in the lower Cle Elum River and in downstream reaches of the Yakima River. The Cle Elum Pool Raise Project is authorized under Title XII of the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 1994 also known as the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase II. Alternative 3 would also employ a hybrid shoreline protection strategy.

"This is an important milestone for the Cle Elum Pool Raise Project and the Yakima Integrated Plan," Columbia-Cascades Area Manager Dawn Wiedmeier said. "Reclamation looks forward to continuing to partner with Ecology on this and other Integrated Plan projects."

The NEPA process concludes with a Record of Decision (ROD) which may be issued by Reclamation 30 days after publication in the Federal Register by the EPA. The ROD documents Reclamation's decision on the proposed action and describes the rationale used in making the decision.

Copies of the document have been mailed to those who have requested one, as well as area Tribes and local, state, and federal agencies. In addition, copies are available at Reclamation and Ecology offices, and local libraries. Copies of the report may be obtained by calling (509) 575-5848, ext. 232, or at: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/cleelumraise/index.html .

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

http://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/eis/cleelumraise/index.html