Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project

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Yakima Basinwide Tributaries Programmatic Investigation

The purpose of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project (YRBWEP) is to protect, mitigate, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat through strategic water management. This management includes, increased instream flows, improved water quality; protection, creation and enhancement of wetlands, and other habitat improvements within the Yakima Basin. To that end, the Bureau of Reclamation and partners have developed the Yakima River Basin Programmatic Tributary Investigation Report. This report identifies a program of potential tributary enhancement projects. The objectives and benefits of implementing the actions identified in this report are:

Objectives:

  • Identify efficient and effective means to provide tributaries with increased instream flow for fish
  • Assist in recovery of ESA-listed MCR steelhead and Bull Trout

Benefits:

  • Increase efficiency in irrigation water use
  • Improve operational flexibility for agricultural water users throughout the Yakima River basin

Developed with input from State, Federal, Tribal, and local entities the report is similar to previously submitted investigative reports describing enhancement projects such as Taneum Creek and Manastash Creek. These projects achieved YRBWEP goals. The draft programmatic report was released for public comment in April 2018. After a 30-day comment period on the draft report, public comments were incorporated and the final report was submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Natural Resources, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, and the Governor of Washington State on September 4, 2020, and is posted below.

Reports
02/2020 Yakima River Basin Programmatic Tributary Investigation Report PDF 7.85 mb
04/2018 Yakima Basinwide Tributaries Programmatic Investigation Report PDF 4.83 mb

Contact

Craig Haskell
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service YRBWEP Representative
craig_haskell@fws.gov

Bureau of Reclamation
Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project
1917 Marsh Road
Yakima, WA 98901-2058


Last Updated: 9/21/20