Aerial photo with center of photo being the berm. This photo was taken at a 2 year flow event at project site.
Project
The Yakima River at RM 149 had a large berm restricting historic channel migration of the Yakima River. This berm restricted normal changes in the Yakima River, resulting in a simplified river channel that disconnects it from large portions of the adjacent floodplain. The purpose of this project was to remove the mid-section of the berm to improve channel migration. This action over time will improve river function and enhance fish habitat by allowing the river to revert to historic connectivity with the adjacent floodplain and riparian habitat.
The project objectives are to:
· Increase floodplain connectivity during high flows
· Increase river complexity
· Improve fish habitat
Berm removal completed Fall 2023!
The project was completed in October 2023. Contact Mike Bosko, [email protected], for more information. Check back next year for project updates!