What's Happening
For the past several years, collaborative work has been done to improve fisheries, habitat and water quality in the Yakima Basin. Continuation of this work relies on getting salmon and steelhead past Bateman Island, which sits at the mouth of the Yakima Delta at the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia rivers. A man-made causeway on the south side of the island completely blocks flows, leading to very warm water temperatures west of the island.
Why It Matters
The warm water provides ideal conditions for exotic species that prey on juvenile salmon in the spring and makes it difficult for adult salmon to swim upstream in the summer. Elevated water temperatures also encourage algal blooms, Water stargrass growth, pathogen growth, and encourage mosquitoes, degrading water quality. Beginning in 2016, the current stakeholder and rights holder partners joined forces to further develop a workable plan to address these issues and in 2019, the project was chosen by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers as a Ecological Restoration project under its authority to restore degradation caused by their activities. More information can be found here.
Next Steps
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have partnered on an ecosystem restoration feasibility study along the Lower Yakima River in Richland, Washington. This project is being conducted under the Continuing Authorities Program, Section 1135.
The purpose of this project is to restore ecosystem structure, function, and processes necessary for fish migration (particularly juvenile salmonids) that was degraded or lost following the construction and continuous operation of McNary Lock and Dam and the Tri-Cities Levees. The project goal is to restore riparian and aquatic habitat and ecosystem functions for the benefit of Endangered Species Act-listed salmonids, other fish, birds, and wildlife in the study area at the Yakima River Delta and, where possible, provide education and recreation access.
USACE conducted the public review from January 30 to April 10, 2023. All comments have been addressed and incorporated into the final report. Links to the final feasibility report and integrated environmental assessment, appendices, and signed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), are at the right-hand side of this page.
The next phase will be Design and Implementation, with anticipated co-sponsorship of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife along with Yakama Nation.
Local partners will also be working to develop new opportunities with local support to determine next steps on this and other recreational interests. At the core of the project is a commitment to public engagement. We recognize that there’s a broad community invested in the outcomes of this project and we share their commitment to the long-term health of the Yakima River delta. We will continue to engage with the local community to determine next steps!
Partners
A project of this scope is made possible through the active dedication of the following organizations including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, acting as the non-Federal sponsor of the project, the Yakama Nation, the Confederate Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the City of Richland, NOAA Fisheries, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, the Washington Department of Ecology, the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, and the owners of the Columbia Park Marina and a diverse group of community members dedicated to environmental and community development issues in the region.
Want to Get Involved?
The Corps of Engineers is currently accepting public comment on its Draft Feasibility Study published on January 30, 2023 through March 10, 2023. Visit this external link to learn more:
https://www.nww.usace.armymil/missions/projects/yakima-
Want to reach out?
Contact Merritt Mitchell at [email protected] for more information.
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