In the lower Yakima River, lack of scouring spring floods, low summer flows, and abundant nutrients have created conditions for an aquatic native plant, water stargrass, to become much more abundant.  Dense mats of water stargrass slow down the water causing it to warm, trap fine sediment and grow over spawning gavels inhibiting their use by fall chinook, create habitat for invasive species, and cause dramatic swings in dissolved oxygen levels, all of which create poor to lethal conditions for our native salmonids. Benton Conservation District has lead the charge from the early alarm on this nuisance plant taking over the lower Yakima River, since then many partners have been working to figure out how to handle this extensive issue. In 2024, a drought lead to increase efforts to combat the plant and the momentum isn’t slowing down. The Water Stargrass Coalition is actively and effectively identifying the programmatic approach and actions needed to return the lower river to past conditions.