7. GORTON INTRODUCES YAKIMA EXCHANGE PROPOSAL
A Northwest senator is seeking a federal feasibility study of pumping
irrigation water from the Columbia River in exchange for reducing
diversions from the Yakima River.
Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., introduced legislation on March 2 on behalf
of local irrigators, who say it would aid fish restoration in the lower
Yakima River.
The amendment to the 1994 Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Act would
direct the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct an engineering feasibility
study of the proposed water exchange in lieu of the planned
electrification of the hydraulic driven Chandler Pumping Plant at
Prosser Diversion Dam.
The bureau would prepare a report that describes project benefits,
contains feasibility level designs and cost estimates, “and secures the
critical right-of-way areas” for a pipeline from the Columbia River.
Also, the agency would prepare an environmental assessment and any other
studies or investigations “necessary to develop a water exchange.”
At a Senate subcommittee hearing on budget issues this week, Gorton
asked reclamation Commissioner Eluid Martinez to support the measure.
Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., is considering introducing the legislation
in the House.
The new system, estimated to cost $52 million, would eliminate the
Kennewick Irrigation District’s diversion from the Yakima River at
Prosser Dam, increasing base flows from 400 cubic feet to 1020 cubic
feet per second in the Prosser-Wanawish Reach in low water years.
Plans to electrify the Yakima pumping station has been put on hold
pending the Columbia water exchange study.
The proposal also would replace most of the Columbia Irrigation
District’s diversion from the Yakima River at Wanawish Dam, increasing
flows in the Wanawish-mouth reach of the Yakima from 1020 to 1220 cfs.
Fish benefits expected in the 47-mile stretch of the lower Yakima River
include improved habitat, water quality and food supply and a faster
smolt out-migration that would help them avoid predators, according to
Kennewick Irrigation District officials.
The project outline calls for installation of a dozen electric pumps
that would require 60 million kilowatts of power.
Preliminary results from a lower reach habitat study conducted for the
irrigation district indicate the improved flows would greatly help
salmon survival and benefit bull trout in the reach.
District officials said the feasibility study is supported by the Yakima
Indian tribe, local Bureau of Reclamation officials, National Marine
Fisheries Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bonneville Power
Administration, Washington departments of fish and wildlife and ecology,
Northwest Power Planning Council, the cities of Kennewick and Richland
and American Rivers.
The proposal is modeled after successful salmon restoration efforts on
the Umatilla River in eastern Oregon. The $50 million federal project
also used the Columbia River as a replacement source for irrigation
water that had been diverted from the Umatilla River.
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