Water Conservation

• Most Districts Have Completed Initial Water Conservation Plans
• Several Plans in the Feasibility Phase
• Willing Participants Only
• Two Districts Currently Entering the Implementation Phase
• 2/3 Conserved Water to Instream Flow
• 1/3 Conserved Water to Irrigation

Conservation

• Conveyance water
• Change of use of the water
• Not new water
• Only affects the reach it was used in
• Allows for better management of the water

Sunnyside Conservation

• Adjudication Court Settlement
• Reregulating Reservoirs
• Automated Check Structures

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• Reach By Reach Improvements
• Canal Automation/Reregulating Reservoirs
• Canal Lining/Pressurized Laterals
• On-Farm Improvements/Scheduling
• Tiered Pricing

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Benton Conservation

• Change in Point of Diversion
• New Pressurized Pump System

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Yakama Nation Programs

• Toppenish Corridor Project
• Wapato Irrigation Project Improvements
• Demonstration Project

Toppenish Corridor Project

• Plans in the Final Completion Phase
  • Prioritizing Components
  • Completing Engineering Construction Estimates

Wapato Irrigation Project Improvements

• Plan Completed
• Tribal Council Approval Completed
• Satus Pumping Plant

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Wapatox Water Right Acquisition

• Key Aggraded Reach
• Critical Location for Steelhead
• Instream Flow Issues

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Critical Reaches Study

• Identify & Prioritize Critical River Reaches
• Provide Recommendations On Where to Purchase Water & Land
• Provide Scientific Rationale for Restoring Habitat
• Provide a Baseline and Protocol for Long-Term Monitoring
• Aerial Photo Analysis and GIS Mapping

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Wenas Creek Tributary

• Priority Cultural Site – Yakama Nation Village Site Requiring Protection
• Approximately 1 Stream Mile
• Electrofishing Results Indicate that Fish are Actively Using this Habitat
• Very Little Connected Backwater Habitat in Entire Selah Reach
• Return Flow Provides Habitat During Significant Portions of Summer Also

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Gap to Gap Reach

• Unique Key Location Below Confluence of Naches and Yakima Rivers
• Key Staging Area for Anadromous Outmigrants
• High Value Habitat Diversity and Food Source
• Wetland Replacement (Mitigation) Area - Water Conservation

Gap to Gap Reach

• High Value Habitat Diversity and Food Source Area
• YRBWEP Acquired Backwater Habitat is Improving
• Yakima County’s Levee Setback Progressing
• WashDOT’s Highway 24 Bridge Wide-Span Replacement Project has been Completed

Aerial of Union Gap

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YAKIMA RIVER BASIN

• “The Greatest Thing In This World Is Not So Much Where We Are, But In What Direction We Are Moving”
• O. Wendell Homes