Columbia River Pumped Storage Reservoir
Sustaining the Interstate 82 Corridor Economy
The Project
The pumped storage of water from the Columbia River would provide important environmental, economic and recreational benefits for all of Central Washington. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) completed a Feasibility Study which proved the project would provide water for fish, agriculture, and municipal growth. BOR’s Technical Analysis concluded a Columbia River pumped storage reservoir is technically viable.
When flows in the Columbia River are high, water would be pumped to and stored in a reservoir. Water from the reservoir would be used for irrigating Roza and Sunnyside Irrigation Districts which will allow the water currently withdrawn from the Yakima River for out of stream use to remain for instream flow and fish. This means water in the Yakima River could be managed to create a more normal flow. Essentially the reservoir allows the region to borrow some water from the Columbia when it’s not needed and then return it in kind, with fish.
The reservoir in its largest manifestation would hold 1.6 million acre/feet of water. The reservoir would be approximately 24 miles from Yakima and 32 miles from Richland.
Benefits
$ Fish Enhancement: The Yakima River has the potential to be one of the most productive salmon rivers in the lower 48 states. The freed water in the Yakima River, because of a Columbia River pumped storage reservoir, would allow a more normal flow and cooler water in the river. The additional water would create more habitat in the flood plain and fish passage at existing reservoirs. Estimates by Jack Stanford, a world renowned fish biologist, are with the management of freed water from the Yakima Basin Reservoirs and with the use of Columbia River water for out of stream use (irrigation) the increase in the number of anadromous salmonids would range between 500,000 to 1 Million returning annually.
$ Agriculture: Agriculture is Central Washington’s biggest job sector. Columbia pumped storage will guarantee a 70 percent water allocation to junior water rights holders during consecutive drought years. In the 2005 drought there was a loss of almost $250 Million in agricultural production with nearly $1 Billion ripple effect across the State. (Source: Washington State Department of Agriculture) The water made available from pumped storage is essential if the region wants to sustain its $1.3 Billion agriculture economy.
$ Job Creation: Construction of a Columbia pumped storage reservoir and related distribution projects will create 10 to 20 Thousand jobs over the next 5 to 7 years. Projects for fish passage and habitat improvements created by the additional water in the Yakima River will provide hundreds of jobs.
$ Recreation: Columbia pumped storage will be one of the largest flat water recreation sites in eastern Washington. It will be just 35 minutes west of the Tri-Cities and 30 minutes east of Yakima. With this location, it is expected to become a world class resort, offering a wide range of recreation options.
$ Energy: Energy Secretary urges pumped storage investment to support an expanded energy transmission grid. The Columbia pumped storage reservoir would assist in expanding the energy transmission grid and facilitate wind integration. Pumping water from the Columbia River at times of the day when power costs are relatively inexpensive coupled with the use of wind power generation would maximize the “storage battery” value of controllable generation from the reservoir.
$ Economic Development: From world class wineries to high tech companies, Central Washington business development depends on a reliable water supply. Additional freed water in the Yakima River basin will recharge the aquifer. The surface water would be available for continued rural residential growth without depleting water fro senior water rights.
Total Project Costs: Columbia Pumped Storage
$3.152 Billion construction cost
$1.397 Billion mobilization, design and construction contingencies
$1.130 Billion non-contract costs
$5.679 Billion total over 5-7 years
see page 2-52 Yakima River Basin Water Storage Facility Study Final PR/EIS
Increase of Available Water
1.6 Million Acre/Feet with 300,000 Acre/Feet inactive
1.3 Million Acre/Feet available annually for irrigation
Economic Benefits: A More Complete Picture
When recreational benefits are added to economic impacts derived from agriculture, increased salmon stocks, energy production, and facility construction, the Columbia pumped storage reservoir benefits climb substantially. The table below clearly
shows that the Reservoir’s benefits exceed its costs.
| Benefits |
YBSA – Estimated Value |
| Irrigated Agriculture |
$ 930,000,000 |
| Fisheries Use |
$ 100,000,000 |
| Recreation & Resort |
$3,404,000,000 |
| Hydropower |
$ 412,000,000 |
| Municipal & Construction Jobs |
$ 468,000,000 |
| Fisheries Nonuse |
$2,600,000,000 |
| TOTAL |
$7,914,000,000 |
Columbia Pumped Storage: The Time is Now
After numerous water short years and millions of dollars spent fighting over a limited supply of water, it’s time to solve our water problem. Water that is needed to ensure salmon production and stabilize our economy is no longer guaranteed. Changing climate and weather patterns, endangered species, and other factors present huge challenges. We need to think BIG – Columbia pumped storage reservoir represents a win-win solution that sustains our natural environment and economy for the next 100 years. With stimulus money, job creation, pumped storage enhancement of our energy grid and facilitation of wind integration we all should support Columbia River pumped storage for the Yakima River basin.
Yakima Basin Storage Alliance Press Release March 10, 2010
