Home

History

Specifications

Environment

Economics

Recreation & Tourism

Energy Production

Salmon Recovery

Agriculture

Benefits & Jobs

Archives

 

 

ARCHIVES 

YBSA Requests a Delay of the “Record of Decision”

 

YBSA concurs with Benton and Yakima Counties request that further work be done on a comprehensive and integrated approach of the Black Rock Alternative before a “Record of Decision” is made on the Yakima River Basin Storage Feasibility Study.  Attached is the letter from YBSA to the Bureau of Reclamation requesting the Bureau identify and analyze the least cost alternative for Yakima River Basin water supply.  After reviewing our comments, we feel an additional review needs to be completed before a “Record of Decision” is made.


For Additional Information on the Request go to Current Issues Link

Letter for Review of "Record of Decision"

Comments on Storage Study


Visit Our Sister Site for Information About Black Rock
See New Informational Video on bottom left of page
(Use the Link Below)
         www.futureofourvalley.com


Yakima Basin Storage Alliance believes the rest of the story has to be told about the benefits of Black Rock Reservoir and how the "no action" recommendation places the Yakima Basin where it was years ago with insufficient water to meet the needs of fish, agriculture, and municipal growth. (see link below)


YES IT CAN
No Action = No Future


PRESS RELEASE


Yakima Basin Storage Alliance believes the no action alternative dooms the Yakima River Basin with insufficient water to meet the needs of fish, out of stream use, and municipal growth.

 

"We have been studying our diminishing water supply for decades, and the Black Rock study was a hoop we had to jump through get the water-exchange pump-storage concept on the table.

 

We consider the federal study a success. It tells us that the Black Rock Reservoir and water distribution system are technically feasible, and can be built. Black Rock is the only option that meets all the water supply criteria established by Congress.

 

We learned that, in an attempt to create a growing economy and thousands of jobs, we really established the potential of dramatic environmental restoration and up to a million returning salmon in our Yakima River system.

 

We also learned that the federal study process is so restricted that it can only look back, and that the major values that come with a consistent future supply of water are fish production and recreation. Since the Bureau of Reclamation couldn't look forward to the climate changes that are undeniably occurring, and can't project the value of salmon production or investments in recreation, the study only tells part of the story..

 

We agree with the study that the Black Rock concept is not a good buy if you can only look at history, but if you look to the future and accurately measure the broad base of potential benefits, we can't afford not to move ahead.

 

One area of disappointment: two federal agencies in direct conflict at taxpayer expense. The Bureau of Reclamation, with successful dam construction throughout the western United States, reports in detail that seepage from the reservoir at Black Rock can be effectively recovered and reused. The Department of Energy disagrees and claims a threat to underground water tables at Hanford, with no detail. This conflict needs to be resolved.

 

Perhaps a second disappointment is the recently released study by the State Department of Ecology. They miss the point entirely. There is not enough water in the Yakima Basin to satisfy the needs of the future, let alone the past, yet they continue to give hope to in-basin band-aids that have been turned down for years, even where they violate existing state policy.

 

Bottom line: we are tired of studying. The 'status quo' does not work for anyone. The Bureau of Reclamation has given us new tools that offer hope. We can build a water future for this Yakima River Basin, or we can fail. If you think Black Rock is expensive, you should see the cost of doing nothing. 


Sid Morrison
Chair, Yakima Basin Storage Alliance  

Effects of Potential Future Warming on Runoff in the Yakima River Basin, Washington (Use the Link Below)

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Prepared in cooperation with the
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
By Mark C. Mastin


http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2008/5124/



Why Black Rock Reservoir?

 

To help restore Salmon in the Yakima River and stabilize water supplies for Basin Irrigation and Municipalities.  That will be done with a one-to-one inter-basin water transfer from the Columbia River to major Yakima Basin irrigation districts, via the yet to be built Black Rock Reservoir.  The irrigation water diverted out of the Yakima will be significantly reduced, hence the water that remains could be used to naturalize the Yakima River hydrograph.  Funding the construction of Black Rock Reservoir and critical fish passage and habitat on the Yakima will maximize Salmon Recovery in the Yakima River.  By doing so, a wonderful recreation site and hydropower storage options will be created at Black Rock.


The Bureau of Reclamation has been authorized by Congress to do the following:

  • Improve anadromous fish habitat by restoring the flow regimes of the Yakima and Naches Rivers in the Yakima Basin to more closely resemble the natural (unregulated) hydrograph.
  • Improve the water supply for proratable irrigation water rights in dry years by providing not less than 70-percent irrigation water supply during dry years at diversions subject to proration.
  • Meet future municipal water supply needs by maintaining a full municipal water supply for existing users and providing additional surface water for population growth to the year 2050.

It’s Time!

 

One-hundred years ago our forefathers envisioned and created the existing reservoir system.  This fulfilled our needs, but now the Yakima Basin has water needs that outstretch that system.  It’s time to develop new water storage to meet the needs of the next one-hundred years.  Black Rock Reservoir is the answer.



 










Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District equalization reservoir being built North of Granger.
     The normal operating level of the reservoir will be 1/2 full to leave room for excess water to provide additional water when needed to meet irrigation demands.
     www.svid.org



Bureau of Reclamation Website
     Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study
Upper Columbia Area Office


 Continue to Prosper

A benefit that is being totally ignored in the Storage Study is the provision of available water to meet the needs of our citizens.  Without a guaranteed supply of water our future is threatened.  Property values will decrease, gound water will be reduced or eliminated in some areas, and without water our beautiful basin will begin returning to its natural state: "desert".

What value should be given to a solution that provides the water necessary for continued prosperity for our future generations?
                                 Return to a "Desert"









Opinion Editorial from Yakima Herald Republic
by Sid Morrison 4/13/08

Yakima Basin Storage Alliance Comments on the Yakima River Basin Storage Feasibility EIS Draft 3/31/2008

Ted Strong's Comments on the Yakima River Basin Storage Feasibility EIS Draft 3/31/2008

Purpose of and Need for Action

The Black Rock Project

 

The Storage Study Needs to Consider the Following

Prior to Calculating the Cost/Benefit Ratio

 

© Copyright 2004-2007, Yakima Basin Storage Alliance All rights reserved.