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            Benefits developed in the Storage Study indicate that Black Rock Reservoir creates a surplus of approximately 600 thousand acre/feet of water in the Yakima River for fish and instream flow, but it only projects an increase of 69.0001 fish coming back to the river and its tributaries to spawn based on modeling for Black Rock. Historically salmon and steelhead runs have declined from an estimated 800,000 fish to less than 5% of this number.  With Roza and Sunnyside Irrigation Projects served with water from the Columbia River, the reaches of the Yakima River that have been de-watered can be partially restored and passage over the existing reservoirs can be created.2

            With the excess water available in the Yakima River managed by the Yakama Nation, the State and Federal Departments of Fisheries and the Bureau of Reclamation, habitat along the river can be rewatered opening miles of new habitat.  Operations that exist now such as the flip flop and the less than normal flow in the upper Yakima and Cle Elum Rivers can be eliminated.

            With the additional water remaining in the five existing reservoirs, fish ladders could become a reality, opening many miles of habitat in the upper Cle Elum, Wapatus, Cooper and other rivers and streams that have been inaccessible for years.

            The Yakama Nation, using the Cle Elum Supplementation and Research Facility, can restore the Sockeye and Coho runs in the Yakima Basin, Sockeye Salmon can be reestablished in Lake Cle Elum.  The historical level of Sockeye Salmon production in the original Lake Cle Elum is estimated to be about 31,125 fish (Yakama Nation et al. 1990).  Based upon the current lake which is larger with a much greater surface area the estimate can be expanded to 58,783 adults.3

            The present worth calculations developed by the BOR in the Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study: Plan Formulation Phase estimates an additional 69,000 coming back to the Yakima Basin.  With the additional habitat, water managed to create a more normal flow in the Yakima River (no more gimmicks), passage into and above the existing reservoirs, and the elimination of water short years, YBSA through their research believes a minimum of 200,000 fish will return.

            Using the value per fish4 used in the BOR study for fishery use and nonuse the additional fish returning will have values of at least $100 million for fishery use and approximately $2.6 billion fishery nonuse.

1. Yakima River Basin Water Storage Feasibility Study, Washington, November 2006; pg 59.
2. As reported in the Reaches Project by Jack A. Stanford et al. October 4, 2002;
3. Draft 36 for core team review 30 Nov. 2006, summary of smolt production in the Cle Elum Lake.
4. Valuing multiple programs to improve fish population for the Washington State Department of Ecology by Gardner M. Brown Jr. et al., April 1999.

Note: Modeling is only as accurate as the design of the model and the accuracy of the input by the operator.