YAKAMA NATION, Wash.- The Bureau of Reclamation is putting over $51 million into rivers and watersheds across the country, including over $7 million just to the Yakima River.
18 projects in eight states, including 5 in Washington and 4 in Oregon, are receiving the funding to study, design and construct infrastructure to aid ecosystem restoration. The funds come from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the WaterSMART program.
A total of $7,520,000 will go to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation to fund four projects along the Yakima River.
The Nation is receiving over $3 million for the Toppenish Creek Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage Project at Pom Pom Road.
Currently, roads, bridges and agriculture are cutting off the creek from the river, impacting federally-restricted fish from healthy water. The money is earmarked for construction of a new bridge and three concrete structures that will reconnect 100 acres of floodplain forests, increase water flow by 270% and allow streams to return to its natural processes.
The Nation is getting $2 million each to address two anadromous fish passages.
The Wapato Diversion passage will look into alternative options to allow fish to pass through uninterrupted. Currently fish being restricted include the federally-threatened Middle Columbia River Steelhead, Chinook, oho, salmon and Lamprey.
Fish passage improvements are also being explored at the Prosser Diversion of the Yakima River. The Chandler Canal provides irrigation water to the Kennewick Division of the river but is diverting over half of the river flow at times.
It’s reported that a lot of smolts, or young salmon, will get caught in the canal and end up dying there. It’s being recommended to remove the dam and headworks to allow multiple species smooth passages.
The fourth Yakama Nation project is around Leavenworth and Nason Creek, where final construction plans are needed to remove and replace a part of State Route 207 from the floodway. The $500,000 funding will help to restore the ecosystem for Chinook salmon, steelhead and bull trout.
“The benefits of these projects are far-reaching in terms of climate resilience and ecosystem restoration benefits,” said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “The work to restore and protect the habitat for fish and wildlife also helps to improve water quality and mitigate impacts of drought and potential flood events.”
The other Washington project getting money is in Chelan County and the Peshastin Historic Channel, where State Route 97’s impact on the stream channel is being studied.
To date, the Bureau of Reclamation has dispersed nearly $3 billion to 421 projects nationwide.
