THORP, Wash. – Partners of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan announced on Friday the completion of its acquisition of the Springwood Ranch to improve water resources for fish, families and more in the Yakima Basin.
Partners include the Trust for Public Land, Yakama Nation, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Kittitas County and the Kittitas Reclamation District.
A press release says purchase was made because of a portion of the property that could be used to develop an off-channel water reservoir that can store water during droughts. The Kittitas Reclamation District will own that portion of the property while other partners work on a study on the feasibility of the reservoir.
“We are proud to convey the Springwood Ranch to partners who will ensure this land will be managed to advance the many-faceted goals of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan,” said Trust for Public Lands Northwest Director Mitsu Iwasaki. “We are deeply grateful to the Washington State Legislature for its willingness to continue its decade-long support of the Integrated Plan, particularly for the funding for the Springwood Ranch acquisition.”
The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan is a collaborative effort between local, tribal, private, state, federal and environmental entities to improve water resources for fish, families, farms and forests in the Yakima Basin.
The ranch will not immediately be open to the public as fences and signs need to be installed and public areas need to be designated so they don’t get in the way of the reservoir study.
