Bill to increase Yakima River Basin reservoir passes

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed a bill that will start the Yakima River Basin integrated water management plan on Nov. 19. The bill aims to bring measures that would conserve 85,000 acre-feet of water in the Washington reservoir, along with restoring ecosystems and fisheries throughout the basin.

It includes analysis of possible impacts on communities around the lakes, potential fire hazards, water access for fire districts, community and homeowner wells, future water levels based on projected usage, recreational values, property values and includes options and measures for addressing the impacts.

This 10-year plan is the first part of a proposed 30-year plan projected to cost $4 billion.

Yakima Valley irrigation districts are championing the plan as the only way to avoid deep water cutbacks during droughts. Two districts received 46 percent of their normal water allotment this year from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The plan eventually calls for increasing water storage by 450,000 acre-feet. The five reservoirs are currently capable of holding 1 million.

Proponents of the bill say that it’s a national model for watershed management, providing drought relief and resilience in one of Washington’s most productive agricultural regions.