YAKIMA, Wash. - Federal, state, local and Tribal partners announce the completion of the Schaake Habitat improvement project -- a critical component of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. This project restores an important reach of the Yakima River and provides meaningful benefits to fish in the basin.
“We have strong partnerships and will continue to coordinate with our 40 plus partners, including city, county, state, federal, and Tribal agencies; water users; local industry; and nearby landowners on future projects in the Yakima basin," said Lorri Gray, Reclamation regional director. “We are also grateful to the City of Ellensburg and Twin City Foods who are partnering with Reclamation on a land exchange that will add more acreage to our floodplain restoration efforts," added Gray.
This project is one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the Yakima River basin. It restores natural processes and opens approximately 130 acres of floodplain on the left bank of an approximately two-mile reach of the Yakima River south of Ellensburg, Wash. Additionally, it will create and enhance 40 acres of wetlands.
“The completion of this project is yet another example of how collaboration between so many parties can accomplish projects that benefit many interests," said Joe Blodgett, Yakama Klickitat Fisheries project coordinator. “Specifically, for our fisheries goals, this project creates opportunities for many native fish to utilize the habitat and have improved water quality which is beneficial in restoring important fish populations."
Project activities included the following:
* Constructing a flood protection berm approximately 3 feet high by 0.7 mile long and removing 0.9 miles of existing levee.
* Creating additional wetland through natural processes over the long term.
* Enhancing perennial side channels by excavating approximately 0.8 miles of existing depressions and increasing flow connectivity to over 1 mile of existing side channels that are seasonally connected.
* Connecting backwater areas and existing floodplain ponds.
* Improving flow connectivity to approximately 0.3 miles of existing alcoves by establishing a perennial downstream connection.
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Maintaining protection for Interstate 90, the City of Ellensburg Wastewater Treatment Facility, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, and Wilson Creek through and downstream of the Schaake property.
“The completion of the Schaake project allows the mighty Yakima River to flow freely to restore the natural habitat to improve salmon fisheries and reduce flood damage risk," said Tom Tebb, Office of Columbia River, Department of Ecology director.
The Bureau of Reclamation joined local and state partners along with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation in a virtual event celebrating the completion of the Schaake Habitat Improvement Project in the Yakima basin. The video is available on Reclamation’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/GNI12oDTEDw.
For more information about the Schaake Habitat Improvement Project, please visit https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/phase2/schaake/index.html. To learn more about the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, please visit https://yakimabasinintegratedplan.org/.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
