Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
TOPPENISH, Wash. — Secretary Haaland concluded a multi-day visit to Washington state to highlight progress in implementing President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The initiative aims to protect communities from wildland fires and severe drought, restore ecosystems, and strengthen Tribal communities.
During her visit, Secretary Haaland met with Tribal leaders from the Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and Puyallup Tribe, as well as Bureau of Indian Education-funded staff. She also met with over 50 Yakama Nation firefighters following the 1980 Slide Ranch Fire to discuss resource sharing and resilience efforts.
Secretary Haaland praised collaborative efforts through the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan involving federal, state, Tribal, and local partners. The Yakima River Basin supports over 400,000 people and a $4.5 billion agriculture industry.
She joined Governor Jay Inslee and other leaders to celebrate opening nearly 30 miles of habitat for salmon and steelhead populations above Cle Elum Dam. A juvenile fish facility has been completed through the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, with an adult collection facility groundbreaking taking place today.
In her remarks, Secretary Haaland announced a $16 million investment for drought resilience in the Yakima River Basin through the Inflation Reduction Act. This includes $500 million for conservation efforts in drought-affected basins. Additionally, $40 million has already been invested in the basin from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to making communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “These historic investments will support fish, farms and families who rely on this vital river.”
The funding includes $6 million for the Yakama Nation's Fan Shallow Aquifer Recharge project and additional allocations for other regional projects aimed at increasing drought resilience.
Secretary Haaland also visited Olympic National Park earlier this week. She participated in a seed gathering project funded by $365,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for restoring whitebark pine and other threatened species. She was briefed on restoration efforts at Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge and honored the tenth anniversary of Glines Canyon Dam removal.
More than $28 million from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is being used to rehabilitate recreational spaces across Olympic National Park. Since 2021, GAOA funding has supported nearly 400 projects nationwide.
