3rd Phase Of Yakima River Basin Clears Senate

On Tuesday, the Senate passed the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III.  The legislation authorizes an integrated and collaborative approach to addressing water challenges in the Yakima Valley.  Senator Maria Cantwell said this bill is a model for water management in the 21^st century.  She noted that it ensures that multiple interests are represented when decisions are made.

“We are not going to divide people, and choose farming over fish, we’re not going to divide people and choose one aspect of the environment over the other.  It says we’re going to look to smart, holistic, cost-effective ways to preserve more water across our state and country.

Cantwell added the legislation is vital as communities throughout the West are impacted by drought and climate change.  She noted water issues are not going away anytime soon, so this legislation becomes even more important.

“This legislation represents important new tools, to fight those challenges, and to move forward, in a way that I think will prove to be an example of what we should be doing in other parts of the United States," Cantwell said.

The news of the passage was welcomed by Central Washington representative Dan Newhouse.

"I congratulate Senator Cantwell on securing Senate passage of the bipartisan lands package that includes the legislation we worked on to authorize the next phase of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan,” said Newhouse. “I will continue to work across party lines to support House passage and send this bill to President Trump to sign into law.”

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