Cantwell’s Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Bill Moves To House

On Wednesday the U.S. Senate passed Maria Cantwell’s Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Act.  The bill provides funding for several projects intended to help Central Washington in low water years.  Joye Redfield Wilder with the Washington Department of Ecology says 2015 was a great example of how challenging a drought year can be for more than just the agriculture industry.  She said the Yakima River Basin Act will provide funding for several initial projects over the next three decades.

“For instance, raising the reservoir at Cl Elum by three feet gains, gives us more water to capture and it isn’t a huge expensive project like trying to build a new reservoir or whole new dam.”

Redfield-Wilder said this funding will allow local stake holders to remain proactive.

“We saw that cooperative effort, we saw irrigators in Kittitas Valley, releasing water to help the fish and then having it come back in to their system then it was able to help the farmers.”

In addition to work at the Cle Elum Pool, the Act would also fund groundwater recharge projects, the Wapato Irrigation Project as well as upkeep and environmental compliance efforts.  With the Senate’s vote, the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Act moves to the House.

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