Yakima Water Future

   Washington State Chapter            advocating for sensible solutions for water scarcity


Box Canyon Creek (bull trout stream) which drains into upper Kachess basin.  Photo: David E. Ortman, October 18, 2015.
Stumps in mudflats between upper and lower Kachess basins.  Photo: David E. Ortman, October 18, 2015.
Freshwater mussels shells along exposed mudflats between upper and lower Kachess basins.  Photo: David E. Ortman, October 18, 2015.


Upper Kachess Basin looking northeast.  Photo: David E. Ortman, October 18, 2015.


Walking along what should be Box Canyon Creek, a stream supporting bull trout.  Photo:  Grant Learned Jr, October 18, 2015
 
Bull Trout habitat, Box Canyon Creek.  Shown are straw bales placed by BuRec where Box Canyon Creek channel enters upper Kachess basin.  The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation had lowered Little Lake Kachess 12 feet below it’s natural lake level, interfering with stream flows and fish passage.  Photo:  Grant Learned Jr,  October 16, 2015.


Straw bales placed by BuRec where Box Canyon Creek channel enters upper Kachess basin.  Photo: David E. Ortman, October 18, 2015.


Freshwater mussels that have died in the mud flats.  Mussels are a food source for wildlife.  As lake levels are lowered, the mussels move into the cracks searching for water before dying.   Photo:  Grant Learned Jr.



Lower Kachess Basin looking south toward dam.  Photo: David E. Ortman, October 18, 2015.




 

Links -

   -  Yakima Water Future

   -  Yakima Document e-Library


Sierra Club Outing to Lake Kachess


Below are photos from our Sierra Club Outing to Lake Kachess, October 18, 2015.  A big thanks to Friends of Lake Kachess for hosting the hike . . . and barbecue!  


In June 2015, the public comment period ended on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the future of Lake Kachess.  Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and WA Dept of Ecology are evaluating pumping plans not included in the DEIS, and therefore cloaking agency decisions from public review.