Yakima River
Washington State Chapter
Media Library
Critics of Yakima Basin’s water-supply plan say officials don’t listen. Kate Prengaman, Yakima Herald, reprinted in Seattle Times, December 28, 2015.
Jay Schwartz and Tom Soeldner: Public loses if water grab legislation passes. Spokesman-Review, Opinion. December 27, 2015.
Split over cost, Roza irrigators scraps plans for Kachess pump system. Kate Prengaman, Yakima Herald. December 16, 2015.
Roza irrigation board ends push for big lake-pump system to help Yakima Basin. Hal Bernton, Seattle Times. December 15, 2015.
Groups request extended public comment time on proposed Kachess Lake Pumping Operation. The Columbia Basin Bulletin. December 11, 2015.
Yakima Basin farmers want more water, sooner. Hal Bernton, Seattle Times. December 5, 2015.
Cantwell measure allows more irrigation in return for fish, land protections. Daniel Jack Chasan, Crosscut. November 30, 2015.
Yakima basin water legislation clears important hurdle. Hal Bernton, Seattle Times. November. 19, 2015.
News Release. Controversy continues over Yakima Water Plan as bill moves through Senate Committee. November 19, 2015.
Saudi Hay Farm in Arizona Tests State’s Supply of Groundwater. Renee Montagne, National Public Radio. November 2, 2015.
Feds say Roza Irrigation District project a possibility. Kate Prengaman, Yakima Herald. October 29, 2015.
Roza Irrigation District to pursue $60M pump system. Kate Prengaman, Yakima Herald. October 15, 2015.
Wanted in Washington: Billions for irrigation, other water projects. Don Jenkins, Capital Press. October 6, 2015.
Draining Lake Kachess: Feds say Roza Irrigation District project a possibility. Kate Prengaman, Yakima Herald. October 29, 2015.
Growers try to recover after Water Theft and Drought devastates their Crops. NBC, September 24, 2015.
Drought forces farmers with junior water rights to get creative. Kate Prengaman, Yakima Herald. September 19, 2015.
Farmers in Yakima upset over mismanaged irrigation systems. Claudia Ramos, KIMA TV. September 11, 2015.
Pumping Water from a Cascades Lake to Irrigate Orchards. Courtney Flatt, Northwest Public Radio. September 9, 2015.
Yakima farmers say mismanaged water made crop losses much worse. Hal Bernton, Seattle Times. September 8, 2015.
News Release. Senator Cantwell meets with Conservationists, Homeowners on controversial federal water legislation for Yakima Basin. August 21, 2015.
Aging Irrigation Systems Lead to Crop Losses in the West. Rowan Moore Gerety, National Public Radio. August 18, 2015.
Work proceeds on $26 million reservoir to boost Roz efficiency. Phil Ferolito, Yakima Herald. August 14, 2015.
Hop estimates up 5.5 million pounds. Dan Wheat, Capital Press. August 13, 2015.
Severe drought leading to water theft in lower valley. Crystal Bui, KIMA TV. August 7, 2015.
Kittitias hay losses in millions from drought. Dan Wheat, Capital Press. August 7, 2015.
Kittitas Valley hay exports slow dramatically. Mike Johnston, Ellensburg Daily Record. July 22, 2015.
Wapato Irrigation Project deserves federal action to ensure water supply. Opinion, Yakima Herald. July 15, 2015.
Water theft is symptom of bigger troubles in Wapato Irrigation Project. Hal Bernton, Seattle Times. July 13, 2015.
The Debate over a Pretty Lake on Snoqualmie Pass. Who’s Right? Ari Cetron, Seattle Magazine. July 2015.
Wapato: Situation growing desperate for Lower Valley water supplier. Ross Courtney, Yakima Herald. July 8, 2015.
Kennewick irrigators express concern about Yakima Basin water plan. Annette Cary. Tri-City Herald. July 8, 2015
A Central Washington Water Project gets Senate Hearing. Courtney Flatt. Northwest Public Radio. July 7, 2015.
News Release: Yakima Water Future: Sierra Club seeks changes in controversial bill. July 6, 2015.
News Release: Controversy surrounds $5 Billion Yakima Water Plan as it moves to Congress. July 6, 2015
Cantwell seeks to advance Yakima River basin water plan. Hal Bernton. Seattle Times. July 1, 2015
Irrigation project driving Red Mountain expansion plans. Kristi Pihl. Tri-City Herald. August 2, 2014, updated June 30, 2015.
Farmers need water and taxpayers need accountability. Opinion (Rep. Hans Dunshee) Seattle Times. June 9, 2015.
Yakima Valley cities take conservation approaches as drought forecasts darken. Kate Prengaman, Yakima Herald. May 29, 2015.
Did port slowdowns bust our hay export boom? Sylvia Kantor, Crosscut. March 16, 2015.
Public can’t afford to subsidize new water projects. Opinion (John Osborn and Ken Hammond), Spokesman-Review. January 4, 2015.
Estella Leopold, Brock Evans. The Yakima Plan is a taxpayer subsidy for irrigators. Seattle Times. December 2, 2013
The fierce politics of water: Negotiating Landscapes. Editorial. (Peter Jackson. Everett Herald. August 4, 2013)
The Wild Cascades Summer/Fall 2013
State funds Yakima Plan “early action items.” Karl Forsgaard.
State purchase of Teanaway lands raises disturbing questions. Rick McGuire.
Editorial: New dams aren’t the way to address water needs. Chris Maykut, Brock Evans and Estella Leopold.
Yakima Plan: Not yet shovel-ready. Karl Forsgaard, The Wild Cascades. Spring, 2013.
New dams aren’t the way to address water needs. Opinion (Chris Maykut, Brock Evans and Estella Leopold), Everett Herald. September 22, 2013
Senate capital budget includes major funding for Yakima Basin. David Lester, Yakima Herald. April 10, 2013.
Yakima Water Plan: the other side of the story. The Water Report. February 15, 2013
(click to view report’s cover)
News Release: Inslee’s First Request Bill Raises Concerns. February 1, 2013.
Inslee wastes no time in pushing for Ag water bill. David Lester, Yakima Herald. January 24. 2013.
Climate Threat to Dams Overlooked by Regulators. KQED. January 11, 2013.
News Release. Green Scissors Report: save tax dollars, stop funding for proposed Yakima Dams, Columbia Basin Irrigation Expansion. November 27, 2012.
Numbers are fishy. LTE (Miles McPhee), Yakima Herald. November 4, 2012.
Water plan takes a big step forward. David Lester, Yakima Herald. October 30, 2012.
News Release: NRC report on U.S. Army Corps of Water infrastructure. October 4, 2012.
Yakima Basin Plan Could Flood Shoreline Community. Courtney Flatt, Northwest Public Radio. September 11, 2012.
Bumping Lake Concerns. Courtney Flatt, Northwest Public Radio. September 11, 2012.
Is irrigation sustainable for Washington farmers? Daniel Jack Chasan, PCC Natural Markets. September 1, 2012.
Five Generations at Our Cabin at Bumping Lake. Chris Maykut, Outdoors West. Fall, 2012.
“A sense of betrayal” in the Yakima Plan. The Wild Cascades. Summer/Fall 2012, pp. 10-12.
Yakima plan flawed from the start. Opinion (Charlie de la Chappelle and Marlin Rechterman) Ellensburg Daily Record. August 9, 2012.
Long-term water fix: Plan would change future of Bumping Lake. Justin Pittman, Ellensburg Daily Record. July 11, 2012
News Release: Left-Right coalition identifies practical steps Congress could take to slash deficits, save natural resources. June 26, 2012.
National recreation area plan a natural fit or folly? David Lester, Yakima Herald. April 17, 2012.
Counties team up to help sell Yakima River Basin water plan. David Lester, Yakima Herald. March 21, 2012.
Gregoire supports Yakima dams. Dan Wheat, Capital Press. March 8, 2012.
Bumping Lake Update, Rick McGuire, The Wild Cascades. Spring issue 2012, pp 11-12.
The Bumping Lake Horror Show. Ed Henderson, The Wild Cascades. Spring issue 2012, p. 12.
Wishful thinking will destroy the Bumping Lake old-growth forest. Ed Henderson, The Wild Cascades. Spring issue 2012, pp 13-14.
National Recreation Area (NRA) Proposal attracts criticism. Karl Forsgaard, The Wild Cascades. Spring issue 2012, p. 15.
News Release: Public comments strongly oppose new irrigation dams in Yakima. March 5, 2012.
Environmental groups fight new Yakima Basin dams. Dan Wheat, Capital Press. January 5, 2012.
News release: 400 Citizens: “No” to new Irrigation Dams and Water Waste. December 30, 2011.
Ancient Forests of Bumping Lake Deserve Wilderness Protection. Brock Evans, Outdoors West. December 28, 2011.
News release: Holiday rush for water projects draws request to slow down. November 23, 2011.
Public soon will have chance to weigh in on basin water plans. David Lester, Yakima Herald. November 16, 2011.
News Release: Conservationists to Congress: Oppose two new dams in Yakima. October 28, 2011.
Enviros flash thumbs down on dams for storage. David Lester, Yakima Herald. October 28, 2011.
News Release: Salazar asked to oppose new dams. September 19, 2011.
Salazar offers support for Yakima Basin Water projects. David Lester, Yakima Herald. September 18, 2011.
News Release: Interior Sec. Salazar to Visit Central WA at Chairman Hastings’ Invitation. September 14, 2011.
More time needed for Yakima River Basin water plan. Mike Johnston, Ellensburg Daily Record. May 4, 2011.
News Release: Conservationists: Yakima Water Plan scoping notice should be reissued. April 25, 2011.
More time asked for public to study $5 Billion water plan. David Lester, Yakima Herald. April 25, 2011.
Inslee tours Sunnyside irrigation improvements. Mike Faulk, Yakima Herald. April 18, 2011.
Lake Cle Elum fish-passage called major milestone. David Lester, Yakima Herald. April 14, 2011.
Conservation groups could back water storage plan. David Lester, Yakima Herald. March 9, 2011.
Flooding Threatens Ancient Forest at Bumping Lake. Marc Bardsley, The Wild Cascades. Winter 2011
Protecting the Teanaway. Karls Forsgaard, Washington Forest Law Center. January 1, 2011.
Future of Yakima River Basin is at stake. David Lester, Yakima Herald. December 16, 2010.
Stakes high in resolving Yakima Basin water issues. David Lester, Yakima Herald. November 4, 2010.
Irrigation districts investing in water conservation. David Lester, Yakima Herald. September 29, 2010.
Bumping Lake ancient forest - One of a Kind. Brock Evans, The Wild Cascades. Summer/Fall 2010.
Water talks begin with cost. David Lester, Yakima Herald. September 23, 2010.
Red Mountain AVA to get Yakima water. Kevin McCullen. Tri-City Herald. June 30, 2010.
News Release: Sierra Club: No new dams in Yakima River Basin – Water future is ocnervation, water markets, and improved efficiencies. July 15, 2009
Damned if we don’t. Ken Olsen, American Legion Magazine. July 1, 2008.
Will dams again rise across the West? Environmentalists urge conservation instead, but some officials weigh idea. Nicholas Geranios, Associated Press. March 3, 2008.
State placing $200 million bet on dam building. Robert McClure, Seattle PI. March 7, 2006.
Columbia River plan may end heated disputes. Craig Welch, Seattle Times. February 15, 2006
News Release: Gov. Greogire proposes $12 million fund to combat drought effects. March 18, 2005.
More water Storage Isn’t the Answer, but there are Solutions. Opinion (Bob Tuck), Yakima Herald. April 1, 2001.
Yakima Valley water plan in danger. James Wallace, Seattle PI. July 20, 1988.
State Ecology chief says water issues top priority. Yakima Herald. April 28, 1988.
Yakima Basin Needs Watershed Planning. David Ortman, Washington Wilderness Coalition (now Washington Wild). August/September 1986. pp 8-9
‘Dams for Fish’ proposal still afloat. David Ortman, Washington Wilderness Coalition (now Washington Wild). June-July 1982.
Taxpayers to shoulder costs of basin water enhancement. Allison Arthur, Ellensburg Daily Record. August 27, 1982.