The Yakima Tributary Access and Habitat Program (YTAHP) works on Yakima River tributaries to re-establish fish passage, screen diversions, increase in-stream flow and enhance riparian and in-stream habitat.  Section 2.1.2 of the Yakima Subbasin Plan Supplement (Nov.26,2004. pg.8) speaks to limiting factors in the Yakima Subbasin and attributes the declines of aquatic species to “low flows; obstruction to fish migration and entrainment; diminished habitat quantity, quality and diversity; high temperatures; altered sediment transport; and degraded channel stability”.  (Yakima Sub-basin map page 14)

YTAHP developed from a number of groups engaged in watershed management, and/or habitat restoration within the Yakima River Basin. These groups include the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Kittitas County Conservation District, North Yakima Conservation District, Kittitas County Water Purveyors, the Yakama Nation, and Ahtanum Irrigation District. The US Bureau of Reclamation and the Yakama Nation participate in the development of many YTAHP projects.  The South Central Washington Resource Conservation and Development Council administers the program at the local level.

YTAHP has concentrated on tributaries upstream of Union Gap where salmonids are known to have occurred historically.  Streams have been surveyed for fish passage barriers, analyzed for screening of diversions, and assessed for habitat quality using WDFW’s  Salmonid Screening, Habitat Enhancement, and Restoration (SSHEAR) protocol. The SSHEAR assessments provide index numbers to facilitate prioritization of passage and screening projects; YTAHP participants also bring practical knowledge and local perspective, including land ownership and water rights, to the table. Projects are not prioritized strictly by SSHEAR index numbers, rather, the merits of each project are discussed by YTAHP participants in consideration of technical difficulty, funding availability, timing relative to agricultural and fish concerns, landowner/irrigator willingness to participate, and the likelihood of accomplishing a given project.

In general, projects on tributaries are prioritized sequentially, moving upstream from the confluence with the Yakima River; as projects are completed, the regained habitat is connected to the mainstem and available to anadromous fish.  At times projects may appear out of sequence but do fit in the context of multi-year planning.  YTAHP uses BPA funds to leverage cost share funds from a variety of other sources, thus expanding the funding pie.  For passage projects, YTAHP works with local landowners and irrigation water delivery entities who voluntarily participate.  BPA funds are used only for planning, design, permitting and implementation.  There are no changes to facility ownership status or operation and maintenance responsibilities resulting from YTAHP work.  BPA takes on no responsibilities for ownership or O&M.

FOR FY 14, SOME PROJECTS ARE SLATED FOR IMPLEMENTATION THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE COMPLETED UNDER THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT FOR VARIOUS REASONS - LANDOWNER, DESIGN OR CULTURAL CLEARANCE ISSUES.  SEVERAL NEW PROJECTS HAVE ALSO BEEN ADDED.  ON THE SOW TAB, NEW WORK ELEMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED AS SUCH BY THE WORD "NEW" IN THE WE TITLE.

CCR 33933 Update - The EWC-Coleman Creek project will not happen in this contract cycle due to delays in acquiring the necessary construction easements for the project. The Ellensburg Water Company is negotiating with the landowners and acquired all but one of the easements.  The remaining easement is with the primary landowner whose home is within feet of the construction site and who will have to endure construction equipment for a significant period of time immediately outside their home. Offers have been made, but the landowner only indicated it was not adequate and did not counter offer.  Their newly acquired attorney is working to appraise the property for easement payment and to value the inconvenience, however that process has not moved quickly enough to start construction with time for completion before the next irrigation season.