The Yakama Reservation Watershed Project has completed numerous restoration actions since 1996 in the Satus, Toppenish, and Ahtanum Watersheds-- all tributaries of the Yakima River.  These actions targeted ESA listed Middle Columbia Steelhead as well as other anadromous and resident fish species.  Under this contract, we intend to design and implement projects to further enhance fish habitat.

In FY2026 we plan to implement several restoration projects. Importantly, the majority of construction funding for these projects comes from outside agencies. Below you will find a list of project descriptions that are planned for the 2026 fish window.

1. Pom Pom RM 40 Restoration ($32,000 BPA Funds, BOR, RCO, YN Engineering)- Toppenish Alluvial Fan: This project will re-route the mainstem of Toppenish Creek into historic floodplain channels to bypass a reach of extreme incision. The new alignment will engage with a groundwater spring, which will aide in temperature regulation and water retention.  In stream complexity and floodplain roughness will be introduced to the new channel and surrounding riparian zone.

2. Satus Creek Wood Loading RM 23 (NRCS, BIA, PCSRF [NOAA]): Six engineered log structures will be constructed in Satus Creek to add complexity to a reach with relatively low wood counts. The structures will create pools, increase cover habitat for steelhead, and increase side channel activation.

3. Snake Creek Passage Enhancement (NOAA)- Lower Toppenish Creek: A fish screen will be constructed on a distributary channel of Toppenish Creek to prevent entrainment of juvenile salmonids. Additionally, two rock check structures will be replaced with roughened channels to allow for full passage of all life stages. Lastly, a partial barrier culvert will be replaced with a fully passable structure.

4. Lateral A Fish Screen (USFWS)- Lower Toppenish Creek: An outdated fish screen will be replaced with a cast-in-place concrete structure that host a fish screen and slide gates to prevent entrainment of juvenile salmonids into a wetland complex managed for migratory waterfowl habitat. This will be similar to the Lawrence Ditch Project completed in FY 2025.

5. Starvation Flats Phase 3 (BIA)- Satus Creek Headwaters: Starvation Flats is headwater meadow of Satus Creek and is an important storage vessel for cool, clean water within the watershed. This project will entail aggerating material within the streambed to reduce incision and push water out into the meadow. This will allow the landscape to hold water for longer in the spring/ early summer, which will improve temperature conditions for salmonids downstream.