2007 Upper Yakima River
Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan

Table of Contents

The 2007 Upper Yakima River Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan (Plan) is a policy document which contains recommended actions or policy changes to reduce flood hazards in a comprehensive fashion. The study area for this plan includes the Yakima River from the Yakima County northern boundary to Union Gap and along the Naches River from Twin Bridges on US Highway 12 to its mouth. The Plan identified flooding issues in order to gain an understanding of flood hazard management alternatives and develop a flood hazard management program to address these issues.

The Plan was adopted by the Board of Yakima County Commissioners on June 19, 2007, after a study session and an open house. The City Council of Selah adopted the Plan on June 26, 2007 after a study session was held on April 24, 2007.  The other Cities within the planning area, Yakima, and Union Gap, may also adopt the Plan.  Study sessions for those Cities have already occurred.

Since 1894, the flow in the Yakima River has exceeded flood level 47 times. Since 1970 the area was declared a federal disaster area due to flooding 8 times in 27 years. At this time Yakima County has one of only two remaining Army Corps certified levee systems within the state. The ability of flood protection facilities to withstand erosion and overtopping by floodwaters is a continuing concern. Countywide damage from the 1996 flood alone was 18 million dollars.

This 2007 Plan is an update of the 1998 Upper Yakima River Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan. Between the adoption of the 1998 Plan, and 2002, a number of significant changes occurred which impacted the 1998 Plan recommendations. In this 2007 Plan the ability of flood protection facilities to withstand erosion and overtopping by floodwaters was a primary consideration within the recommendations.

Recommendations modified from 1998 directly relate to the enhanced understanding of the dominant processes driving flood hazards that came to light as part of the SR 24 Bridge permitting process, and the need to assess the impacts of current levees and potentially relocated levees.

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