Summary of Watershed Planning in the Yakima Basin

Yakima River Watershed Council

In March of 1994, the Yakima River Watershed Council formed to develop and implement a plan to provide consistent, adequate water for the diverse economic, cultural and environmental demands in the Yakima River basin both instream and diversionary.  The Council believed mitigating impacts on local economy and land use, while providing a healthy environment for all, required on-going dedication to finding a community common solution.  The plan focused on five complimentary areas as potential solutions:  1) water conservation, transfer and marketing, 2) storage, 3) water quality, 4) habitat restoration, and 5) water management. 

Watershed Planning Act

The Watershed Planning Act (RCW 90-82), passed by the Legislature in 1998,
provides a framework for local citizens, interest groups, and government organizations to identify and address water-related issues in each of Washington’s Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs). 

Tri-County Water Resource Agency and Planning Unit

In 1998 Yakima, Benton and Kittitas counties and the Yakama Nation met to begin watershed planning for water resources in the Yakima basin.  The process was divided into three phases: (1) organization, (2) assessment, and (3) plan development.  The Yakima River Basin Planning Unit met monthly to assess water resources, identify concerns, and develop actions.  In the fall of 1999, the Yakama Nation elected to end their participation in the planning process.  At the conclusion of phase 3, the Planning Unit consisted of representative of all three counties.  The Planning Unit approved the Plan in December 2002 and it was printed in January 2003.  Approval by County Legislative Authorities proved more difficult.  Kittitas County chose to end their association with the Watershed Management Plan and opted-out of the process. 

Implementation Phase IV Amendments

In 2003, the Legislature passed the Watershed Management Plan Implementation Bill (ESHB 1336), amending the Watershed Planning Act.
This bill establishes a fourth phase for watershed implementation and authorizes state funding to support watershed management plan implementation.

Watershed Plan Approval

On November 2, 2005 the Watershed Management Plan Yakima River Basin, January 2003, received final approval by Yakima, Benton and Klickitat county authorities. 

Yakima Basin Water Resources Agency, Coordinating Agency (CA)

In September of 2006, a new intergovernmental agreement was made in accordance with RCW 39.34, forming the Yakima Basin Water Resources Agency.  This agreement was entered into between Benton County, Klickitat County, Yakima County, the City of Yakima, and Roza, Sunnyside Valley, and Yakima-Tieton Irrigation Districts to administer and coordinate the implementation and possible future amendments of the Yakima River Basin Watershed Management Plan. 

Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP)

A Phase 4 grant was signed with the Department of Ecology on September 30, 2006 for the development of a DIP for WRIAs 37, 38, and jurisdictional areas of Yakima County in WRIA 39. As a multi-WRIA plan, funding was available at $125,000 for the first three years and at $75,000 for the final two years.  A 10% local match is required.  ESHB 1336 requires the Department of Ecology to rely on the Watershed Management Plan in determining public interest and use it as the framework for future water decisions.  An implementation plan is required to detail actions laid out in the Watershed Management Plan as well as to define coordination and oversight responsibilities, strategies for carrying out the actions, and supporting activities.

The DIP required under RCW 90.82.043 must be completed within one year of receiving funding in order to receive grants for second through fifth years of the grant. This implementation plan provides the basis for implementing the actions set out in the approved WRIA 37/38/39 Watershed Management Plan.

In accordance with RCW 90.82.043, the DIP must:

• include strategies to provide sufficient water for
• Production agriculture
• Commercial, industrial, and residential use
• Instream flows
• contain timelines to achieve strategies and milestones to measure progress
• define coordination and oversight responsibilities
• describe any needed inter local agreements, rules or ordinances
• describe any needed state or local administrative approvals and permits
• describe specific funding mechanisms

In order to provide citizen input to the DIP, a Water Resources Advisory Committee (WRAC) was formed, primarily from interested members of the former Planning Unit.  Water purveyors were contacted for interest in the DIP process as required by law.  The WRAC and YBWRA must consult with other watershed planning entities to ensure coordination and avoid duplication of effort.

The WRAC approved the DIP in July 2007. The Counties each held public hearings in August and jointly approved the DIP in September 2007.

Implementation Grants

In September YBWRA put out an RFP for Implementation Grants available to Participating Partners of the DIP.  Contracts are being negotiated to provide 50% grants to applicants.

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