DESCRIPTION
Trout Unlimited (TU) and the Kittitas
Reclamation District (KRD) are partnering to complete a water conservation
project to supplement stream flows and provide meaningful water for fish passage and habitat in critical
Upper Yakima River tributaries. This project will utilize existing water
conveyance infrastructure for a non-traditional solution to keep streams alive
and provide fish benefits. KRD is in the process of implementing System Wide
Water Conservation practices in areas of its water distribution system with
significant seepage (aka – conveyance loss).
This project will provide funding toward the
conservation practices to conserve water for use as streamflow in flow-limited
reaches of ESA-threatened Steelhead Critical Habitat. A unique feature of this
project is simple and easy scalability which allows conservation measure
implementation based on the amount of funding received annually. WWP anticipates
a cost/acre-foot of water conserved for streamflows at approx.
$5,225/acre-foo
Trout Unlimited (TU) and the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD) are partnering to complete a water conservation project to supplement stream flows and provide meaningful water for fish passage and habitat in critical Upper Yakima River tributaries. This project will use funds to line a water conveyance canal to eliminate leaks and provide a non-traditional solution to keep streams alive and provide fish benefits. KRD is in the process of implementing South Branch Canal Water Conservation practices in the Manastash Creek area where the canal has significant seepage (conveyance loss). This project will provide funding toward the conservation practices to conserve water for use as streamflow in flow-limited reaches of ESA-threatened Steelhead Critical Habitat. A unique feature of this project is simple and easy scalability which allows conservation measure implementation based on the amount of funding received annually. TU anticipates approx. $6,600/AF of water conserved for streamflows to allow for approx. 0.125 cfs (~45 af/yr) for streamflow to any of Manastash, Taneum, Tillman, Tucker, SpexArth, LIttle, and Big Creeks. The flow, delivered through metered turnouts in the current KRD infrastructure to the streams, may vary in time and quantity based on annual stream needs. Water delivery decisions are made through a committee recommendation informed by WDFW monitoring. In-season adjustments are recommended by WDFW. This project will benefit juvenile and adult anadromous fish.