The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), in conjunction with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), are focusing on the restoration and management of a viable ecosystem within the Walla Walla River Basin. This Feasibility Report/Environmental Impact Statement (FR/EIS) will evaluate and recommend those alternatives that will contribute significantly to established restoration objectives; most benefit biological resources and natural ecosystem functions and processes; and be technically feasible and cost effective.

Many factors have contributed to the decline and limited production of salmonids and lamprey in the Basin. In order to increase salmonid and lamprey production, several actions have been proposed for consideration, including ways to increase stream flows, improve water quality, and lower river water temperatures. These actions will serve as the basis to generate a range of alternatives that can be evaluated through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

Basic issues that will be addressed are 1) reductions in flow; 2) degraded channel geometry; 3) poor water quality; and 4) high water temperatures.

This study will present potential alternatives in a comparative form, defining the issues and providing a clear basis for the choosing wisely from the many options available. In order to compare these potential alternatives effectively, a common point of comparison must be established as a baseline. The baseline studies will establish current conditions in the Basin, with respect to surface water, groundwater, and biological communities. This information will, in turn, be used as the basis for comparison of the alternatives.
http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/wwrbasin/overview.htm