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Updates
Record Fish
Runs in the Yakima Basin
As of December 7, 2009, it looks like
we’ll have a record run of steelhead in 2009-10. 4,383 adults have passed
Prosser, only a few hundred fish shy of the 2001 record- and we still
have five months left to go in the run! We also had a strong coho return
this fall, with over 8,500 coho passing Prosser. Not bad for a species
that had a return of 0 back in the 1980s. We’re not to our recovery goals
yet, but we are making real progress.
2009 SRFB
Grants Awarded
The 2009 SRFB grant round is now over. $1,181,305 was awarded to five projects
in the Yakima Basin (see list). For further information on the SRFB
process and the final report for the 2009 grant round, click on the “SRFB
Grant” link in the blue column to the left. If you have any questions
regarding this process, contact Angie at abegosh@ybfwrb.org or 509-453-4104.
Partners
Complete a Successful Field Season
The summer/fall of 2009 was
a good one for SRFB-funded fish recovery projects in the Yakima basin. On
Taneum Creek, Bruton Dam was replaced with an engineered stream channel
that provides full fish passage, while on the Cle Elum River, a series of
engineered log jams was put in place to help rewater an extensive network
of side channels. Congratulations to the Kittitas Conservation Trust, the
project sponsor. Nearby, the Kittitas Conservation District completed a
number of irrigation diversion improvements in the Ellensburg area and
removed fish-blocking culverts on two tributaries to the Teanaway River. Near the mouth of the Yakima, the
Benton County Conservation District worked with landowners to restore
riparian areas and install modern fish screens on irrigation pumps, while
in Yakima County, the groundwork was laid for some impressive projects
scheduled for 2010.
NOAA
Fisheries Releases Final Middle Columbia River Steelhead Recovery Plan
On September 30, 2009, NOAA Fisheries announced the release of the final Middle Columbia
River Steelhead Recovery Plan. This Endangered Species Act-mandated
recovery plan includes the Yakima Steelhead Recovery plan prepared by the
Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Board. Its release is a major
milestone for both NOAA and the Board. For more information, see http://www.ybfwrb.org/Recovery.html
YBFWRB
Conference Room Available for Use
The Yakima Basin Fish &
Wildlife Recovery Board conference room is available, on a limited basis,
to other organizations with similar goals and missions at no charge under
certain conditions. See our Conference Room Use Policy for more details. This document will need to be filled
out and signed before the room can be used. If you have questions, contact one of
the staff at 509-453-4104.
Booklet
describes all SRFB Projects in the Yakima Basin, 1999 to 2007
We’ve completed a booklet
that describes all of the 44 fish habitat restoration projects in the
Yakima Basin that have received funding from the Washington State Salmon
Recovery Funding Board from its inception in 1999 to the last Board
meeting in December 2007. If you’d
like to learn more about habitat restoration projects in our basin, it’s
a great reference. Click here to
download your copy:
SRFB
Projects from 1999 to Present
Examples of successful projects include
providing fish passage and screening at small irrigation diversions,
planting riparian areas, acquiring and protecting land with high priority
fish habitat, restoring natural stream channel functions, and promoting
fish-friendly agricultural practices, and much more. Applications must go through a rigorous
review run by the Board and meet all state requirements for the SRFB
program. For more information
about the program, visit www.ybfwrb.org/SRFB.html
Yakima Basin
Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board Created
On April 5th, 2006, the
Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board was created. The mission of the Board is to restore
sustainable and harvestable populations of salmon, steelhead, bull trout
and other at-risk fish and wildlife species through the collaborative,
economically sensitive efforts, combined resources, and wise resource
management of the Yakima River Basin. The Board is made up of
representatives of local governments that have signed an inter-local
agreement (see sidebar for list):
Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife
Recovery Board By-Laws
Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery
Board Interlocal Agreement
The Board is currently supported by
funding from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and the
State of Washington Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office. The Board is working to:
1) Refine existing
fish and wildlife plans.
2) Conduct future planning efforts.
3) Promote effective and efficient implementation of
actions identified in these plans.
4) Help coordinate basin research, monitoring, and
evaluation efforts.
5) Conduct outreach and education programs.
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Yakima
Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board
The Board consists of
representatives of the Yakama Nation and local governments in the
Yakima River basin. The Mission of the Board is to:
Restore sustainable and harvestable populations
of salmon, steelhead, bull trout and other at-risk fish and wildlife
species through the collaborative, economically sensitive efforts,
combined resources, and wise resource management of the Yakima River
Basin.
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