Upper Yakima River Floodplain Acquisition

Kittitas Conservation Trust (KCT) acquired 15 acres on the mainstem Yakima River for the protection of adult spawning migration, juvenile rearing, smolt and out-migration of ESA listed Mid-Columbia Steelhead, Spring Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye, and other native salmonids and resident fish species. The property has high functioning wetlands and old growth cottonwood and aspen stands. Approximately 6 acres is within the FEMA mapped floodway and 11 acres is within the FEMA mapped 100-year floodplain. This acquisition protected 700 feet of Yakima River frontage, 795 feet of perennial side-channel and approximately 1,200 feet of seasonal side-channels. KCT performed an Environmental Assessment of the property, contracted a fair market appraisal, and followed RCO’s acquisition process laid out in Manual 3 to transfer the title. KCT removed 11 derelict structures on the property with the assistance of the Kittitas Flood Control Zone. KCT coordinated ingress, egress easement with adjacent landowners. KCT designed and manufactured an interpretive panel with Spanish translations posted on our website (https://www.kittitasconservationtrust.org/cottonwood-cove-sign-spanish/ ) for the public to learn about the conservation values of the property. The project is part of a greater strategy to protect high quality riparian habitat on mainstem rivers that has been pursued by the Yakama Nation, federal, state, local, and non-profit, and KCT. KCT continues to work with the City of Cle Elum and other stakeholders to assess and develop restoration designs that will improve habitat at the adjacent Hanson Ponds site on the Yakima River. This acquisition has increased the potential available restoration opportunities for the adjacent Hanson Pond Project. Acquisitions like this are highlighted in the 2009 Yakima Basin Steelhead Recovery Plan and are on the TAG Focused Projects List.

The over-arching goal for the project was to protect existing high-quality riparian, floodplain, and wetland habitat to support Steelhead, Spring Chinook, Coho, and Sockeye life processes and ecological function. Protecting this property will ensure continued year-round access to healthy shoreline and off channel habitat for smolt, juvenile and adult salmonids.