Yakima Fish Passage Targeted Investment Projects

The Kittitas County Conservation District proposes to continue work in the Wilson-Naneum-Cherry watershed in the Kittitas Valley near Ellensburg to achieve safe fish passage by installing fish screens, removing passage barriers, and planning additional projects. Cumulatively, the watersheds include 394 square miles and approximately 270 stream miles, all with fish passage barriers into their headwaters. Since 2003, ongoing work through the Yakima Tributary Access & Habitat Program (YTAHP) systematically addresses screening and passage needs from the confluence to these upstream tributaries. This project proposal includes the correction of two passage barriers in Naneum Creek and two in Coleman Creek, including the lowermost in each. Working with landowners and irrigators, this project will improve on-farm irrigation delivery systems consolidating and/or rebuilding the diversion structures with fish screen and passage components. The project proposes to finalize designs initiated through YTAHP for the Cascade Irrigation District intersections with Naneum, Coleman, and Caribou Creeks to include siphons which pass the canal under each stream and rebuild the streambed and irrigation diversions with fish screens and fishways to allow safe passage. A fish screen will be installed in Coleman Creek, while implementation of the balance of the Cascade Irrigation District designs will be accomplished in a later phase. This project benefits mid-Columbia Summer Steelhead, spring Chinook and resident species, while ensuring that the agricultural operations remain whole.

The project goal is to work with landowners and irrigators to achieve safe fish passage by installing fish screens, removing passage barriers, and planning additional projects that will improve on-farm irrigation delivery systems by consolidating and/or rebuilding the diversion structures with fish screen and passage components to benefit mid-Columbia Summer Steelhead, spring Chinook and resident species, while ensuring that the agricultural operations remain whole.