Upper Yakima River Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan --2018 Cowiche Addendum

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Upper Yakima River Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan --2018 Cowiche Addendum Upper Yakima River Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan --2018 Cowiche Addendum-- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This Upper Yakima Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan, 2018 Cowiche Addendum was prepared by Yakima County Public Services Water Resources Division with the assistance of citizens, stakeholder groups, landowners and agency representatives listed below. We thank them for the time and effort they spent improving the final product. UPPER YAKIMA RIVER CFHMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE (2017-2018) Voting Members Affiliation Mr. Scott Anfinson Washington State Department of Transportation Mr. Eric Bartrand Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Mr. David Brown City of Yakima Water/Irrigation Mr. Joseph Calhoun City of Yakima Planning Mr. Bruce Dekker Lake Aspen Homeowner’s Association Mr. Jeff Emmons Yakima County Office of Emergency Management Mr. Joel Freudenthal Yakima County Flood Control Zone District Mr. David Garretson Private Landowner Mr. Bob Ingham Private Landowner Mr. John Marvin Yakama Nation Ms. Keelan McPhee Yakima County Planning Division Mr. Mike Price City of Yakima Wastewater/Stormwater Mr. Bill Sauriol Washington State Department of Transportation Mr. Brett Sheffield City of Yakima Chief Engineer Ms. Katrina Strathman Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group Alternates and Non-Voting Members Mr. Jason Clapp Yakima County Office of Emergency Management Mr. Mark Cleaver Yakima County Roads Maintenance Ms. Joan Davenport City of Yakima Community Development Mr. Glenn Denman Lake Aspen Homeowner Mr. Donald Gatchalian Yakima County Environmental Services Director Ms. Michelle Gilbert Washington Department of Ecology Mr. Byron Gumz Yakima County Planning Division Mr. Perry Harvester Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Mr. David Haws Yakima County Flood Control Zone District Mr. Terry Keenhan Yakima County Flood Control Zone District Mr. Dale Meck Yakima County Flood Control Zone District Ms. Margaret Neuman Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group Mr. Connor Parrish Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group Mr. Matt Pietrusiewicz Yakima County Engineer Mr. Scott Schafer City of Yakima Public Works Mr. Horace Ward Yakima County Office of Emergency Management i TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page No. Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. v List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... vi List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................. vii Executive Summary ........................................................................................................... ES-1 CFHMP Requirements............................................................................................................ ES-1 Advisory Committee .............................................................................................................. ES-1 Hydraulic Analyses ................................................................................................................ ES-2 Recommended Actions .......................................................................................................... ES-6 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................1 CFHMP Requirements.................................................................................................................. 1 Required Consultation with Other Agencies .................................................................. 1 Flood Hazard Management ............................................................................................... 8 Advisory Committee ........................................................................................................... 8 Goals and Objectives ......................................................................................................... 10 2. Growth Management Act .............................................................................................16 3. Background Data, Studies and Programs..................................................................19 Related Studies ............................................................................................................................ 19 Yakima County Revised Flood Insurance Study (2017) ........................................................ 22 Related Programs and Projects .................................................................................................. 27 Lower Naches River Partnership Projects (2005) .......................................................... 27 Lower Cowiche Channel Relocation Project (2013) ...................................................... 27 4. Flood History ..................................................................................................................30 Upstream Drainage and Regulation ......................................................................................... 30 Significant Cowiche Creek Floods ............................................................................................ 31 December 23, 1933 Flood............................................................................................................ 33 January 16, 1974 Flood ................................................................................................................ 34 February 1995 Floods .................................................................................................................. 35 February 9, 1996 Flood ............................................................................................................... 35 February 15, 2016 Flood ............................................................................................................. 36 March 6, 2016 Flood .................................................................................................................... 37 March 14-16, 2017 Flood ............................................................................................................. 37 5. Floodplain Infrastructure and Flood Control Facilities .........................................39 Creek Alignments........................................................................................................................ 39 Levees ............................................................................................................................................ 42 ii Highway and Road Crossings ................................................................................................... 43 U.S. 12 .................................................................................................................................. 43 U.S. 12 Bridge ..................................................................................................................... 44 City of Yakima Powerhouse Road Bridge ..................................................................... 44 Squire-Ingham Orchard Farm Bridge ............................................................................. 45 Railways and Trails ..................................................................................................................... 45 Cowiche Creek Trail Bridge ............................................................................................. 45 Irrigation Structures and Canals ............................................................................................... 45 Former U.S. 12 Gravel Pits ......................................................................................................... 45 6. Flood Issues and Infrastructure ..................................................................................47 Capacity of Cowiche Creek Infrastructure .............................................................................. 47 Hydraulic Modeling of Cowiche Creek Infrastructure Capacities ...................................... 47 2016/2017 Discharge Hydrographs .......................................................................................... 47 Hydraulic Simulations ................................................................................................................ 52 Downstream Impacts from Deficiencies of Cowiche Creek Infrastructure ........................ 53 100-yr Flood Routing in City of Yakima .................................................................................. 54 7. Generation of Alternatives and Recommendations ................................................58 Flood Preparation, Actions and Alternatives .......................................................................... 58 Near-Term Action Plans ................................................................................................... 58 Emergency Action Plan and Public Notification .................................................... 58 Memorandum of Understanding and Interlocal Agreements .............................. 58 Channel Cleanout ......................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment
    The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment Evaluating Washington’s Future in a Changing Climate ........................................................................................................ A report by The Climate Impacts Group University of Washington Climate Science June 2009 in the Public Interest Recommended citation: Climate Impacts Group, 2009. The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment, M. McGuire Elsner, J. Littell, and L Whitely Binder (eds). Center for Science in the Earth System, Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Oceans, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. Available at: http://www.cses.washington.edu/db/pdf/wacciareport681.pdf Front cover satellite image credit: http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view_rec.php?vev1id=4786 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Visible Earth: A catalog of NASA images and animations of our home planet Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE The Pacific Northwest is cloud-free in this SeaWiFS image. Multihued phytoplankton blooms are visible off of Washington's Olympic coast. Also visible in this image are: Fraser River outflow, snowcapped peaks of Mt. Olympus, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, the Three Sisters, the North Cascades, and the Columbia and Snake River watersheds. Metadata * Sensor OrbView-2/SeaWiFS * Visualization Date 2000-09-26 * The Visible Earth is part of the EOS Project Science Office located at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Small images credits: Wheat: © 2009 www.photos.com Coast; Seattle skyline: © J. Martin Grassley McNary Dam: courtesy Bonneville Power Administration Salmon: courtesy University of Washington News and Information Forest: courtesy Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington Report design: Beth Tully, Edit-Design Center, University of Washington The Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment Evaluating Washington’s Future in a Changing Climate ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Naches Watershed Washington
    Washington Naches Watershed HUC: 17030002 Rapid Watershed Assessment This assessment involves the collection of quantitative and qualitative information to develop a watershed profile, sufficient analysis of that information to make qualitative statements as to resource concerns and conditions, and the generation of information with which to make decisions about conservation needs and recommendations. These assessments are conducted through the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and by conservation planning teams working within the watershed, meeting with landowners and conservation groups, inventorying agricultural areas, assessing current levels of resource management, identifying conservation recommendations and, making qualitative estimates of the impacts of conservation on local resource concerns. October 2, 2006 1 Naches Watershed Introduction 717,048 Total Acres HUC# 17030003 The Naches Watershed is located in the Yakima River drainage in on the east side of the Cascade Mountain range. The Naches 8-Digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) subbasin is approximately 717,048 acres in size. The watershed is 20% privately owned and 80% publicly owned. The majority of the watershed is forest and cropland. Cropland is located mostly in the lower elevations. Agricultural enterprises include hay and pasture, orchards and small beef operations. The city of Naches makes up the largest urban area in the watershed. The majority of the watershed is located in Yakima County. Major resource concerns are soil erosion from forest roads, streambank erosion, impaired water quality, forest health issues, invasive weeds, and poor pasture condition. Primary natural resource technical assistance is provided by the Yakima NRCS Field Office, North Yakima Conservation District and the South Central Resource Conservation and Development Area.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 11. Mid-Columbia Recovery Unit Yakima River Basin Critical Habitat Unit
    Bull Trout Final Critical Habitat Justification: Rationale for Why Habitat is Essential, and Documentation of Occupancy Chapter 11. Mid-Columbia Recovery Unit Yakima River Basin Critical Habitat Unit 353 Bull Trout Final Critical Habitat Justification Chapter 11 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service September 2010 Chapter 11. Yakima River Basin Critical Habitat Unit The Yakima River CHU supports adfluvial, fluvial, and resident life history forms of bull trout. This CHU includes the mainstem Yakima River and tributaries from its confluence with the Columbia River upstream from the mouth of the Columbia River upstream to its headwaters at the crest of the Cascade Range. The Yakima River CHU is located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range in south-central Washington and encompasses the entire Yakima River basin located between the Klickitat and Wenatchee Basins. The Yakima River basin is one of the largest basins in the state of Washington; it drains southeast into the Columbia River near the town of Richland, Washington. The basin occupies most of Yakima and Kittitas Counties, about half of Benton County, and a small portion of Klickitat County. This CHU does not contain any subunits because it supports one core area. A total of 1,177.2 km (731.5 mi) of stream habitat and 6,285.2 ha (15,531.0 ac) of lake and reservoir surface area in this CHU are proposed as critical habitat. One of the largest populations of bull trout (South Fork Tieton River population) in central Washington is located above the Tieton Dam and supports the core area.
    [Show full text]
  • Naches River Basin Field Trip
    Ice Age Floods Institute—Ellensburg Chapter Naches River Basin Field Trip Field Trip Leaders: Karl Lillquist, Geography Department, CWU Nick Zentner, Geology Department, CWU Sunday 25 September 2011 Route & Itinerary 11:00 Depart from CWU’s Hebeler Hall 12:00 Arrive Stop 1—Sanford Pasture Landslide 12:30 Depart for Stop 2 12:45 Arrive Stop 2—Nile Landslide (up close) 1:45 Depart for Stop 3 2:00 Arrive at Stop 3—Nile 5 Landslide (big picture) 2:30 Depart for Stop 4 4 2:45 Arrive at Stop 4—Edgar Rock Volcano 3:15 Depart for Stop 5 3 3:30 Arrive at Stop 5—Boulder 2 Cave 1 4:30 Depart for Ellensburg 6:00 Arrive in Ellensburg 1 Trip Overview Our field trip will take us from the Columbia Plateau to the South Cascades. Our story begins with volcanism—effusive and explosive that resulted in lava flows, lahars, dikes, and stratovolcanoes. Over time, weathering as well as erosion by glaciers, rivers, and landslides have shaped the volcanics. Recent landslides and floods have dramatically altered this area. Stops will include the early Pleistocene? Sanford Pasture landslide, the October 2009 Nile Valley landslide, Miocene Edgar Rock Volcano, and Quaternary Boulder Cave–all in the middle Naches River Valley. 2 Enroute to Stop 1 • On I-82, we go over three prominent NW-SE trending up-folds or anticlines—Manastash Ridge, North Umtanum Ridge, and South Umtanum Ridge. These folds, and some associated thrust faulting, are the result of ~N-S compression. • If the weather is clear, note Mount Rainier and Mount Adams, the towering stratovolcanoes that dominate the South Cascades.
    [Show full text]
  • Suggested Fishing Destinations in Central Washington the Yakima
    Suggested Fishing Destinations in Central Washington Always refer to the WDFW Fishing Regulation Pamphlet prior to fishing any of these streams. Most of these are within an easy drive of Red’s Fly Shop, or even a day trip from the Puget Sound area. The east slopes of the Cascades are regarded as the best small stream fishing in Washington State and a GREAT place to start as a beginner! Most of the fisheries here offer small trout in abundance, which is great adventure and perfect for learning the art of fly fishing. The Yakima River Canyon The Canyon near Red’s Fly Shop is best wade fished when the river flows are below 2,500 cfs. September and October are the best months for wading, but February and March can offer great bank access as well. Spring and summer are more challenging but still possible. Yakima County Naches River – Trout tend to be most abundant upstream from the Tieton River junction. The best wade fishing season is July – October Tieton River – It runs fairly dirty in June, but July – mid August is excellent. Rattlesnake Creek – This is a great hike in adventure and offers wonderful small stream Cutthroat fishing for anyone willing to get off the beaten path. Little Naches River – Easy access off of USFS Road 19, July – October is the best time. American River/Bumping Rivers – These are in the headwaters of the Naches drainage. Be sure to read the WDFW Regulations if you fish the American River. Ahtanum Creek – Great small stream fishing. June – October Wenas Creek – Small water, small fish, but a great adventure.
    [Show full text]
  • The Wild Cascades
    THE WILD CASCADES Fall, 1984 2 The Wild Cascades PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ONCE THE LINES ARE DRAWN, THE BATTLE IS NOT OVER The North Cascades Conservation Council has developed a reputation for consistent, hard-hitting, responsible action to protect wildland resources in the Washington Cascades. It is perhaps best known for leading the fight to preserve and protect the North Cascades in the North Cascades National Park, the Pasayten and Glacier Peak Wilderness Areas, and the Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. Despite the recent passage of the Washington Wilderness Act, many areas which deserve and require wilderness designation remain unprotected. One of the goals of the N3C must be to assure protection for these areas. In this issue of the Wild Cascades we have analyzed the Washington Wilderness Act to see what we won and what still hangs in the balance (page ). The N3C will continue to fight to establish new wilderness areas, but there is also a new challenge. Our expertise is increasingly being sought by government agencies to assist in developing appropriate management plans and to support them against attempts to undermine such plans. The invitation to participate more fully in management activities will require considerable effort, but it represents a challenge and an opportunity that cannot be ignored. If we are to meet this challenge we will need members who are either knowledgable or willing to learn about an issue and to guide the Board in its actions. The Spring issue of the Wild Cascades carried a center section with two requests: 1) volunteers to assist and guide the organization on various issues; and 2) payment of dues.
    [Show full text]
  • Egg-To-Migrant Survival of Spring Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) in the Yakima River,Washington
    EGG-TO-MIGRANT SURVIVAL OF SPRING CHINOOK SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS TSHAWYTSCHA) IN THE YAKIMA RIVER,WASHINGTON By RICHARD L. MAJOR AND JAMES L. MIGHELL, Fishery Biologists BUREAU OF COMMERCIAL FISHERIES BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY SEATI'LE, WASHINGTON 98102 ABSTRACT Egg-to-migrant survival for the 1957-61 broods in the other areas. Mean lengths (mideye to end of ranged from 5.4 to 16.4 percent-the first estimates of hypural plate) were 45;5 and 57.3 cm. for the males and survival of chinook salmon in a large river system. females in the upper Yakima River and 65.4 and 71 Spring chinook sal~on spawn in the American, em. for the males and females in the other areas. Bumping, and Naches Rivers and Rattlesnake Creek­ Spring chinook salmon migrate to sea in their second year. Larger fish migrate earlier in the season than do tributaries of the Yakima River-and in the upper smaller fish. Seaward migration reaches a peak at stretch of Yakima River proper. Forboth sexes, spawning Prosser, Wash., on the lower Yakima River between fish in the upper Yakima River are smaller than those April 14 and May 19. Movement tends to be nocturnal. Knowledge about the life history of a species 1). The Yakima River was chosen because a trap of fish is fundamental to its effective management. in a diversion canal at Prosser, Wash., on the For Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), some con­ lower river provided a unique opportunity to ception is required of survival from the egg to sample the seaward migration. The trap allowed the seaward migrant stage.
    [Show full text]
  • Washington State's Scenic Byways & Road Trips
    waShington State’S Scenic BywayS & Road tRipS inSide: Road Maps & Scenic drives planning tips points of interest 2 taBLe of contentS waShington State’S Scenic BywayS & Road tRipS introduction 3 Washington State’s Scenic Byways & Road Trips guide has been made possible State Map overview of Scenic Byways 4 through funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byways Program, Washington State Department of Transportation and aLL aMeRican RoadS Washington State Tourism. waShington State depaRtMent of coMMeRce Chinook Pass Scenic Byway 9 director, Rogers Weed International Selkirk Loop 15 waShington State touRiSM executive director, Marsha Massey nationaL Scenic BywayS Marketing Manager, Betsy Gabel product development Manager, Michelle Campbell Coulee Corridor 21 waShington State depaRtMent of tRanSpoRtation Mountains to Sound Greenway 25 Secretary of transportation, Paula Hammond director, highways and Local programs, Kathleen Davis Stevens Pass Greenway 29 Scenic Byways coordinator, Ed Spilker Strait of Juan de Fuca - Highway 112 33 Byway leaders and an interagency advisory group with representatives from the White Pass Scenic Byway 37 Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife, Washington State Tourism, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and State Scenic BywayS Audubon Washington were also instrumental in the creation of this guide. Cape Flattery Tribal Scenic Byway 40 puBLiShing SeRviceS pRovided By deStination
    [Show full text]
  • Naches River, Washington
    Anthropogenic Effects on Floodplain Geomorphology: Naches River, Washington By: Tiffany Bishop Geography Undergraduate Central Washington University 6/11/2009 Floodplains are unique ecosystems, adjusting with greatly varying flows, while still sustaining through periods of drought or flood. The occurrences and disturbances that happen to the rivers inhabiting these floodplains directly affect their geomorphology. Mountain-based rivers, such as the Naches River of Washington’s Southern Cascade Range, historically received higher pulses of runoff during the spring freshet due to snowmelt runoff. This paper examines the possible effects of decreasing or eliminating those pulses through their retention in reservoir lakes, and how these changes may affect floodplain geomorphology. Air photos, topographic maps, climographs, and hydrographs of the Little Naches and Bumping Rivers, which are tributaries to the Naches River, were analyzed in an effort to identify the possible effects of snowmelt retention. Results indicate a relationship between river discharge regulation and channel complexity, sinuosity, and channel frequency, – i.e., the floodplain of the unregulated Little Naches River is has maintained complexity and increased sinuosity while that of the Bumping River has decreased complexity, channel frequency and sinuosity. River restoration is becoming an increasingly important issue as we continue to learn the effects of anthropogenic changes to the riverine ecosystem. In the Pacific Northwest, salmon populations have been severely affected by these many effects on the ecosystem. As we move forward in attempting to recover these areas, floodplain function is one of many factors that must be investigated and rehabilitated if we hope to restore the ecosystem. Introduction: Floodplains are unique ecosystems, adjusting greatly with varying flows, while sustaining through periods of drought or flood.
    [Show full text]
  • Norse Peak Fire 2017
    Norse Peak Fire 2017 USDA-FOREST SERVICE FS-2500-8 (7/00) Date of Report: October 19, 2017 BURNED-AREA REPORT (Reference FSH 2509.13) PART I - TYPE OF REQUEST A. Type of Report [X] 1. Funding request for estimated emergency stabilization funds [ ] 2. Accomplishment Report [ ] 3. No Treatment Recommendation B. Type of Action [X] 1. Initial Request (Best estimate of funds needed to complete eligible rehabilitation measures) [ ] 2. Interim Report [ ] Updating the initial funding request based on more accurate site data or design analysis [ ] Status of accomplishments to date [ ] 3. Final Report (Following completion of work) PART II - BURNED-AREA DESCRIPTION A. Fire Name: Norse Peak and American Fires B. Fire Number: WA-OWF-000365 (Norse Peak); WA-OWF-000351 (American) C. State: Washington D. County: Pierce and Yakima E. Region: R6 Pacfic Northwest F. Forest: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Okanogan-Wenatchee G. District: Snoqualmie and Naches H. Fire Incident Job Code: P6K9KQ I. Date Fire Started: August 11, 2017 J. Date Fire Contained: November 1, 2017 (Tentitive) K. Suppression Cost L. Fire Suppression Damages Repaired with Suppression Funds 1. Fireline waterbarred (miles): Blanket Creek Fire: 9 mi. dozer, 6 mi. handline; 2. Fireline seeded (miles): 0 Miles 3. Other (identify): None M. Watershed Number: Hydrologic Unit Code 6 Watersheds (Table 1) Table 1: HUC 6 Watersheds CODE Watershed Name 170300020103 Crow Creek 170300020107 Lower American River 170300020108 Lower Bumping River 171100140306 Lower Greenwater River 171100140307 Silver Creek-White River 170300020106 Upper American River 171100140305 Upper Greenwater River 170300020102 Upper Little Naches River N. Total Acres Burned: 55,920 acres USFS Acres (55,920): Mt.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of Native Elk in Mount Rainier National Park CONTENTS
    A History of Native Elk in Mount Rainier National Park Paul Schullery CONTENTS Preface to the 2004 Web Edition 1 Introduction 3 Chapter One: Elk near Mount Rainier before Its Exploration 5 Summary of Archeological Evidence 5 Summary of Anthropological Evidence 6 Yakima/Kittitas 7 Nisqually/Puyallup 8 Other Tribal Groups 9 Comments on Historical Information about Elk Habits and Range 9 Possible Effects of Native Tribes on Elk Numbers since the 1730s 13 The Fur Trade 14 Firearms 16 Domestic Stock in the Mount Rainier Area 17 Demise of the Elk in the Cascades after 1860 19 Chapter Two: Native Elk in Mount Rainier 22 Indians and Elk in Mount Rainier 22 Indian Elk Legends Involving Mount Rainier 23 Elk Presence Since the Beginning of White Exploration of the Mountain 24 Chapter Three: Some Comments on the History of Elk Since 1920 33 Conclusion 35 Acknowledgments 36 References Cited 37 Appendixes 47 I: Elk-related Comments in the Superintendent's Reports, 1924-1938 47 II: Elk-related Comments in the Monthly Reports of the Park Naturalist, 1947-1963 48 III: Observations on Other Large Mammals in Mount Rainier, 1852-1896 54 IV: Bighorn Sheep in Mount Rainier: A Summary of Historical Records 61 PREFACE TO THE 2004 WEB EDITION I researched and wrote this report as a contract researcher for the National Park Service in 1983. Distribution by the National Park Service was limited to a few administrative and file copies, as far as I know. My project was part of a much larger research initiative then underway in Mount Rainier, to investigate several aspects of elk ecology and distribution in the park.
    [Show full text]
  • NACHES REACH by Morris L
    THE NACHES REACH By Morris L. Uebelacker, Clay P. Arango, and Douglas J. Eitemiller Located on the mainstem Naches River within the Ridge and Canyon landscape (plate II), the Naches Holocene floodplain encompasses 3,342 hectares. This floodplain is characterized by a complex interface of Columbia River Flow Basalts and Cascade volcanic material Loss Of Lateral Connectivity (Bentley 1984). Situated between two major geological units, the Ellensburg Formation intermingles with Columbia River Flow Basalts (Schmincke 1967) along its northeastern To The Naches Holocene Floodplain margins and flows of Tieton Andesite (Swanson 1978) on its southwestern boundary, the Naches Naches River has excavated material from these units to form a wide, steep-sided canyon. From 1884 To 2002 The Naches Holocene floodplain lies in stark contrast with the canyon that embodies it, which has emerged over more than ten million years of geologic time. Consequently, it is structurally set apart from all other floodplains within the Yakima Basin. Reflecting these 3500 unique geological structures and geomorphic history, the gradient of the Naches River and its Holocene Floodplain Prior to 1884 = 3,342 ha attendant floodplain is steeper than all other floodplain reaches along its longitudinal scale. As the Naches River's major tributary, the Tieton River greatly amplifies the alluvial cut and fill 3000 processes of the Naches in forming its floodplain. Both rivers enter the floodplain through confined, steep gradient canyons and deliver a powerful springtime flood pulse across the 2500 floodplain landscape. Although initially evaluated for a railroad route that would link interior and coastal 2000 economies (Stevens 1855), the canyon topography of the upper Naches drainage proved too Hectares difficult for early railroad construction.
    [Show full text]