The Story of the Yakima Project, Washington
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April 2011 2011 April 5848 5848 - 575 (509) Office Field Yakima www.usbr.gov/pn the American public. public. American the economically sound manner in the interest of of interest the in manner sound economically related resources in an environmentally and and environmentally an in resources related develop, and protect water and and water protect and develop, of Reclamation is to manage, manage, to is Reclamation of The mission of the Bureau Bureau the of mission The Kachess Lake in late summer summer late in Lake Kachess USDA, Nichols over 1.64 million visits - $55 million million $55 - visits million 1.64 over Recreation: Flood damage prevented: $40 million million $40 prevented: damage Flood WASHI NGTON NGTON WASHI Power generated: $3.4 million million $3.4 generated: Power Livestock industry: $494 million million $494 industry: Livestock igated crops: $1.3 billion billion $1.3 crops: igated r Ir Project Project What’s the Yearly Value? Value? Yearly the What’s Yakima Yakima USDA, Wilson flood damage, and supports area recreation. recreation. area supports and damage, flood The Story of the the of Story The The project irrigates crops, generates power, reduces reduces power, generates crops, irrigates project The nomic status of the valley for almost a century. century. a almost for valley the of status nomic o ec The Yakima Project has been a driving force in the the in force driving a been has Project Yakima The Benefits of the Yakima Project Project Yakima the of Benefits From a Desert to an Orchard Half a Century in the Making Delicious apples. Award-winning wines. Trellises Congress passed the Reclamation Act in 1902 to of hops. Fields of cool mint. What was sagebrush- help develop the arid West. Reclamation began covered land only a few generations ago is now one creating water storage and irrigation networks of the richest agricultural areas in the Nation. How by looking into locally supported projects. The did this desert blossom into a fruitbowl? Yakima Valley citizens wanted more dependable water supplies to help them further develop the Nature blessed the Yakima Valley with a mild valley’s agriculture. In 1903, they petitioned the Cattle grazing near hops trellises climate and rich soils, but less than 7 inches of Secretary of the Interior for help. This marked the annual rainfall kept the land arid. Wild game, beginning of the Yakima Project. fertile land, and grass for cattle lured settlers to Keeping the Dams Safe the valley in about 1860. They quickly recognized Between 1905 and 1958, Reclamation built several the value of water in the many rivers and streams river diversions and canals. The project includes six The project’s major dams were built between that tumbled from the slopes of the Cascades. In reservoirs that catch and hold over a million acre- 1910 and 1933. As they age, Reclamation keeps a 1864, the valley’s first irrigation ditch delivered feet of spring runoff in the Cascade Mountains. In watchful eye through the Safety of Dams program creek water to a vegetable garden above a Catholic a normal water year, this provides a reliable water to ensure the dams meet modern safety standards. mission. The transformation had begun. supply for Yakima Valley farmers for the entire In the last 30 years, Reclamation has modified growing season. Bumping Lake, Cle Elum, Clear Creek, Kachess, and Keechelus Dams under this program. Building on Natural Lakes Four of Reclamation’s Yakima Project reservoirs were built at existing mountain lakes. Cle Elum Dam closed a 60,000-year-old break in a natural glacial dam. Bumping Lake, Kachess, and Keechelus Dams store additional water in natural Sorting apples in an early orchard lakes. These reservoirs help reduce downstream Kachess Dam and Lake flood damage. An Agricultural Boom Paying for the Project Private water companies irrigated potatoes, wheat, A Shift in Irrigation The Chandler and Roza hydroelectric powerplants hops, and alfalfa on ever-larger tracts of land in use project water to generate power. The the 1870s and 1880s. Then, in 1886, the Northern As the irrigated lands matured, the earlier staples of Bonneville Power Administration sells this power to Pacific Railroad rumbled into the valley. Local potatoes and wheat became less profitable. Farmers help repay the costs of building the project. Water farmers began shipping crops to distant markets. began growing fruits, such as apples and grapes. users, organized into several irrigation districts, also Agriculture boomed and so did irrigation. By 1900, Soon, the valley’s rolling pastures and farms help pay these costs. Ultimately, water users and over 120,000 acres used irrigation water. There became a forest of orchards and trellises, with dairy revenues from power generation will repay about 97 were more fertile lands to irrigate, but the natural farms and grazing sheep scattered throughout. percent of the total construction costs. flow in the river was insufficient. April 2011 April www.usbr.gov/pn Yakima Field Office (509) 575-5848 (509) Office Field Yakima www.usbr.gov/pn the American public. American the economically sound manner in the interest of of interest the in manner sound economically related resources in an environmentally and and environmentally an in resources related develop, and protect water and and water protect and develop, of Reclamation is to manage, manage, to is Reclamation of The mission of the Bureau Bureau the of mission The Kachess Lake in late summer late in Lake Kachess USDA, Nichols Recreation: over 1.64 million visits - $55 million $55 - visits million 1.64 over Recreation: Flood damage prevented: $40 million $40 prevented: damage Flood WASHINGTON Power generated: $3.4 million $3.4 generated: Power Livestock industry: $494 million $494 industry: Livestock Irrigated crops: $1.3 billion $1.3 crops: Irrigated Project What’s the Yearly Value? Yearly the What’s Yakima USDA, Wilson flood damage, and supports area recreation. area supports and damage, flood The Story of the of Story The The project irrigates crops, generates power, reduces power, generates crops, irrigates project The economic status of the valley for almost a century. century. a almost for valley the of status economic The Yakima Project has been a driving force in the the in force driving a been has Project Yakima The Benefits of the Yakima Project Yakima the of Benefits d rachro an Ot tresem a DorF tresem an Ot rachro d a ClaH irutnef ty Mhn nikae g Delicious apples. Award-winning wines. Trellises Congress passed the Reclamation Act in 1902 to of hops. Fields of cool mint. What was sagebrush- help develop the arid West. Reclamation began covered land only a few generations ago is now one creating water storage and irrigation networks of the richest agricultural areas in the Nation. How by looking into locally supported projects. The did this desert blossom into a fruitbowl? Yakima Valley citizens wanted more dependable water supplies to help them further develop the Nature blessed the Yakima Valley with a mild valley’s agriculture. In 1903, they petitioned the Cattle grazing near hops trellises climate and rich soils, but less than 7 inches of Secretary of the Interior for help. This marked the annual rainfall kept the land arid. Wild game, beginning of the Yakima Project. fertile land, and grass for cattle lured settlers to tniepeK Dhg Smae fas e the valley in about 1860. They quickly recognized Between 1905 and 1958, Reclamation built several the value of water in the many rivers and streams river diversions and canals. The project includes six The project’s major dams were built between that tumbled from the slopes of the Cascades. In reservoirs that catch and hold over a million acre- 1910 and 1933. As they age, Reclamation keeps a 1864, the valley’s first irrigation ditch delivered feet of spring runoff in the Cascade Mountains. In watchful eye through the Safety of Dams program creek water to a vegetable garden above a Catholic a normal water year, this provides a reliable water to ensure the dams meet modern safety standards. mission. The transformation had begun. supply for Yakima Valley farmers for the entire In the last 30 years, Reclamation has modified growing season. Bumping Lake, Cle Elum, Clear Creek, Kachess, and Keechelus Dams under this program. s ekal Laruatn Ng onidliuB Ng Laruatn ekal s Four of Reclamation’s Yakima Project reservoirs were built at existing mountain lakes. Cle Elum Dam closed a 60,000-year-old break in a natural glacial dam. Bumping Lake, Kachess, and Keechelus Dams store additional water in natural Sorting apples in an early orchard lakes. These reservoirs help reduce downstream Kachess Dam and Lake flood damage. m ool Barutlucirgn AA Barutlucirgn ool m fniyaP tog Phr cejore t Private water companies irrigated potatoes, wheat, S ifihA It ioatgirrn n The Chandler and Roza hydroelectric powerplants hops, and alfalfa on ever-larger tracts of land in use project water to generate power. The the 1870s and 1880s. Then, in 1886, the Northern As the irrigated lands matured, the earlier staples of Bonneville Power Administration sells this power to Pacific Railroad rumbled into the valley. Local potatoes and wheat became less profitable. Farmers help repay the costs of building the project. Water farmers began shipping crops to distant markets. began growing fruits, such as apples and grapes. users, organized into several irrigation districts, also Agriculture boomed and so did irrigation. By 1900, Soon, the valley’s rolling pastures and farms help pay these costs. Ultimately, water users and over 120,000 acres used irrigation water. There became a forest of orchards and trellises, with dairy revenues from power generation will repay about 97 were more fertile lands to irrigate, but the natural farms and grazing sheep scattered throughout.