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.

flow in the river was insufficient. insufficient. was river the in flow

were more fertile lands to irrigate, but the natural natural the but irrigate, to lands fertile more were percent of the total construction costs. costs. construction total the of percent farms and grazing sheep scattered throughout. throughout. scattered sheep grazing and farms

97 97 revenues from power generation will repay about about repay will generation power from revenues There water. irrigation used acres 120,000 over

became a forest of orchards and trellises, with dairy dairy with trellises, and orchards of forest a became

help pay these costs. Ultimately, water users and and users water Ultimately, costs. these pay help 1900, By irrigation. did so and boomed Agriculture Soon, the valley’s rolling pastures and farms farms and pastures rolling valley’s the Soon,

users, organized into several irrigation districts, also also districts, irrigation several into organized users, markets. distant to crops shipping began farmers began growing fruits, such as apples and grapes. grapes. and apples as such fruits, growing began

help repay the costs of building the project. Water Water project. the building of costs the repay help Local valley. the into rumbled Railroad Pacific potatoes and wheat became less profitable. Farmers Farmers profitable. less became wheat and potatoes

Bonneville Power Administration sells this power to to power this sells Administration Power Bonneville Northern the 1886, in Then, 1880s. and 1870s the As the irrigated lands matured, the earlier staples of of staples earlier the matured, lands irrigated the As

use project water to generate power. The The power. generate to water project use in land of tracts ever-larger on alfalfa and hops,

n n ioatgirrnIt ifihA S The Chandler and Roza hydroelectric powerplants powerplants hydroelectric Roza and Chandler The wheat, potatoes, irrigated companies water Private

t t cejorePhr tog fniyaP m m oolBarutlucirgn AA

flood damage. damage. flood

lakes. These reservoirs help reduce downstream downstream reduce help reservoirs These lakes. Sorting apples in an early orchard orchard early an in apples Sorting Kachess Dam and Lake Lake and Dam Kachess

Keechelus Dams store additional water in natural natural in water additional store Dams Keechelus

glacial dam. Bumping Lake, Kachess, and and Kachess, Lake, Bumping dam. glacial

Dam closed a 60,000-year-old break in a natural natural a in break 60,000-year-old a closed Dam

e w re built at existing mountain lakes. Cle Elum Elum Cle lakes. mountain existing at built re

Four of Reclamation’s Yakima Project reservoirs reservoirs Project Yakima Reclamation’s of Four

s s ekalLaruatn Ng onidliuB

and Keechelus Dams under this program. program. this under Dams Keechelus and

growing season. season. growing Bumping Lake, Cle Elum, Clear Creek, Kachess, Kachess, Creek, Clear Elum, Cle Lake, Bumping

supply for Yakima Valley farmers for the entire entire the for farmers Valley Yakima for supply mission. The transformation had begun. begun. had transformation The mission. In the last 30 years, Reclamation has modified modified has Reclamation years, 30 last the In

a normal water year, this provides a reliable water water reliable a provides this year, water normal a creek water to a vegetable garden above a Catholic Catholic a above garden vegetable a to water creek to ensure the dams meet modern safety standards. standards. safety modern meet dams the ensure to

feet of spring runoff in the Cascade Mountains. In In Mountains. Cascade the in runoff spring of feet 1864, the valley’s first irrigation ditch delivered delivered ditch irrigation first valley’s the 1864, watchful eye through the Safety of Dams program program Dams of Safety the through eye watchful

reservoirs that catch and hold over a million acre- million a over hold and catch that reservoirs that tumbled from the slopes of the Cascades. In In Cascades. the of slopes the from tumbled that 1910 and 1933. As they age, Reclamation keeps a a keeps Reclamation age, they As 1933. and 1910

river diversions and canals. The project includes six six includes project The canals. and diversions river

the value of water in the many rivers and streams streams and rivers many the in water of value the The project’s major dams were built between between built were dams major project’s The

Between 1905 and 1958, Reclamation built several several built Reclamation 1958, and 1905 Between the valley in about 1860. They quickly recognized recognized quickly They 1860. about in valley the

e e fasSmae Dhg tniepeK fertile land, and grass for cattle lured settlers to to settlers lured cattle for grass and land, fertile

beginning of the Yakima Project. Project. Yakima the of beginning annual rainfall kept the land arid. Wild game, game, Wild arid. land the kept rainfall annual

Secretary of the Interior for help. This marked the the marked This help. for Interior the of Secretary climate and rich soils, but less than 7 inches of of inches 7 than less but soils, rich and climate

valley’s agriculture. In 1903, they petitioned the the petitioned they 1903, In agriculture. valley’s Nature blessed the Yakima Valley with a mild mild a with Valley Yakima the blessed Nature Cattle grazing near hops trellises trellises hops near grazing Cattle

water supplies to help them further develop the the develop further them help to supplies water

Yakima Valley citizens wanted more dependable dependable more wanted citizens Valley Yakima did this desert blossom into a fruitbowl? fruitbowl? a into blossom desert this did

by looking into locally supported projects. The The projects. supported locally into looking by of the richest agricultural areas in the Nation. How How Nation. the in areas agricultural richest the of

creating water storage and irrigation networks networks irrigation and storage water creating covered land only a few generations ago is now one one now is ago generations few a only land covered

help develop the arid West. Reclamation began began Reclamation West. arid the develop help of hops. Fields of cool mint. What was sagebrush- was What mint. cool of Fields hops. of

Congress passed the Reclamation Act in 1902 to to 1902 in Act Reclamation the passed Congress Delicious apples. Award-winning wines. Trellises Trellises wines. Award-winning apples. Delicious

g g nikaeMhn ty irutnef ClaH a d d rachroOt an tresem DorF a

Benefits of the Yakima Project

The Yakima Project has been a driving force in the economic status of the valley for almost a century. The project irrigates crops, generates power, reduces The Story of the flood damage, and supports area recreation. USDA, Wilson USDA, Yakima What’s the Yearly Value? Irrigated crops: $1.3 billion Project Livestock industry: $494 million Power generated: $3.4 million Flood damage prevented: $40 million Recreation: over 1.64 million visits - $55 million

USDA, Nichols USDA, in late summer

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.

www.usbr.gov/pn Yakima Field Office (509) 575-5848

April 2011 Fishing Opportunities Fishing occurs both in the project reservoirs and in Almost Anything Will Grow Protecting Fish and Wildlife the downstream from the reservoirs. Anglers catch trout and kokanee in the mountain lakes With a little water, almost anything will Congress created the Yakima River Basin Water grow in the Yakima Valley. Project lands Enhancement Project to make the Yakima Project and reservoirs. They catch trout, salmon, and small mouth bass in the Yakima River. boast some 60 different crops, including more friendly to the environment. Over several wheat, alfalfa, hops, peppermint, spearmint, decades, fish passage in the Yakima Valley has asparagus, sweet corn, grapes, apples, evolved from an art to a science. Reclamation cherries, pears, and peaches. builds fish ladders and fish screens to help protect salmon, steelhead, and bull trout. Under the Water Enhancement Project, Reclamation purchases or leases water from willing sellers to leave in the rivers for fish and wildlife.

Recreation: Something for Everyone Surrounded by thick, evergreen forests, the project’s Bumping Lake Dam reservoirs nestle jewel- like into the rugged Cascade Constructed: 1909 -1910 terrain. The major reservoirs are surrounded by the Mt. Height: 61 feet Baker- Snoqualmie and Wenatchee National Forests. Crest Length: 3,425 feet Each year, almost two million recreation enthusiasts Water Storage (Bumping Lake): The wide variety of fruit, vegetables, seeds, 33,700 acre -feet converge on the project’s reservoirs for camping, field crops, and cereal grains make the hiking, swimming, boating, rafting, and fishing. Yakima Valley one of the top agricultural Cle Elum Dam The water has also created habitat for resident and producers in the country. Yakima County Constructed: 1931- 1933 migratory birds such as ducks, geese, cranes, eagles, ranks first in the in apple, mint, Height: 165 feet and osprey. and hops production. Crest Length: 1,800 feet Water Storage (): 436,900 acre -feet

Clear Creek Dam Constructed: 1914 –1915 Height: 83 feet Crest Length: 404 feet Water Storage (Clear Creek): 5,300 acre -feet

Kachess Dam Constructed: 1910 -1912 Height: 115 feet Crest Length: 1,400 feet Water Storage (Kachess Lake): 239,000 acre -feet

Keechelus Dam Constructed: 1913 -1917 Height: 128 feet Crest Length: 6,550 feet Water Storage (): 158,000 acre -feet

Tieton Dam Constructed: 1917 -1925 Height: 319 feet Crest Length: 920 feet Water Storage (Rimrock Lake): 198,000 acre -feet

1 acre-foot of water is enough water to cover 1 acre of land 1 foot deep in water, or 325,850 gallons. WASHINGTON

Seattle

Olympia

Water for Residents Yakima Project water finds its way to serve nearly everyone in the valley. More than 250,000 people receive some type of water service from Spinoff Industries the project. The Wapato Irrigation Project, Generating Power operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is one The project is an economic giant. Irrigated The powerplants at Chandler and Roza generate of the largest groups receiving water. The project agriculture has created spinoff industries, such as a combined 105 million kilowatt hours of irrigates over 130,000 acres on Nation canneries, wineries, creameries, fruit packing plants, electricity per year. This is enough electricity to lands south of Yakima. and juice factories to process locally- grown crops. supply almost 8,000 typical homes.