Tuesday January 2, 2024
FOX 41 Yakima —
The Bureau of Reclamation is putting over $51 million into rivers and watersheds across the country, including over $7 million just to the Yakima River.
18 projects in eight states, including 5 in Washington and 4 in Oregon, are receiving the funding to study, design and construct infrastructure to aid ecosystem restoration. The funds come from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the WaterSMART program.
A total of $7,520,000 will go to the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation to fund four projects along the Yakima River.
The Nation is receiving over $3 million for the Toppenish Creek Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage Project at Pom Pom Road.
Currently, roads, bridges and agriculture are cutting off the creek from the river, impacting federally-restricted fish from healthy water. The money is earmarked for construction of a new bridge and three concrete structures that will reconnect 100 acres of floodplain forests, increase water flow by 270% and allow streams to return to its natural processes.