Yakima Basin Integrated Plan workgroup

The Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Workgroup, a stakeholder group co-chaired by us and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, provides policy and project development advice on implementing the Yakima River basin integrated water resource plan.

Group members represent a myriad of private, local, tribal, state, federal, and environmental interests in the Yakima River basin. Meetings are quarterly and open to the public.


Office of Columbia River Director Tom Tebb, second from left, addresses the workgroup and visitors, including state Sen. Jim Honeyford and Congressman Dan Newhouse, far right.

Resident groups and other water interested stakeholders who are seeking long-term water solutions are participating on our Yakima River Basin workgroup. Joining our federal and local government partners and agencies are the Yakama Nation, regional irrigation districts, and environmental organizations. We jointly co-chair the group with our federal partner — the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation — which manages the large Yakima irrigation project.

The group meets quarterly to discuss Yakima Basin Integrated Plan policy and project development. The public is encouraged to attend meetings and participate by providing comments.

2024 schedule

All meetings are held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

  • March 13, 2024 - Ellensburg, Hotel Windrow, 502 N. Main St - Map
  • June 5, 2024 - Richland, Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr. -  Map
  • September 11, 2024 - Toppenish, Legends Casino and Conference Center, 580 Fort Rd - Map
  • December 13, 2024 - Yakima, Yakima Valley College Conference Center - Campus map, 1704 W Nob Hill Blvd. - Map

Subcommittees

Subcommittees and subgroups within the workgroup focus on specific topics.

  • Groundwater Subcommittee
  • Watershed Land Conservation Subcommittee
  • Habitat Subcommittee
  • Water Use Subcommittee
  • Municipal Water Use Subgroup
  • Lower River Subgroup

Membership

Wendy McDermott
American Rivers
Jerome Delvin
Benton County Commission
Dave Brown
City of Yakima
Seth Defoe
Kennewick Irrigation District
Cory Wright
Kittitas County Commission
Urban Eberhart
Kittitas Reclamation District
Justin Yeager
NOAA Fisheries Service

Ron Anderson
Yakima County Commission

Scott Revell
Roza Irrigation District
Ron Cowin
Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District

Lisa Pelly
Trout Unlimited

Bret Walters
US Army Corps of Engineers
Talmadge Oxford
US Bureau of Reclamation
Jason Romine
US Fish & Wildlife Service
Erick Walker
US Forest Service
Jaclyn Hancock
WA Department of Agriculture
Tom Tebb
WA Department of Ecology
Mike Livingston
WA Department of Fish & Wildlife
Larry Leach
WA Department of Natural Resources
Phil Rigdon
Yakama Nation
Rick Dieker
Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District
Alex Conley
Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board
Sid Morrison
Yakima Basin Storage Alliance