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

Joe Blodgett
Yakama Nation

Cindy Boen
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Alex Conley
Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board

Seth Defoe
Kennewick Irrigation District

Chris Duke
Bureau of Reclamation
Columbia-Cascades Area Office

Urban Eberhart
Kittitas Reclamation District

Crystal Elliott
Trout Unlimited

David Farmer
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest

David Felman
Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District

Jaclyn Hancock
WA Department of Agriculture

Craig Haskell
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Larry Leach
WA Department of Natural Resource

Mike Livingston
WA Department of Fish & Wildlife

Will McKay
Benton County Commission
Amanda McKinney
Yakima County Commission
Sid Morrison
Yakima Basin Storage Alliance

Travis Okelberry
Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District

Brandon Parsons
American Rivers
Scott Revell
Roza Irrigation District
Phil Rigdon
Yakama Nation
Mike Shane
City of Yakima
Jeff Tayer
WDFW (ret.)
Tom Tebb
WA Department of Ecology
Cory Wright
Kittitas County Commission
Justin Yeager
NOAA Fisheries Service
Justin Yeager
NOAA Fisheries Service