Kittitas

County

Conservation

District

The Lower Wilson Creek project became a KCCD sponsored project after previous efforts to coordinate funding sources were unsuccessful. Originally this project was to be funded by grants to the Yakama Nation from BPA and the Salmon Recovery Funding (SRF) Board. Timing and budget issues prevented the project from occuring as planned.

Early in 2003, the landowner applied for both Irrigation Efficiencies and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding. Both applications were successful and after the Yakama Nation offered to transfer the final piece of funding, which was the $108,000 SRF Board grant, to the KCCD, the project was ready to go. Construction begain in early September to install the sprinkler irrigation systems. That work should be complete by the end of the year. The riparian plantings and other associated work will likely occur in the spring of 2004.

Background Information from the SRF Grant Application:

Wilson Creek is a 382 square mile watershed that enters the Yakima River at RM 147. At present, diversion structures near the mouth of the Creek have blocked anadromous fish access to most of the watershed. However, juvenile densities below the barriers are high relative to the rest of the Yakima basin. This project will remove two gravity-fed diversion structures, and consolidate and screen four unscreened irrigation diversion points to prevent fish entrainment. Spawning and rearing habitat will increase by approximately five miles. The project will also remove invasive riparian vegetation, provide fencing, and plant native riparian plants to establish a productive riparian habitat. The project will serves as an example of positive collaboration between private landowners, tribal biologists, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Conservation District.