News Release
February 1, 2013
Inslee’s First Request Bill Raises Concerns
Battles loom over controversial $5 Billion Yakima Water Plan
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Today conservationists
expressed deep disappointment and anger regarding newly inaugurated
Governor Jay Inslee’s first act as governor. On Tuesday, Governor
Inslee announced the submission of his first request bill to the
legislature, a funding request for the Yakima Basin Integrated Water
Management Plan (Yakima Plan). The plan promises such benefits as
temporary jobs, irrigation security, environmental restoration, and
increased fish runs. However, many local, state-wide, and national
conservation groups have opposed elements of the Yakima Plan as it is
written because of two highly controversial elements: the construction
of two massive dams and the designation of treasured National Forest
lands as National Recreation Areas for off-road vehicles.
“We are incredibly
disappointed with Governor Inslee’s quick support of the Yakima Plan,
particularly in light of the ongoing opposition that has been expressed
by a growing number of conservation organizations,” said Chris Maykut,
President of Friends of Bumping Lake. “There is so much good that can
come of the political attention being directed to the Yakima Valley
right now, but spending $5 billion dollars and destroying ancient
forests, critical habitat for endangered species, and beloved
recreational areas is not worth what we as Washingtonians get out of the
deal.”
Two massive irrigation dams
are at the center of the Yakima Plan. One of them, at Bumping Lake
adjacent to the William O. Douglas Wilderness, would inundate and
destroy a popular new National Forest campground, a thousand acres of
ancient forest, 15 historic cabins, trails, and access roads to popular
hiking spots. In October 2011, the Alpine Lakes Protection Society,
California Water Impact Network, Endangered Species Coalition,
Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs, North Cascades Conservation
Council, Washington State Chapter of the Sierra Club, Western Lands
Project, and Western Watersheds Project sent a letter to the Washington
Congressional delegation opposing a new Bumping Lake dam.
In 2008, the Bureau of
Reclamation studied the other project, Wymer Dam, north of Yakima, and
found that it had a taxpayer benefit-cost ration of 31 cents of positive
economic impact for every dollar that would be spent on it.
The Yakima Plan’s current
proposal for two new National Recreation Areas within the
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest with 40,000 acres for off-road
vehicle use is also meeting with stiff opposition within the
conservation community. Twenty-nine organizations signed letters in
March 2012 regarding the proposed National Recreation Area designation,
which poses numerous threats to the ecosystem, watersheds, and
non-motorized recreational opportunities. Despite numerous roundtable
meetings throughout the fall and winter in the community about the NRAs,
none of these 29 organizations has become supporters of the Yakima
Plan.
“At a time when we as a
state and a nation continue to struggle to fund basic social programs,
keep state parks open, and redefine what our financial priorities are as
a society, why would we support spending billions from our state
economy on wasteful water projects?” said Maykut. “Many if not all of
the goals of the Yakima Plan can be achieved through legislation,
mandatory conservation and water marketing, and using a thoughtful
approach when it comes to the important issues that Yakima irrigators
face. As we saw with the Elwha Dam removal last year, the era of
dam-building and ecosystem destruction should be over.”
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