HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2001-177 Water Storage Projects (re: Yakima River Basin) (including Black Rock Project)RESOLUTION NO. R-2001- 177
A RESOLUTION expressing support for enhanced water storage in the Yakima River
Basin and authorizing the Mayor, Council Members, and staff to engage in
activities furthering support for such Water Storage Projects.
WHEREAS, there are five reservoirs in the upper Yakima River basin with the capacity
to store a total of one million acre feet of water in any year, and
WHEREAS, the amount of water demand within the Yakima River system for irrigation,
municipal water supply, fisheries management, and endangered/threatened species, is
in excess of 3 million acre feet of water per year, and
WHEREAS, the difference between annual basin water demand and annual storage
capacity is normally met by snow melt and runoff, and
WHEREAS, snow melt and runoff in any year may be insufficient, or occur at the wrong
time to meet all demands on the Yakima River system, and
WHEREAS, the difference between annual demand and existing storage capacity
cannot be provided fully through the application of water conservation and management
measures that are currently being developed and applied; and
WHEREAS, additional storage capacity will allow for more efficient management and
use of those waters that are made available through conservation, and
WHEREAS, there is now a need for immediate actions that will significantly increase
basin storage capacity in the shortest possible time period,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Yakima City Council supports the
following efforts to enhance the availability of water in the Yakima River Basin through:
• Increasing storage capacity of existing reservoirs,
• Providing additional off -stream storage,
• Enhanced aquifer storage and retrieval, and
• Other appropriate means of enhancing water availability and storage capacity in the
Yakima River Basin.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 18th day of December, 2001.
ATTEST: Place, Mayor
Karen Roberts, City Clerk
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No.
4 19
For Meeting of 12/18/01
ITEM TITLE: Resolution expressing support for enhanced water storage in the Yakima River Basin
and authorizing the Mayor, Council Members, and staff to engage in activities furthering support
for such Water Storage Projects.
SUBMITTED BY: Dueane Calvin, Water/Irrigation Manager, 575-6154
SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Over a period of the last several months of drought, Council, citizens,
and staff have been made intimately aware of the water shortages, particularly in the Yakima River
Basin.
The City is aware of several proposals to bring about the development of storage projects in an
effort to overcome this water deficiency. Provided that appropriate cost/benefit can be
demonstrated, the City supports further evaluation of these storage proposals in the Yakima River
Basin, including the Black Rock Project.
Resolution X Ordinance _Contract _ Other (Specify)
Funding Source:
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL:
N/A
City Manager
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution.
8U
COUNCIL ACTION: Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R-2001-177