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Lower Yakima River Water Quality Improvement Project

Collaborative project led by Scott Ladd to monitor and reduce pollutants in Lower Yakima River tributaries and irrigation return drains. Improvements in water quality observed, but ongoing work needed. Recommendations for improvement include reducing water deliveries, adopting best management practices, and enhancing water accounting measures.

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Lower Yakima River Water Quality Improvement Project

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  1. Water Quality in Lower Yakima River Tributary Streams and Irrigation Return Drains Project Leader: Scott Ladd Water Resources Program Yakama Nation ladds@yakama.com Partners/Contributors: Dept of Ecology; BIA-Wapato Irrigation Project, Bureau of Reclamation

  2. Lower Yakima River Basin & Irrigation Divisions

  3. 508,00 ac-ft

  4. Non-Point Source Pollutants…

  5. Hydrologic/Ecologic Importance July-September 2007 2008 480 cfs 549 cfs - Yakima River at Parker 441 cfs 442 cfs – Reservation tributaries (below Parker)

  6. Marion Drain, Toppenish Creek, & Satus Creek 1995: 75 tons/day 2007-08: 5 tons/day 93% reduction!

  7. For July-September … • The “Muddy 5” contributed 85% of the TSS loading and only 52% of the flow. • South Satus Drain - 52% of TSS load & 14% of flow • Satus-Marion-Toppenish: 15% of Reservation TSS load

  8. Main Canal (New Reservation)Wapato Irrigation ProjectJuly-September 20072008 • TSS in: -50 tons/day -52 tons/day • TSS out (13 drains & streams): -29 tons/day -31 tons/day

  9. Fecal Indicator Bacteria Sites that meet standard during irrigation season: Fecal Coliform • 1 of 13 drains/streams • 0 of 3 internal drains • 5 of 5 reference sites E. Coli • 0 of 13 drains/streams • 0 of 3 internal drains • 3 of 5 reference sites

  10. Nutrients Excessive Nutrient Indicators: nuisance aquatic growth, DO and/or pH violations.

  11. Lower Yakima R. 0.50 – 1.10 mg/l (CD/USGS)

  12. Lower Yakima R. 0.03 – 0.12 mg/l (CD/USGS)

  13. Take Home Messages • Improvements have been realized, but there is still work to be done • Variability in time and space at multiple scales is key to understanding the system • Hydrology strongly influences water quality and is a driving force in determining certain parameters

  14. More Informationhttp://www.ecy.wa.gov/eimScott Ladd, HydrologistYakama Nation Water Resources Programladds@yakama.com

  15. How to improve • on-farm turbidity targets; • reduced water deliveries; • conversion to sprinkler or drip; • convert open ditches to pipe; • BMPs – settling ponds, filter strips, PAM

  16. WIP Priority Improvement Measures • Reduce backlog of deferred maintenance ($200+ million) • Better water accounting throughout system • Re-regulation reservoirs • Pipe Satus Unit • On-farm conservation • Canal lining • Conversion to wildlife refuge

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