Project Grant R24AP00204

AWARD PURPOSE: THE SOUTH BRANCH CANAL PIPING PROJECT ACHIEVES THE PUBLIC PURPOSE OF THE ACT BY COMPLETING AN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT OR ACTIVITY THAT WILL ADVANCE ONE OR MORE COMPONENTS OF AN ESTABLISHED STRATEGY OR PLAN TO INCREASE THE RELIABILITY OF WATER SUPPLY FOR ECOLOGICAL VALUES AND WATERSHED HEALTH.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE KITTITAS RECLAMATION DISTRICT, LOCATED IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON, WILL RESTORE IN-STREAM FLOWS AND PROVIDE BENEFITS TO FISH AND WILDLIFE IN MANTASH CREEK, AN OVER-APPROPRIATED TRIBUTARY OF THE YAKIMA RIVER. THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE PIPING OF A 2,656 LINEAR FEET SECTION OF THE CURRENTLY UNLINED SOUTH BRANCH CANAL, WHICH IS PART OF RECLAMATIONS YAKIMA PROJECT. ONCE PIPED, EXPECTED DELIVERABLES OR OUTCOMES: THE DISTRICT ANTICIPATES CONSERVING APPROXIMATELY 385 ACRE-FEET PER YEAR CURRENTLY LOST TO SEEPAGE. THE DISTRICT WILL DESIGNATE THIS OTHERWISE LOST WATER THROUGH AN ALLOCATION, MANAGEMENT, AND PROTECTION AGREEMENT, THAT INVOLVES CAREFUL MONITORING OF STREAM FLOW ON MANTASH CREEK TO MAINTAIN OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR YAKIMA BASIN FISH SPECIES, INCLUDING COHO AND CHINOOK SALMON, MID-COLUMBIA STEELHEAD, AND BULL TROUT. THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WATER PROTECTION AND ENFORCEMENT AND WILL ENSURE THAT CONSERVED WATER STAYS INSTREAM. THE PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY NOAA FISHERIES, THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY, YAKAMA NATION, AND NUMEROUS LOCAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: GENERAL PUBLIC, RECREATORS, WATER USERS AND THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SALMON AND STEELHEADSUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES (IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT TIME OF AWARD): NONE