Yakima county, in collaboration with the city of yakima and the washington state department of transportation, will complete the study and design of a flood reduction and floodplain restoration…

Yakima County, in collaboration with the City of Yakima and the Washington State Department of Transportation, received a $1.9M Project Grant from the Bureau of Reclamation's Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program (CFDA 15.580) to complete 60% design and study work for a comprehensive flood reduction and floodplain restoration project at the Naches River and Cowiche Creek confluence near Yakima, Washington. Award date: June 17, 2025; completion date: September 30, 2028.

The deliverables include detailed design of multiple project elements: bridge replacement to address undersized infrastructure, removal of obsolete irrigation systems, topographic regrading to restore natural floodplain conditions, and native riparian vegetation replanting. Additionally, the grant funds administrative activities to reorganize county-held lands, easements, and covenants, and development of master plans for future park facilities. Upon implementation, the completed designs will support flood risk reduction across 136 acres of floodplain, improved fish passage and habitat restoration over two river miles, and creation of recreational infrastructure for the growing community. The project builds upon an existing interlocal agreement among the three public entities and reflects alignment with the Cowiche Fish Habitat Management Plan.

Yakima county, in collaboration with the city of yakima and the washington state department of transportation, will complete the study and design of a flood reduction and floodplain restoration project near the confluence of naches river and cowiche creek, located near the western limits of the city of yakima in central washington state. The cowiche creek confluence is debilitated by recurring flooding, and the once-productive floodplain no longer provides optimal spawning habitat for native populations of steelhead trout and coho salmon. The county aims to address these floodplain issues before the area becomes further urbanized and constrained by infrastructure. The county will complete the 60% design of multiple project elements, including designs to replace an undersized bridge, remove obsolete irrigation infrastructure, regrade disturbed areas to mimic natural floodplain topography, and replant with native riparian vegetation. This study and design project will also include an administrative effort to reorganize lands, easements, and covenants held by the county to facilitate park development, and development of plans for a future park. When implemented, these project elements will reduce flood potential across 136-acres of floodplain, improve fish passage and riparian habitat in over two river miles of the confluence area, and create a park that will provide recreational opportunity to the rapidly growing community. The project involves numerous stakeholders and builds upon the signing of an interlocal agreement between the city of yakima, WSDOT, and the county for cooperation towards the objectives developed in the cowiche fish habitat management plan.