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Current Status 



An operating agreement is out for review for fish passage in the Lemhi 

 River basin. Designs for the fish passage facilities are underway. 



Meetings have been held in Wallowa and Grant Counties to try to identify 

 conservation opportunities in the Wallowa and John Day River Basins. 



Contact : Onni Perala. Activity Manager, Conservation Technical Team. Boise. 

 Idaho. 208-378-5090. 



Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Pro.iect 



Background 



The Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project was initiated to examine 

 water supply problems and development opportunities in Washington's Yakima 

 River basin. The objective was to improve the availability of the water 

 supply for irrigation while protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife 

 resources. Phase 1 of the project focused on fish passage and protective 

 facilities at all major diversions. These facilities have been completed. 



Phase 2 of the project consists fish passage facilities on smaller diversions. 

 These are now in the construction phase. Phase 2 also focuses on reducing 

 water diversions through (1) structural improvements to conveyance and 

 distribution systems and to individual on-farm facilities, and (2) 

 nonstructural changes related to the operation, management, and overall use of 

 water. 



Legislation related to this project was introduced in Congress in 1991 and 

 1992, but was not passed. The legislation's major feature, the "Basin 

 Conservation Program." represented a new approach to doing business. 

 Checkpoints for implementing the program step-by-step were established in the 

 bill. These checkpoints involved decision making by a local oversight group. 

 Yakima Indian Nation, State government, the Secretary of the Interior, and the 

 Congress. Local. State and Federal funds would be dedicated over time for 

 cost-shared implementation as water user proposals are approved. 



Current Status 



Phase 1 has been completed. Phase 2 is under construction. Legislation 

 similar to that which included the "Basin Conservation Program" that was 

 defeated in 1992 has been introduced by Congressman Jay Ingler for 1993. 



Contact : Eric Glover. Activity Manager, Boise, Idaho, 208-378-5083. 



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