State of Washington Water Research Center Contributes to the debates over the Yakima Basin IWRM plan Jonathan Yoder Director, State of Washington Water Research Center 28 Februrary 2017 Yoder YBIP
Yakima Basin ◮ Irrigation-dependent agricultural economy. ◮ Historically large but struggling salmonid runs. ◮ Municipal growth and water insecurity. ◮ Summer irrigation water provided by snowpack and 5 existing reservoirs. ◮ Snowpack is projected to diminish due to climate change. Yoder YBIP
Yakima Basin Integrated Plan The Yakima Basin Integrated Plan (IP) arose out of decades of conflict among irrigators, tribes, environmentalists. ◮ 6 water storage projects. ◮ 6 Fish passage projects. ◮ Water market development. ◮ Water conservation. ◮ Instream flow augmentation. ◮ Other operations changes. ◮ $4B estimated costs. Yoder YBIP
Prior Research on the IP Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan Four Accounts Analysis of the Integrated Plan ◮ Vast amount of research on U.S. Bureau of Reclamation many aspects of the IP Contract No. 08CA10677A ID/IQ developing over decades ◮ 2012 Benefit-Cost analysis ◮ Examined IP versus no IP ◮ Findings: The IP passes a Prepared by ECONorthwest BC test. Natural Resources Economics ESA ◮ Did not assess individuals IP projects. U.S. Department of the Interior State of Washington Bureau of Reclamation Department of Ecology Pacific Northwest Region Office of Columbia River October 2012 Columbia-Cascades Area Office Yoder YBIP
WRC study ◮ Legislative charge to WRC ◮ 2013 Capital Budget charged the State of Washington Water Research Center (WRC) to do a(nother) BC analyis of the IP. ◮ This analysis was to assess individual projects of the IP. ◮ Delivered Dec. 2014. Findings ◮ All fish passage projects pass a BC test. ◮ No water storage projects pass a BC test as part of full IP. ◮ IP as a whole does not pass a BC test. ◮ The WRC made no policy recommendations. Yoder YBIP
Consequences of the Report ◮ This was first research on the IP that had not been funded by developers and/or proponents of the IP. ◮ the WRC report has been widely cited by multiple stakeholder groups in the press, legislative testimony, and other venues. ◮ In short; the WRC study provided a platform for a broad set of stakeholders to enter the discussion over the IP, and public discourse is active today. ◮ WRC study follow up: ◮ Countless outreach and communication hours. ◮ American Agricultural Economics Association Award for Policy Analysis. ◮ Two journal publications, more coming. Yoder YBIP
The story, and the success ◮ The success: ◮ That the science and analysis are now an integral part of the public discourse. ◮ Not clear how the IP will unfold, but success in this case is that the work led by the WRC is constructively contributing to this discourse. ◮ The story: ◮ The WRC was tasked by the legislature to do this work, and this occurs relatively frequently. ◮ Represents a recognition of the WRC as a source for science-based and methods-driven research. ◮ Represents a long history of WRC work and outreach in Washington State. ◮ For more information: https://wrc.wsu.edu/2014ybip/ . Yoder YBIP
The Role of NIWR and Consistent Federal Funding ◮ Many centers and institutes are started and then fade away. ◮ WRRA funding has been a small but critical fiscal foundation for half of a century. ◮ University matching support and affiliation provides the capacity. ◮ Critical to build a reputation for science and methods-based research. Yoder YBIP
Other Recent activities due to reputation and performance 2016 Washington State Legislative Report ◮ Recurrent contracts for Columbia River Basin Long-Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast Columbia Basin Water Supply EXECUTIVE SUMMARY and Demand forecast. ◮ Assessment of options for addressing groundwater well moratoria due to surface/groundwater interaction. ◮ Skagit County Moratorium ◮ Potenial statewide restrictions Publicatjon No. 16-12-001 on domestic well development Submitued December 2016 Pursuant to RCW 90.90.040 by: in collaboratjon with in closed basins due to surface water impacts (Hirst Decision) Yoder YBIP
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