This contract covers the Expensed portion of the project described below.  The Capitalized portions are covered under CR 273215.  the Yakima Tributary Access and Habitat Program (YTAHP) works on Yakima tributaries to re-establish fish passage, screen diversions, increase instream flows and enhance riparian and instream habitat.  Section 2.1.2 of the Yakima subbasin Plan Supplement (Nov. 26, 2004, pg 8) speaks to limiting factors in the Yakima Subbasin and attributes the decline of aquatic species to "low flows; obstruction to fish migration and enhancement; diminished habitat quantity, quality and diversity: high temperatures; altered sediment transport and degraded channel stability."

YTAHP developed from a number of groups engaged in watershed management and/or habitat restoration within the Yakima river Basin. These groups include the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Kittitas county Conservation District, North Yakima Conservation District, Kittitas Conservation Trust, Mid-Columbia fisheries Enhancement Group, the Yakama Nation and the Ahtanum Irrigation District.  The United States Bureau of Reclamation and the US Fish and Wildlife Services participate in the development of projects.  The South Central Washington Resource Conservation and Development Council administers the program at the local level.

YTAHP has concentrated on tributaries upstream of Union Gap where salmonids are known to have historically occurred.  Streams have been surveyed for fish passage barriers, analyzed for screening diversions, and assessed for habitat quality using WDFW's salmonid Screening Habitat enhancement and Restoration (SSHEAR) protocol.  The SSHEAR assessments provide index numbers to facilitate prioritization of passage and screening projects;  YTAHP participants also bring practical knowledge and local perspective including land ownership and water rights to the table.  Projects are not prioritized strictly on SSHEAR index numbers, rather the merits of each project are discussed by YTAHP participants in consideration of technical difficulty, funding availability, timing relative to agricultural concerns and fish concerns, landowner/irrigator willingness to participate and the likelihood of accomplishing a given project.

In general, projects on tributaries are prioritized sequentially, moving upstream from the confluence with the Yakima River; as projects are completed, the regained habitat is connected to the mainstem and is available for anadromous fish.  At times projects may appear out of sequence but do fit in the context of multi-year planning.  YTAHP uses BPA funding to leverage cost share funds from a variety of other sources thus expanding the funding pie.  For passage projects, YTAHP works with local landowners and irrigation water delivery entities who voluntarily participate.  BPA funds are used only for planning, design, permitting and implementation.  There are no changes to facility ownership status or operation and maintenance responsibilities resulting from YTAHP work.  BPA takes on no responsibilities for ownership or O&M.