Yakima County

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.