Governor Inslee Proclaims Strong Support For The Yakima Integrated Plan
Michael Garrity, Washington State Conservation Director
February 1, 2013 | Dams & Dam Removal, Floods & Floodplains, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Water Supply
Yakima River, WA | Michael Garrity
Last Thursday, new Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee appeared before a photo of the Yakima River at his weekly press conference to announce his first legislative action: Introducing a bill to the state legislature (HB 1414) calling for state funding and implementation of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan in order to restore salmon, protect key headwaters habitat, and better manage water in the Yakima River Basin.
Gov. Inslee touted the economic and environmental benefits of the Plan, particularly the fact that the plan will make the basin’s farms and salmon more resilient to the impacts of climate change. He said the Plan’s benefits for salmon – which will increase salmon and steelhead numbers ten-fold – are “long overdue.”
American Rivers, which helped negotiate the Yakima Plan with irrigators, the Yakama Nation, local counties, and others, applauds Gov. Inslee’s leadership on this important issue, and we look forward to working with his office to make the promise of the Plan a reality.
You can watch Gov. Inslee’s announcement, and find more information on the Yakima Plan.
Post a Comment
Comment Policy: Our goal is to provide a forum for sharing and interacting with others about issues that are affecting our rivers and our clean water. All comments offered in the spirit of civil conversation are welcome! Commercial spam, obscenity and other rude behavior are not, and will be removed.
