In the agricultural heartland of the Northwest Pacific, a water plan that protects people and nature
After facing 5 years of drought in 15 years, partners in Washington's Yakima River Basin developed a new water plan that aims to make farms, fish, and families in the region more resilient to climate variability and change.
Blocked for decades by an impassable dam, 11.2 miles of prime habitat are now open to endangered Caifornia coho salmon. Access to the upper stream elevations will make the salmon and steelhead trout that migrate into the Russian River watershed to spawn much more resilient to temperature and drought extremes.
In the midst of a drought in 2008, biologists discovered dead Coho and steelhead trout in a tributary of the Russian River. When the dust settled, the focus turned to how winegrowers and other water users could reduce their impact. The event provided the parties involved—winegrowers, conservationists, and the water agency—an opportunity to find common ground in the realm of science.