Comments on Wanapum water raise sought

CRESCENT BAR — Comments on the environmental impact of increasing Wanapum Dam’s storage capacity are being collected through Nov. 16.

The state Department of Ecology is gathering input on what should be included in the project’s environmental impact statement.

Tom Tebb, Yakima Regional Office director, said the project would increase the storage capacity of Wanapum Dam by 70,000 acre-feet.

Two-thirds of the water would be used for out-of-stream purposes. The remainder of the water would be used for in stream purposes such as fish.

The project would raise the reservoir to its highest allowed level, Tebb said.

“It’s been operating at three and a half feet less,” he said.

Crescent Bar residents could be impacted if Wanapum’s capacity is raised, Tebb said.

“In some instances, there could be properties or things that could be flooded,” he said.

Tebb claims over time, Crescent Bar residents encroached on the maximum elevation level of the water.

He noted the properties were already at risk of flooding.

Several times since the 1950s, the water level has reached the highest level, he said.

Input is being gathered during the Department of Ecology’s beginning period for the Environmental Impact Statement.

The department is identifying potential project impacts, which could be social, economic, cultural and more.

Some comments were gathered at an Oct. 22 meeting.

The meeting had a low turnout, Tebb said.

The Wanapum Tribe and natural resource agencies were among those represented at the meeting, he said.

Comments can be mailed to Tom Tebb, Central Regional Director, at Department of Ecology, 15 W. Yakima Ave., Suite 200, Yakima, WA 98902.

Comments can be e-mailed to gteb461@ecy.wa.gov. The Department of Ecology asked that “Wanapum Dam EIS” be included in the subject line.