2022 Annual Board Meeting
On August 10th, 2022, The Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board hosted its first in-person Annual Board Meeting since the 2020 Covid-19 outbreak. This meeting was graciously hosted by the wonderful REACH Museum in Richland Washington, and included a morning tour of restoration projects throughout the lower Yakima basin. Board members, reviewed the 2022 Salmon Recovery Funding Board Grant Round, presented by Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board Lead Entity, Michael Horner. Additional presentations included the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative with Ralph Lampman with the Yakama Nation Fisheries.
Lunch and Presentations
The major projects in this list included the Yakima River Gap-to-Gap Ecosystem Restoration Project, and were ranked based on how they’re goals impact salmon populations in order to score for their funding eligibility. Many enjoyed the guest presentations like Heather Wendtz’s work with the Heritage Gardens Program, and Rachel Little’s Water Star Harvester program (as seen earlier in the morning tours), both supported by Yakima river basin based Conservation Districts (Benton, Yakima, and Franklin). In addition, attendees celebrated the recognition of Heather Simmons, for her work building the foundation for the Eastern Washington Riparian Planting Symposium and Populus: The Columbia Basin Riparian Planting Partnership.
Lower Yakima River Basin Site Tour
Members met at the Reach Museum early in the morning to carpool for the Annual Meeting Tour, where they visited three informative sites along the lower Yakima River. First, morning members hiked around the Bateman Island Causeway, where Tapteal Greenway staff Mike Lilga and volunteers led a tour on the water quality issues surrounding causeway and the need for local wildlife crossings.
Several presentations were provided at the Barker Ranch, where Michael Crowder provided information about how the positive results from incorporating water saving practices the management of waterfowl crop fodder operations, as well as presentations on multiple local topics from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Yakama Nation Fisheries.
The final stop took a look at the Lower Yakima Delta Habitat Management Unit where Benton Conservation District provided an informative session on their Water Stargrass Harvester and the impact of Water Stargrass, a plant who is over taking warm waterways and effecting salmon habitat in the Yakima River.
All photos by Shyanne Palmus (Communications Coordinator), Benton County Commissioners’ Office