Yakipedia - User contributions [en]

Glossary

2026-03-16T18:07:30Z

Aconley: Revie wn update of definitions

''This glossary is sorted by category. Friendly reminder: use Ctrl+f to search the document! ;)''

In progress! Uncertain about phrases/sentences/list additions in italics.--CM 1/8/2026

=== '''Technical Terms''' ===
''Additional definitions of technical terms are available in the [https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/YBTAP-9-2012-FINAL-small.pdf YBTAP], pg. 215-219 (222-226 of the PDF), and the [https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YakimaSteelheadVSPMonitoringPlan.pdf Yakima Steelhead RME Plan VSP Section], pg. 67-71 (71-75 of the doc). Also see the [https://water.usgs.gov/water-basics_glossary.html USGS Water Resources Glossary].''

'''Abundance''': In the context of salmon recovery, abundance refers to the number of fish. For example, "adult abundance" is the number of fish returning to spawn.

'''''Acoustic Tag''': Tags used to track salmon through a network of transmitters that are surgically implanted in salmon and emit unique sound codes and receivers that pick up and track those sounds even when fish are a significant distance away. Acoustic tags are larger, more expensive, shorter lasting and harder to implant than pit tags, but offer fine scale data on fish movements unavailable with other technologies. They have become an important tool in smolt survival studies in the Yakima Basin and for understanding salmon migrations in salt water.''

'''Acre-foot:''' The volume of water needed to cover an acre of land to a depth of one foot ('''≈'''325,000 gallons), a common unit for quantifying how much water is needed for irrigation or stored in our reservoirs.

'''Adaptive Management''': Adaptive management in salmon recovery planning is a method of decision making in the face of uncertainty. An overall implementation plan incorporates a monitoring, evaluation, and feedback framework ''in which the results of current actions are monitored and evaluated in a structured manner to inform subsequent actions. Adaptive management ideally designs current actions and associated monitoring specifically to test hypothesis about key questions that would change the direction of future management.''

'''Adfluvial''': A life history strategy of fish species in which spawning by adults and rearing of juveniles occurs in streams, but subadults and adults ''migrate to and forage extensively'' in lakes or reservoirs. All of the Yakima Basin's kokanee and many of our bull trout populations are adfluvial. ''Contrasts with Anadromous, Fluvial and Resident.''

'''Alevin:''' Freshly hatched salmonids that still have the yolk sac from their eggs attached to their bellies. Once they have consumed the yolk sac and grown in size, they emerge from their nest gravel (''Redd'') and are considered ''Fry''.

'''Alluvium''': Loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, or in an alluvial fan or beach. ''Alluvium is composed of sediment?? Unsure of distinction''

* '''Alluvial Aquifer''': The groundwater Aquifer ''Typically shallower than other aquifers.''
* '''Alluvial Fan''': ''the alluvium that is deposited by a stream when it flows out of the mouth of a canyon onto a valley floor, where it slows down and sediment drops out. This alluvium often gets deposited in a fan shape from a bird's eye view. Our Wilson-Naneum Creek system has an alluvial fan that spreads into the Kittitas Valley.''
* '''Alluvial Plain''': ''flat or gently sloping areas formed over time by the deposition of sediment from rivers during floods.''

'''Anadromous''': Life history strategy of fish species in which fish are born and rear in freshwater, migrate to and mature in salt water, and return to freshwater to spawn. ''Contrast with Adfluvial, Fluvial.''

* '''Anadromy''': The expression of the anadromous migratory life cycle.

'''Anastomosing (Channel)''': [https://wildearthlab.com/2023/04/12/channel-types/ Read more here.] Contrast with ''Braided.''

'''Aquifer:''' an underground layer of porous rock or earth that holds ''groundwater.'' Aquifers feed springs and wells.

'''Avulse/avulsion''': when the flow of a river naturally redirects, rapidly and permanently, into a new channel. Read more [https://www.sciencenews.org/article/why-rivers-suddenly-change-course here].

'''BACI''': ''Before-After Control-Impact. A monitoring/research experimental design that compares outcomes of a treatment to both outcomes in a control reach (where no action was take) and to site conditions prior to treatment. Oten used to evaluate the effectiveness of restoration projects.''

'''Background Concentration''': The concentration of a substance in a particular environment that would typically exist without human inputs.

'''Bank''': see ''Streambank.''

'''Bankfull''': the point at which a stream or river is filled to the brim, carrying the maximum flow it can hold within its regular channel before spilling over into the ''floodplain''. Typically, streams reach bankfull levels at least once a year.

'''Barrier''': Obstacles to fish ''passage''. Barriers typically prevent fish from moving upstream but can also prevent them from moving downstream. They include manmade structures like ''culverts'' and ''dams'', waterfalls, low water flow, high stream temperatures, poor water quality, etc.

* 100% Barrier: Under no conditions can fish pass the barrier.
* Partial Barrier: Under certain conditions (seasonal high flows, floods), fish can pass the barrier, but at other times they can not. Degree of passability indicated with a percentage.
* Seasonal Barrier: ''When a barrier occurs under recurring seasonal conditions such as high temperatures or low flows.''

'''Base''' '''Flow:''' The sustained low flow of a stream in between ''precipitation'' events. Fed by ''groundwater'' seeping into the stream. ''In the Yakima Basin, base flows typically occur from mid-summer (after the last of the high elevation snowpack runoff is complete) through Septemebr or October (when significant fall rains occur).''

'''''Basin''':'' The geographic area that provides water to a river. Typically used for an area made up of multiple smaller ''Watersheds.''

'''BDA''': Beaver dam analog. Human-constructed habitat features that function like a beaver dam--holding back water to inundate the ''floodplain'' and raise the ''water table''. BDA's may be installed to get the benefits of beaver dams in places without beavers, or to encourage beavers to settle in a particular area. <s>BDA's don't use logs as much as PALS.</s>

'''''Bedload''':'' Sediment, typically sand, ''gravel and/or cobble'' that settles forms the bed of a river is transported along the bottom of a river by flowing water. Contrast with ''Suspended load'' which is finer material that is transported in the water column, not on the river bed.

'''Bedrock''': The solid rock that lies underneath soil or stream gravels. When stream velocity is <s>too</s> high, stream gravels can get washed downstream, eventually exposing and eroding bedrock. Bedrock is unsuitable for ''spawning.''

'''Benthic''': of, relating to, or occurring at the bottom of a body of water.

'''Bioaccumulation''': when the rate of intake of a substance by an organism exceeds the rate that the organism can metabolize or excreted. This leads to increasing concentrations of that substance in the organism over time.

'''BMP''': Best Management Practice

'''Braided (Channel)''': Contrast with ''Anastomosing.''

<s>'''Brood Hider''': fish species that hide their eggs in ''redds'' or ''substrate'' for protection rather than guarding them. I've never heard this term so unlikel to need here!</s>

'''BT''': Common abbreviation for bull trout. See ''Salvelinus confluentus.''

'''Catadromous''': Life history strategy of fish species in which fish are born in salt water, migrate to and mature in freshwater, and return to salt water to spawn. ''Contrast with Anadramous.''

'''''Catchment''':'' Typcially British term for the geographic area that provides water to a waterbody. See ''Watershed'' and ''Basin''

'''cfs''': Cubic feet per second, a common unit for quantifying streamflow, aka discharge.

'''Channelized''': a stream that has been artificially straightened or restricted by manmade structures. See ''Floodplain, Levee.''

'''Char:''' A common name for a genera of the Salmonid genetic fish family. Bull trout is actually a char, not a trout (scandal!). Read more [https://spencerdurrant.com/2021/02/08/whats-the-difference-between-trout-and-char/ here].

'''''(In-stream) Complexity''':'' The amount of variety in suitable habitat (in the stream) for all needs of a species; for fish, this includes the amount and distribution of deep pools, amount of ''large woody debris'', variety in ''substrate'' (gravel size), etc. Habitat restoration typically strives to restore habitat complexity in simplified streams. <s>tools include ''ELJ's, BDA's'', ''rootwads,'' etc</s>.

'''Connectivity''': Refers to the ability of a species to move unimpeded between adjoining, accessible habitats of different types and sufficient quantity and quality to support various life stages of a species; especially critical to migratory species such as anadromous salmonids. See ''Passage''.

'''''Core Area''': The USFWS uses this term to define the basic unit on which to gauge recovery. For bull trout, a core area represents the closest approximation of a biologically functioning unit (metapopulations).''

'''(Barrier) Correction''': The process of taking a manmade barrier to fish passage (e.g., culverts, dams) and either removing the barrier or making it easier for fish to pass through/around it.

'''Cobble:''' stream rocks larger than 6.5 cm (2.5 in) in diameter that have been shaped and smoothed over time by the abrasive force of flowing water. Larger than ''Gravel.''

'''Culvert''': Structures that allow water to flow under a road, railroad, trail, or other waterway obstruction. An undersized or improperly placed culvert can limit or totally block fish ''passage''.

'''Dam:''' A physical structure running the width of a river system to capture or impound water. Some fish species are very poor jumpers and cannot get past even low height dams. Contrast with ''Diversion, Weir''.

'''Delta''': wetlands at the ''mouth'' of a river. Deltas form because as rivers meet another body of water, the water slows down and lots of sediment drops out to the river bottom. Over time, this sediment builds up, decreasing the ''gradient'' of the ''riverbed'' and raising the bed of the river to be closer to the ''floodplain''. The Yakima River has a delta in Richland.

[https://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart '''DART''']: ''Data Access in Real Time, a term used to describe when data that is gathered continuously is publicly available. Examples include the [https://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart Columbia River DART] and Reclamation's webpage showing [https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yaktea.html Yakima Basin reservoir levels].''
* ''Also, [https://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart Data Access & Retrieval Tool] (UW’s database that includes tons of data on fish in the Columbia Basin). WAIT THIS IS ALSO THE Columbia River DART isn't it? The link I had for this is the same one''

'''DEM''': Digital Elevation Model

'''Deposition''': when sediment drops down and settles onto the bottom of a body of water. A "deposit" is a collection of deposited sediment.

'''Diadromous''': Fish species that spend part of their life in freshwater and part in salt water. See ''Anadromous'', ''Catadromous''.

'''Diversion''': a structure that redirects water from a natural stream for another purpose, such as irrigation. Diversion projects may include the construction of ''dams, weirs, levees'', pumping stations, irrigation canals, or any other manmade structure that modifies the natural flow of a waterway. These structures can be harmful to fish if the fish are redirected along with the water into the irrigation system (''see entrainment''), if the fish get caught on the water intake structure, or if the structure blocks fish from moving further up the stream.

'''DPS''': Distinct population segment, a term applied to a fish stock if it is a) substantially reproductively isolated from other stocks, and b) an important component in the evolutionary legacy of the species. ''A DPS is larger than an MPG (Major Population Group), which is larger than a Population. The Yakima Basin MPG is within the Middle Columbia DPS ([https://ybfwrb.org/yakipedia/index.php/File:YSRP_Image_1.1_Mid_Columbia_DPS.png see map]).''

'''ELJ''': Engineered Log Jam. ELJ's mimic natural log jams, which provide [https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/71084/NIT_LogJamFactSheet_updated-091522 numerous benefits] to fish. See ''Large Woody Debris.''

'''Endangered''': Endangered species are at risk of extinction throughout a significant portion of their range. ''Contrast with Threatened.''

'''Entrainment''': When a fish passes through or over a dam/barrier/screen such that it can't return to where it came from, it is considered “entrained”. We see two main forms; when fish enter and are then trapped in an irrigation canal, and when fish pass downstream through a major dam and are unable to return to habitat upstream of the dam. We also talk about entrainment into fish sampling facilities, in which case fish typically are returned to the river after sampling.

'''Erosion''': when soil and rock is transported by wind, water, or other natural forces away from its original site. See ''Sediment.''

'''ESA''': [https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-endangered-species-act Endangered Species Act].

* '''ESA-listed''': a species or population of a species that is classified by the federal government under the ESA as either “endangered” with extinction or “threatened” with becoming endangered. In the Yakima Basin, we have no “endangered” fish species, but we have two ESA-listed “threatened” fish species, steelhead (the anadromous form of ''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') and bull trout. These are the highest priority species the Recovery Board works to recover.

'''Estuary:''' a transitional, brackish habitat where a large river meets the sea and mixes with saltwater. Generally more biologically productive than the river or the sea; read more [https://www.britannica.com/science/estuary here].

'''''ESU:''' Evolutionarily Significant Unit''

'''Extirpation:''' Elimination of a species from a particular area. Coho and sockeye salmon were extirpated from the Yakima Basin in the 1900's; the Yakama Nation is reintroducing them using hatchery fish, but the original ''population'' is ''{thought to be?} extinct.''

'''Federal Nexus''': a connection to the federal government; more specifically, sufficient connection between an activity, entity, or property and the federal government for federal authority to apply. Used in the context of grant funding.

'''Fines''': stream sediment smaller than ''Gravel''.

'''Fishery''': the act or business of catching fish, or an area where fish are caught.

'''[https://www.britannica.com/science/river/Floodplains Floodplain]''': The relatively flat areas adjacent to river channels that are partially or totally covered with water in flood events. A floodplain is “well-connected” when water is able to spread out from the main channel in flood events (as opposed to a “channelized” stream that has been artificially straightened or restricted by manmade structures--see ''Levee''). Well-connected floodplains have numerous ecological benefits—they lead to less intense flood events by allowing the water to disperse and slow down, give young fish a refuge from being swept downstream, and more.

* '''X-year Floodplain''': The area which has a 1/X annual chance of flooding. For example, the 100-year floodplain has a 1/100 or 1% annual chance of flooding, while the 2-year floodplain has a ½ or 50% annual chance of flooding.

'''Flume''': An artificial channel to maintain fish passage during stream dewatering. They are constructed above-ground, as opposed to a trench. When Gold Creek or Box Canyon Creek dewater seasonally, WDFW organizes "flume build" volunteer events to quickly construct flumes for Bull Trout.

'''Fluvial''': Of, or found in, a river. Also: A life history of fish species in which spawning by adults and rearing of juveniles occurs in tributaries, but the subadults and adults occupy habitats in larger streams and mainstem rivers. Examples include bull trout in the Naches River and its tributaries, and many rainbow and cutthroat trout. ''Contrast with Adfluvial, Anadromous.''

'''FMO''': Feeding, migrating, overwintering. Often used in the term "FMO habitat" ''as distinct from spawning habitat.''

'''Freshet''': a great rise or overflowing of a stream caused by heavy rains or melted snow.

'''Fry''': A juvenile salmonid that has consumed its yolk sac, about 1-2 inches long. Following life stages include ''Parr'' and ''Smolt''.

[https://www.britannica.com/science/genotype '''Genotype''']: The genotype of an organism is the chemical composition of its DNA, which gives rise to the phenotype, or observable traits of an organism.

'''Gradient''': how steep a stream is.

'''Gravel:''' pebbles between 5 mm (0.2 in) to 6.5 cm (2.5 inches) in diameter; smaller than ''Cobble'', larger than ''Fines''. Salmonids require gravels to build ''redds'' in in order to ''spawn''; this is why soil erosion can disrupt spawning, as the ''fines'' can smother the gravels.

'''Groundwater''': water that has infiltrated the soil beyond the surface and collected in gaps and pores underground. Vital for ''Base Flows.'' Read all about it [https://www.dws.gov.za/Groundwater/Groundwater_Dictionary/ here].

'''Habitat''': an environment that meets all the environmental conditions an organism needs to survive. For an animal, that means everything it needs to find and gather food, select a mate, and successfully reproduce. An animal may live in different habitats during different seasons.

'''(Fish) Hatchery''': a facility that breeds, hatches, and rears fish for aquaculture (fish farms) or to supplement natural populations. Hatcheries are an important part of maintaining ''salmonid'' ''abundance'' in the Yakima Basin while habitat restoration and ''passage'' projects are completed, as well as supporting recreational fishing. See ''YKFP, WDFW.''

'''Headgate''': a gate for controlling the water flowing into a channel (such as an irrigation ditch). See ''Diversion.''

'''Heterozygosity''': An estimate of the amount of genetic variation in a population.

'''High''' '''Flow Event''': Describes when the amount of water in a stream increases above the ''OHWM''. Floods count as high flow events, but not all high flow events cause flooding. High flow events generally mean increased stream velocity, which means greater movement of ''sediment'' and a less hospitable environment for fish, which will try to move to lower velocity areas like ''side channels''.

'''Hold''': when fish pause their ''migration'' and hang out in an area in the interim. Reasons fish might hold include waiting for better migration conditions, or waiting for the right season to smolt or spawn.

'''HUC''': Hydrologic Unit Code, pronounced, “huck.” [https://water.usgs.gov/themes/hydrologic-units/ Hydrologic units] are the USGS's standardized hydrologic geographic units, typically referred to as HUC’s. There are several different layers of HUC’s ([https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b66829c88f9b41a6940a930021133f7c see here]); the largest units are called HUC-2’s (e.g., the Pacific Northwest), and the smallest sub-units are HUC-12’s (a small local watershed). HUC codes can be pretty inscrutable to the uninitiated (just a string of numbers) and don’t always match the way we talk about watersheds locally, so the Recovery Board has developed [[Geographic Units|our own regional geographic units]] with names that match local usage but can be tied back to HUCs.

'''Hydraulic''':

'''Hyporheic zone''': A zone of saturated substrate beneath and spreading laterally from a river bed. It is the zone of active water and organism exchange between the river water and ''groundwater''.

'''Incision''': The process of a stream cutting its channel into the bed of a valley through erosion. An "incised" channel is one that has cut so deeply into the bed that it is disconnected from its ''floodplain''.

'''Incubation''': the period after salmon eggs are laid in ''redds'' during which they remain in the gravel for months while the embryos develop. When the eggs hatch, ''alevin'' emerge.

'''Introduction''': Fish planted into a habitat where the species did not exist historically.

'''Introgression,''' aka '''Introgressive Hybridization''': the transfer of genetic material from one species into the gene pool of another. Introgression is an issue for bull trout; when they breed with brook trout, the result is hybrid offspring that are generally not able to reproduce.

'''Iteroparous''': a species that reproduces multiple times in its lifetime. See ''Kelts, Spawning Adult.'' Contrast with ''Semelparous.''

[https://www.engr.colostate.edu/~pierre/ce_old/classes/ce717/PPT%202020/Blake%20-%20J-hooks.pdf '''J-Hook''']: a stream restoration structure that protects against erosion and creates pools.

'''Juvenile''': a species in its early life stages. Includes the salmon and trout life stages of ''Alevin'', ''Fry'', and ''Parr''.

'''Juvenile Rearing''': period during which young salmon grow in freshwater; includes ''Fry'' and ''Parr'' life stages. Ends when they turn into ''smolts'' and begin their migration to the ocean.

'''Kelt''': A steelhead that has survived spawning and may return to the ocean before returning to freshwater to spawn a second (or even third) time. Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead (as well as Atlantic salmon and European sea trout) don’t all die after spawning.

* '''Kelt Reconditioning'''. An experimental method where steelhead are captured during the post spawning migration and held in a facility until the spawning window of the following year, at which point they are released to return to natal streams to spawn again.

'''Large Woody Debris (LWD)''': Trees and tree limbs ''larger than 16"'' ''in diameter'' that have fallen into a stream or river and are often pushed together into log jams. Important for stream health; may be added to streams where it is lacking as part of restoration projects. [https://www.deschuteslandtrust.org/visit/whychus-canyon-preserve/wood-is-good-the-importance-of-woody-debris-in-streams Read more here.] ''ELJ's'' are constructed using LWD.

'''Legacy''' '''Effects''': Impacts from past activities (land use) that continue to affect a stream or watershed in the present day.

'''Levee:''' an embankment, typically earthen, built to prevent a stream/river from flooding onto adjacent land and/or ''migrating''. Levees are useful for protecting human infrastructure, but they cut off rivers from their floodplains and wetland areas, which denies important side channel habitat to fish and increases stream velocity to inhospitable speeds.

'''Life History Stage:''' a specific period during the life cycle of a fish such as spawning, incubation, juvenile rearing, smolt migration, etc.

'''Life History Strategy:''' the distinct patterns of how fish use different habitats at different points in their life. For example, a fish with a ''resident'' life history may live its whole life within the same mile of stream, while a fish with a winter migrant ''fluvial'' life history may migrate to floodplains far downstream during the winter and return to its home stream in summer. Life history categories include ''Adfluvial, Anadromous, Fluvial,'' and ''Resident'', but the term is also used to talk about specific patterns in habitat usage over time within each of these larger categories.

'''Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration (LTPBR)''': See ''Process-Based Restoration.''

'''LWD''': see ''Large Woody Debris''.

'''Mainstem''': Term applied to the principal channel of a major stream or river. Mainstems are fed by numerous ''tributaries'' that compose a ''watershed''.

'''''Meander''':'' An <s>extreme U-</s>bend in the course of a stream formed by the stream's erosive power, usually occurring in a series. Meanders occur when erosion on one bank of a stream is matched by deposition of a ''Point Bar'' on the opposite side; in unconfined valleys, meanders alternate from one side to the other, and migrate downstream over time, creating a dynamic changing channel configuration which shows up on a map or ariel photo as characteristic set of interlocking S-curves.

'''Mid-C''': the Middle Columbia Region, which includes the Yakima Basin and Klickitat County.

'''(Stream Channel) Migration''': the natural process of a stream or river channel moving around its ''floodplain'' over time. The Dept of Ecology has a great quick [https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/shoreline-coastal-management/hazards/stream-channel-migration-zones read on this subject]

'''[https://www.britannica.com/science/migration-animal Migration]''': the regular, often seasonal, movement of all or part of an animal population to and from a given area. Salmon migrate from freshwater streams to the ocean as ''smolts'' and migrate back from the ocean as adults to their natal streams to ''spawn.''

[https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/habitat-conservation/mitigation-banks-conservation-banks-and-lieu-fee-programs-west#what-is-mitigation '''Mitigation''']: efforts to prevent, reduce, or compensate for adverse effects of various activities to aquatic habitats and species (e.g., transportation projects)

* [https://www.epa.gov/cwa-404/mitigation-banks-under-cwa-section-404 '''Mitigation''' '''Banking''']: a method of mitigation compensation.
* [https://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/00972 Washington Alternative Mitigation Policy Guidance]

'''Mobilization''': in habitat restoration projects (and construction projects more generally), this is the phase of preparing, organizing, and transporting materials, equipment, and personnel before construction begins. This step ensures all elements are in place for construction to proceed efficiently once started. Often shortened to “mob.”

'''(River) Mouth''': where the river enters into another body of water, such as an ocean, lake, or another river.

'''MPG''': Major Population Group. ''See DPS.''

'''[https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/shoreline-coastal-management/shoreline-coastal-planning/shoreline-management-act-sma/shoreline-management-act-jurisdiction/ordinary-high-water-mark OHWM]''': Ordinary High-Water Mark. The highest elevation of the regularly inundated stream channel, as marked by erosion patterns, changes in vegetation, and debris deposits. Typically at or just below the ''bankfull'' level.

'''''Oncorhynchus mykiss''''': the latin name for the species that, when ''anadromous'', is called steelhead, and when ''resident'', is called rainbow trout. Neither common name is the default name of the species (though the phrase "steelhead trout" is sometimes used when making a distinction from salmon); to refer to the species, we generally abbreviate it as "''O. mykiss''."

'''PALS''': Post-assisted log structures. PALS are a tool for mimicking natural wood accumulation in riverscapes to, in turn, guide stream hydraulic forces for greater stream health--floodplain connection, sinuosity, etc. Contrast with ''BDAs, ELJs.''

'''Parr''': Once ''fry'' have grown to about 5 inches and developed vertical fingerprint marks on their sides called “parr marks”, they are considered ''Parr.'' If they are ''anadromous'', when they journey to the ocean to mature, they become ''Smolts.''

'''Passage''': Describes whether a fish is able to move upstream or downstream freely around obstacles. See ''Barrier,'' ''Connectivity,'' and ''(Barrier)'' ''Correction.''

'''PBR''': See ''Process-based restoration.''

'''Phenotype''': The observable characteristics of an organism (such as its external appearance, development, biochemical or physiological properties, and behavior) that result from the interaction of its genotype with the environment. ''Contrast with Genotype.''

* '''Phenotypic''' '''characteristic''': An aspect of the phenotype.

'''PIT''' '''tag''': Passive Integrated Transponder tag (a tracking device implanted in fish to study their movements). Pronounced like the word, “pit”. ''See Radio Telemetry.''

'''Point Bar''': ''deposits'' of ''sediment'' on the inside of river bends (''meanders''). Point bars form as the water on the inside of meanders slows down and sediment settles out to the river bottom. As they build over time, they create distinct landforms that can influence water flow patterns and provide habitats for various plant and animal species.

'''Pool''': a deeper part of the stream where fast-flowing water begins to carve away at the sediment at the bottom and sides, making it deeper and wider, and the stream slows down. Important habitat for fish to rest and feed.

'''[https://www.britannica.com/science/population-ecology Population]''': a group of individuals of one species that lives in a particular geographic area. In the case of ''anadromous'' species, "population" refers to those fish that are born in and return to spawn in a particular geographic area.

'''Precipitation''': Rain, snow, hail, etc. "Precip" for short.

'''Process-based restoration''':

'''Productivity''': The average number of surviving offspring per parent. Used as an indicator of a population’s ability to sustain itself or its ability to rebound from low numbers. See ''SAR.''

'''Radio''' '''Telemetry''': Transmission of data from tags attached to an animal that transmit radio signals. The signals are read at either fixed receiving stations or by mobile tracking devices. Radio tags for fish are usually inserted into the stomach or surgically into the body cavity.

'''Rear''': to mature and grow. Salmon and steelhead undergo a period of juvenile rearing in freshwater and adult rearing in the ocean.

'''Recharge''': The movement of water into the ''saturated zone'', either by the downward percolation of ''precipitation'' or surface water and/or the lateral movement of ''groundwater'' from adjacent ''aquifers''.

'''''Recovery Unit (bull trout)''': A USFWS term for one of the nested units delineated for recovery efforts. Biologically, recovery units are considered groupings of bull trout for which gene flow was historically or is currently possible. The Yakima Core Area is one of many core areas within the Middle Columbia recovery unit, and there are multiple recovery units within the Distinct Population Segment (DPS).'' '''''Used widely?'''''

'''Redd''': A salmonid spawning bed, or "nest". Redds are dug by female salmonids in streambed ''gravels'', and females deposit and bury fertilized eggs into them. Redds can be distinguished in the streambed gravel by a cleared depression and an associated mound of gravel directly downstream.

'''Resident''': A ''life history strategy'' in which fish spend their entire life cycle in freshwater, without making significant migrations. The Ahtanum Bull Trout Population is our only resident bull trout population in the Yakima Basin; many other species of trout also have a resident life history. Contrast with ''Anadromous.''

'''Riffle''': where water can be seen and heard rushing and splashing over large rocks. This is where water flows the fastest, is the shallowest, and where oxygen is importantly mixed into the water. Read more [https://healthyheadwaterslab.ca/riffle-pool-run/ here].

'''Rip''': Short for "Riparian."

'''Riparian''': relating to, living on, or located on the bank of a natural watercourse (such as a river), or sometimes of a lake or a tidewater. We often talk about riparian areas in reference to the area that grows vegetation supported by stream and flood waters, and contrast those to ''Uplands''.

'''Riprap''': rocky material placed along shorelines, bridge foundations, steep slopes, and other shoreline structures to protect from scour and erosion.

'''Riverbed''': the bottom of a stream.

'''RM''': River Mile. River miles count upward from a stream’s lowest point (where it either joins a larger stream or a lake, or meets the ocean). So, “Yakima River RM 0” would be the confluence with the Columbia River, “Naches River RM 0” would be where the Naches River joins the Yakima River, etc.

'''RME''': Research, monitoring, and evaluation ''lumped together for ease of communication''

'''Rock barb''': ''(stream barbs?)'' a low rock sill structure angled upstream to decrease flow stresses on a bank. They are designed to redirect streamflow away from the near bank region.

'''Rootwad''': a bank stabilization and aquatic habitat improvement tool that involves burying a dead tree into the streambank with the root system still attached. Benefits of installing root wads include bank stability, fish habitat and insect habitat.

'''S&T''': Status & Trends.

'''Salmonid''': Fish of the family Salmonidae, including salmon, trout, chars, grayling, and whitefish. In general usage, the term most often refers to salmon, trout, and chars (subfamily Salmonidae). [https://thinksalmon.com/trout-salmon-species/ Visit this website] to learn all about the various species.

'''''Salvelinus confluentus''''': latin name for Bull Trout.

'''[https://www.tu.org/scientific-case-lower-snake/sar-and-why-its-important/ SAR]''': Smolt-to-Adult Ratio--the percentage of smolts that survive and return to spawn. An important metric for tracking the impact of the hydropower system on salmon and steelhead and how sustainable the rates of returning adults are over time. Important indicator for ''Productivity.''

'''Saturated Zone''': The area underground where every pore and crack between sediments and within rock are completely filled with water.

'''Sediment''': solid material that is moved and deposited in a new place, especially eroded material. Sediment can include rocks and soil as well as the remains of plants and animals.

'''Semelparous''': a species that reproduces only once in its lifetime. Most salmon are semelparous; see ''Spawning Adult.'' Contrast with ''Iteroparous''.

'''SH''': Common abbreviation for steelhead. See ''Oncorhynchus mykiss.''

'''Side Channel''': a small channel that branches from the mainstem of a river and returns to the river further downstream. Side channels are formed by the erosive power of the river and may move, fill in, or become the new mainstem over time.

'''Sinuosity''':

'''Smolt''': A juvenile fish that is migrating out to the ocean.

* '''Smoltification''': a series of bodily changes that salmonids undergo to transition from a freshwater to saltwater environment.

'''Spawn''': the act of laying and fertilizing eggs. See ''Redd.''

'''Spawning Adult''': a sexually mature adult fish that is ready to spawn or in the process of spawning (laying/fertilizing eggs). Spawning adult salmonids look distinct from their adult ocean counterparts; depending on the species, their body color changes from silver to shades of brown, green, or red. The males of some species develop a hooded snout, humped back, and elongated teeth. Salmonids do not feed once they leave the ocean and begin the migration to their freshwater spawning grounds; they spend all their energy navigating back to their natal streams to spawn. After spawning, Pacific salmon die. Some trout (and Atlantic salmon) become ''Kelts''.

'''Staging''': in habitat restoration projects, the action of temporarily storing machinery and materials leading up to and/or during the project. The staging area is the site where machinery/materials are stored.
* Also, when fish hold in anticipation of future movements (e.g., fish staging in deep pools near a spawning area that they’ll spawn in soon).

'''Stochastic''': Describes a natural event or process that is random or unpredictable. Examples include environmental conditions such as rainfall, runoff, and storms, or life-cycle events, such as survival or fecundity rates.

'''Streambank''': The sloping ground that borders a stream.

'''Subadult:''' a life stage, typically referred to for bull trout, where larger juvenile fish (typically 2-4 years old) migrate widely in search of food before returning to their natal streams to spawn at 4-5 years old.

'''Subpopulation''': Groups within ''populations'' between which migration and interbreeding is presumed to occur.

'''Supplementation''': The release and management of artificially propagated fish in streams with the intent to increase or establish naturally spawning fish populations while minimizing associated genetic and ecological risks. See ''Hatchery.''

'''Suspended Load''': fine ''sediment'' that remains floating in the ''water column'' before ''deposition''. Contrast with ''Bedload.''

'''Subadult:''' a life stage, typically referred to for bull trout, where larger juvenile fish (typically 2-4 years old) migrate widely in search of food before returning to their natal streams to spawn at 4-5 years old.

('''Stream) Substrate''': the material in a riverbed, including earth, rocks, and organic matter. Stream substrate plays a vital role in habitat suitability for aquatic species. See ''Cobble'', ''Fines'', ''Gravel'', ''Redd'', and ''Spawn''.

'''Thalweg''': the center of the mainstem of a river/the main flow path of a river

'''Thermal Refugia''': a spot where temperature is hospitable to a species, surrounded by inhospitable temperatures. We often refer to thermal refugia for salmon in the context of the lower Yakima River, where summer stream temperatures can rise to lethal levels, and ''pools'' provide a cooler place to rest and recover as they try to migrate up or downriver.

'''Threatened''': A status of a species that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range—as defined in the Endangered Species Act. ''Contrast with Endangered.''

[https://www.epa.gov/tmdl/overview-total-maximum-daily-loads-tmdls '''TMDL''']: Total Maximum Daily Load. A TMDL is the calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a waterbody so that the waterbody will meet and continue to meet water quality standards for that particular pollutant.

'''Trib''': Short for "Tributary."

'''Tributary''': A river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.

'''Uplands''': Contrast with ''Riparian.''

'''USGS''': US Geological Survey. See ''HUC.''

[https://www.vsp.wa.gov/ '''VSP''']: Voluntary Stewardship Program, see ''GMA''.

* Also, Viable Salmonid Population. This is a technical term for the population size threshold at which a population of salmonids is viable. Not currently in wide usage, but used in the YBFWRB's [https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YakimaSteelheadVSPMonitoringPlan.pdf 2011 addition to the steelhead recovery plan].

''Wasting/mass wasting??''

'''Water Column''': the vertical axis of water stretching between the surface and the floor of a body of water.

'''Watershed''': The entire geographic area upstream of a point that drains ''precipitation'' past that point. Watersheds vary in scale; the Yakima Basin is a watershed, but it also contains many smaller watersheds within it (e.g., the Naches watershed, the Teanaway watershed, the Toppenish watershed, etc). Used interchangeably with "catchment" and "basin". Read more [https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/watersheds-and-drainage-basins here].

'''Water Table''': the level in the soil below which ''groundwater'' fills any spaces between sediments and within rock, referred to as the "saturated zone".

'''Weir''': a small dam in a stream or river to raise the water level upstream or divert its flow (see ''Diversion''). Weirs allow water to flow over their top, unlike dams. Pronounced like “we’re.”

'''WRIA''': Water Resource Inventory Area, commonly pronounced, “Rye-uh.” A standardized definition of large watersheds used by the State of Washington. The Yakima Basin is made up of WRIA’s 37, 38, and 39, which are consistent with ''HUC''-8’s.

'''Young of Year (YOY)''': Young fish in their first year of life. Term overlaps with ''Fry'' and ''Parr''.

=== '''Technical Resources''' ===
[https://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart '''DART''']: Data Access & Retrieval Tool (UW’s database that includes tons of data on fish in the Columbia Basin).

* ''Also, Data Access in Real Time, a term used to describe when data that is gathered continuously is publicly available. Examples include the [https://www.cbr.washington.edu/dart Columbia River DART] and Reclamation's webpage showing [https://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yaktea.html Yakima Basin reservoir levels].''

[https://geodataservices.wdfw.wa.gov/hp/fishpassage/index.html '''FPDSI''']: Fish Passage & Diversion Screening Inventory (tells you where fish passage barriers are; not comprehensive)

[https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/home/library/pdfs/habitat/adfg_hr_id_cards_v1.1.pdf Juvenile Salmonid and Small Fish Identification Aid]

[https://www.psmfc.org/program/pit-tag-information-systems-ptagis/ PTAGIS]: PIT-TAG Information System. See ''PIT tag.'' A data collection, distribution, and coordination project to monitor the migratory habits of Columbia River fish as they migrate ''through Columbia River dams'' using PIT tags.

[https://geo.wa.gov/maps/wdfw::statewide-washington-integrated-fish-distribution/about '''SWIFD''']: State-Wide Integrated Fish Distribution database (tells you which fish live where)

=== '''Organizations''' ===
'''[https://www.bia.gov/bia BIA]''': Bureau of Indian Affairs

[https://www.blm.gov/ '''BLM''']: Bureau of Land Management. A federal agency that manages federal lands in the Yakima Basin, mainly in the Yakima Canyon, Cowiche Creek, and Swauk Creek watersheds and upland areas in the Lower Yakima Basin.

'''[https://www.bpa.gov/ BPA]''': Bonneville Power Administration, the federal hydropower marketing administration within the Dept of Energy. The ''Northwest Power Act'' directs BPA to fund fish and wildlife projects to mitigate the impacts of federal dams; this funding is widely used in the Yakima Basin.

'''BTWG''': Bull Trout Working Group. A local group that updates and monitors progress on the Yakima Bull Trout Action Plan (YBTAP) and coordinates bull trout recovery activities in the Yakima Basin

'''''CBFWA''': Columbia River (Basin?) Fish and Wildlife Authority''

'''CD''': Conservation District. CD's are county-level natural resource conservation organizations coordinated by the [https://www.scc.wa.gov/ WA Conservation Commission]. The North Yakima CD (NYCD), South Yakima CD (SYCD), Kittitas County CD (KCCD), and Benton CD (BCD) are the conservation districts in the Yakima Basin.

[https://critfc.org/ '''CRITFC''']: Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

'''DFW''': See WDFW.

[https://ecology.wa.gov/ '''DOE''']: Department of Ecology. Implements state water quality and quantity programs along with many other pollution reduction programs

[https://wsdot.wa.gov/ '''DOT''']: Department of Transportation. Frequently involved in salmon recovery projects where state highways cross or are adjacent to stream and rivers

[https://www.dnr.wa.gov/ '''DNR''']: Department of Natural Resources. Manages most state-owned lands, including the riverbeds of most rivers, and regulates forestry activity

[https://www.epa.gov/ '''EPA''']: Environmental Protection Agency

'''FS''': See USFS. (Also, may denote a Forest Service road. E.g., FS-100 = Forest Service road 100.)

'''FWS''': See USFWS.

[https://rco.wa.gov/salmon-recovery/governors-salmon-recovery-office/ '''GSRO''']: Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office. Coordinates salmon and [https://orca.wa.gov/ orca recovery] for the state and develops the state’s strategy to guide those efforts and track progress. Produces the annual [https://stateofsalmon.wa.gov/ State of Salmon in Watersheds] report. Administered by RCO, but works under the authority of the governor.

'''ID''': Irrigation District. ID's are public entities which own water rights and distribute water for irrigation.

[https://www.kccd.net/ '''KCCD''']: Kittitas County Conservation District

[https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/public-works/default.aspx '''KCPW''']: Kittitas County Public Works. The agency in charge of roads and floodplain management in Kittitas County

[https://www.kittitasconservationtrust.org/ '''KCT''']: Kittitas Conservation Trust

[https://kid.org/ '''KID''']: Kennewick Irrigation District

[https://www.kittitasreclamationdistrict.org/ '''KRD''']: Kittitas Reclamation District

[https://midcolumbiafisheries.org/ '''MCF(EG)''']: Mid-Columbia Fisheries (Enhancement Group)

'''''ICTRT''': Interior Columbia Technical Recovery Team''

'''[https://www.noaa.gov/ NOAA]''': National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Their fisheries department, [https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ NOAA fisheries], helps fund SRFB grants via PCSRF; they are also involved in reviewing projects to ensure their compliance with the ESA. Also regulates offshore fisheries in federal waters and implements ESA and Manguson Act programs that protect marine fish, including salmon and steelhead, and their habitats.

* '''[https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about-us NMFS]''': National Marine Fisheries Service, the division of NOAA also referred to as NOAA fisheries

'''[https://www.npcc.org/ NPCC]''' (formerly NPPC): Northwest Power & Conservation Council. Created following the 1980 Northwest Power Act to “inform and advance a regional vision for power and fish & wildlife in the Columbia Basin”. Provides funding recommendations for BPA’s fish and wildlife programs.

[https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about '''NRCS''']: National Resources Conservation Service, the USDA’s primary private lands conservation agency

'''[https://northyakimacd.wordpress.com/ NYCD]''': North Yakima Conservation District

[https://rco.wa.gov/ '''RCO''']: the Recreation & Conservation Office. This is a state agency that manages numerous grant programs, including SRFB, ALEA, and WWRP. Lead Entities are contracted through RCO, and the Yakima Basin's regional grant manager works for RCO. RCO also administers the GSRO. See ''Lead Entity, SRFB, GSRO.''

'''[https://washingtonrcd.org/ RC&D]''': Washington Resource Conservation & Development council. A nonprofit that supports communities’ adaptation to changing environmental and economic conditions, including salmon habitat restoration and wildfire planning

'''[https://www.usbr.gov/ Reclamation]''' (also '''BOR''', '''USBR'''): Bureau of Reclamation, a water management agency in the Western US. Federal manager of the Yakima Project irrigation water infrastructure and a source of grant funds.

'''RFEG''': Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group. These are 14 nonprofits created around WA in 1990 through the [https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/regional-fisheries-enhancement-groups RFEG program] to involve local communities, volunteers, and landowners in WA's salmon recovery efforts. RFEG’s are partially funded by WDFW, but they also seek grants and donations, and their boards are composed of local citizens. Our RFEG is the Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, often referred to as Mid-Columbia Fisheries or MCF. See ''Fishery.''

[https://rco.wa.gov/boards/salmon-recovery-funding-board/ '''SRFB''']: Salmon Recovery Funding Board (commonly pronounced "Surfboard") which runs the annual grant round for all Lead Entities across the state.

'''[https://www.svid.org/ SVID]''': Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District

'''SWG''': Steelhead Working Group. A group local to the Yakima Basin that updates and monitors progress on the Yakima Steelhead Recovery Plan (YSRP). This group hasn’t been convened since 2014 '''(?)'''; to be reconvened asap to update the YSRP.

[https://www.sycd.us/ '''SYCD''']: South Yakima Conservation District

'''[https://www.tu.org/ TU]''': Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit focused on trout conservation

'''[https://www.usda.gov/ USDA]''': United States Department of Agriculture

'''[https://www.fs.usda.gov/ USFS]''' (also, '''FS'''): United States Forest Service. The Recovery Board works primarily with the Naches and Cle Elum Ranger Districts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

'''[https://www.fws.gov/ USFWS]''' (also, '''FWS'''): United States Fish & Wildlife Service. A federal agency that manages fish and wildlife resources in the public trust, including more than 560 national wildlife refuges and dozens of national fish hatcheries. It also provides funding and project review for fish restoration projects.

'''[https://wdfw.wa.gov/ WDFW]''' (also, '''DFW'''): Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. A state agency that preserves and protects WA’s fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable recreational and commercial opportunities.

[https://www.washingtonwatertrust.org/ '''WWT''']: Washington Water Trust, a nonprofit focused on protecting instream flows across WA

'''[https://yakamafish-nsn.gov/ Yakama Nation Fisheries]''': A program of the Yakama Nation that conserves culturally important fish populations and their habitats, and protects the rights of YN members to use those natural resources. Partner in the ''YKFP.''

'''[https://ybfwrb.org/ YBFWRB]''': Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board. "The Recovery Board" for short.

'''YBIP''' '''habitat subcommittee''': a subcommittee of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, a 30-year collaborative water resource plan (2013-2045). The Lead Entity coordinates with this committee to fund fish habitat restoration projects in the Yakima Basin. See ''YBIP.''

'''[http://www.ykfp.org/ YKFP]''': Yakima-Klickitat Fisheries Project. A joint fisheries management project of the Yakama Nation and WDFW in the Yakima and Klickitat River basins.

'''[https://yakamafish-nsn.gov/about-us/about-yakama-nation YN]''': Yakama Nation. Key programs include Yakama Nation Fisheries, Lower Yakima, Yakama Watersheds, and [https://ynwildlife.org/ Yakama Wildlife].

'''[https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/ YRBWEP]''': Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, a program of the Bureau of Reclamation that was created by Congress in 1979 and has federal direction and funding to support habitat restoration, water conservation, and other activities that meet water supply and fisheries goals in the Yakima Basin. In 2009, the YRBWEP program joined with the WA Department of Ecology to create the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan (also referred to as YRBWEP Phase III). The YBIP program is overseen by a partnership called the YBIP workgroup that is co-chaired by the Department of Ecology and the Bureau of Reclamation. Pronounced, “yurb-wep.”

'''YSPB''': Yakima Subbasin Fish and Wildlife Planning Board (a precursor organization to the Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board)

[https://www.kccd.net/ytahp '''YTAHP''']: Yakima Tributary Access & Habitat Program, pronounced, “why-tap.” Organized in 2002 by RC&D with regional partners including the North Yakima and Kittitas County Conservation Districts, the Yakama Nation, and MCF to help restore fish passage and habitat on Yakima River tributaries by providing technical and financial assistance. Primarily funded by BPA.

=== '''Legislation, Permits, Programs, & Plans''' ===
[https://rco.wa.gov/grant/aquatic-lands-enhancement-account/ ALEA]: Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account. A grant program for aquatic land projects, administered by RCO.

[https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/Public/VA/GuidelinesforDefinitionsoftheAPE.pdf '''APE''']: Area of Potential Effects of projects on historic properties ''(includes properties with tribal historical significance)''. Projects must complete an APE assessment to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act.

[https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/YBTAP-9-2012-FINAL-small.pdf '''BTAP''']''':''' Bull Trout Action Plan. The primary guiding document for bull trout recovery in the Yakima Basin. The Bull Trout Working Group (BTWG) updates and monitors progress on the plan. This glossary borrowed some terms from the BTAP's glossary (Pg. 217).

'''CCA''': Climate Commitment Act (legislation passed in WA in 2023). Initiative I-2117 (2024) aimed to repeal the CCA, but it did not pass.

'''EA''': Environmental Assessment

'''EIS''': Environmental Impact Statement

[https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-endangered-species-act '''ESA''']: Endangered Species Act

'''GMA''': Growth Management Act. ''See the [https://www.vsp.wa.gov/ VSP].''

'''HPA''': Hydraulic Project Approval. Administered by ''WDFW''.

'''[https://www.oria.wa.gov/site/alias__oria/4217/jarpa.aspx JARPA]''': Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application. A single application that allows project sponsors to apply for more than one permit at a time; created by multiple regulatory agencies working together to streamline the environmental permitting process.

'''LOA''''':'' Landowner Agreement. ''A contract spelling out the conditions under which a project can be conducted on private property. (?)''

'''Manguson Act''':

'''Middle Columbia Steelhead Recovery Plan''': The Recovery Plan for the [[:File:YSRP Image 1.1 Mid Columbia DPS.png|Middle Columbia Steelhead DPS]] (the whole steelhead population of the Mid-Columbia Region) developed by NOAA Fisheries as required by the ''ESA.'' The 2009 Yakima Steelhead Recovery Plan developed by the Recovery Board is incorporated into the federal plan as a chapter.

'''National Historic Preservation Act''': ''See APE.''

'''Northwest Power Act''':

'''PCSRF''': Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (a source of grant funding; established by Congress to reverse the decline of West Coast salmon. Managed by NOAA fisheries). Commonly pronounced, "pack-surf".

'''PPFL''': Planned Project Forecast List. A list of projects that are anticipated to be pursued in the coming two years. Projects are solicited from project sponsors by the Lead Entity Coordinator. The list is then used by RCO as it develops funding requests to the legislature.

'''SMA''': Shoreline Management Act

'''[https://srp.rco.wa.gov/ SRP]''': Salmon Recovery Portal. A database like PRISM where you can find and learn about all SRFB projects online, but also planned or conceptual projects as well. See the [https://srp.rco.wa.gov/projectmap?mlayer=projects SRP Map]. Does not contain documents associated with the projects, however; for that, PRISM is the place to go.

[https://www.vsp.wa.gov/ '''VSP''']: Voluntary Stewardship Program. The VSP offers counties and agricultural landowners farm-friendly options for protecting fragile and/or hazardous natural resources — referred to as “critical areas” — in places where agricultural activity is conducted. See ''GMA.''

'''[https://rco.wa.gov/grant/washington-wildlife-and-recreation-program-recreation/ WWRP]''': Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. A grant program for recreation projects, administered by RCO.

[https://yakimabasinintegratedplan.org/ '''YBIP''']: Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, pronounced, “why-bip.” A 30-year collaborative water resource plan (2013-2045).

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XN7txx9Lbc Reclamation's video on the YBIP]

'''YBTAP''': See ''BTAP.''

'''YSBP''': Yakima Sub-Basin Plan, ''a precursor to the YSRP and BTAP?''

[https://www.usbr.gov/pn/programs/yrbwep/ '''YRBWEP''']: Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, pronounced, “yirb-wep.” A BOR project enacted by Congress, 1979-present, one product of which is the YBIP.

[https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/YakimaSteelheadPlan.pdf '''YSRP''']: Yakima Steelhead Recovery Plan. The primary guiding document for steelhead recovery in the Yakima Basin. Completed by the Steelhead Working Group (SWG) in 2009 and formally adopted by NOAA Fisheries as a chapter in the ESA-required ''Middle Columbia Steelhead Recovery Plan.''

* [https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YakimaSteelheadVSPMonitoringPlan.pdf Yakima Steelhead RME Plan VSP Section]: This is a supplement to the YSRP completed in 2011. This glossary borrowed from its glossary (Pg. 57).

=== '''SRFB Grant Round Terms''' ===
'''[https://ybfwrb.org/grant-program/citizens-committee/ CC]''': Citizen Committee

'''Lead Entity (LE)''': A local salmon recovery organization created in accordance with [https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.85.050 RCW 77.85.050] to solicit, evaluate, and rank proposals for salmon recovery projects, so as to develop an annual ranked project list(s) for consideration for funding by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB). There are 25 LE’s across WA, each with their own specific geographic area. LE’s typically include a technical and a citizen advisory committees and are managed by a designated LE Coordinator; LE operating costs are funded through a contract with RCO. The Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board serves as the Lead Entity for the Yakima Basin.

'''NMI''' '''(Needs More Information)''': A rating the SRFB review panel can give projects after site tours when the review panel needs more information before they can clear the project. A sponsor may get their project cleared by supplying the requested additional information, but if concerns remain, the review panel may switch the designation to POC (Project of Concern). ''Contrast with POC.''

'''PCSRF''': Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, a primary source of funding for the SRFB grant program. Established by Congress to reverse the decline of West Coast salmon. Managed by NOAA fisheries and made available to Pacific Salmon States (AK, CA, ID, OR, and WA) and federally recognized tribes in the region. Commonly pronounced, "pack-surf".

'''POC''' '''(Project of Concern)''': a rating the SRFB review panel can give projects when the review panel has such significant concerns about a project that it recommends that it not be funded. Lead Entities typically remove POC’s from the annual funding list they submit to the SRFB. ''Contrast with NMI.''

'''[https://secure.rco.wa.gov/PRISM/search/ProjectSearch.aspx PRISM]''': RCO’s online database for grant management. Pronounced like the word, “prism.” (It stands for “Performance and Registration Information Systems Management”, but nobody calls it that.)

'''Review Panel (RP)''': Shorthand for the SRFB State Review Panel, a group of engineers, fisheries experts, and habitat experts hired by the SRFB to review projects for technical soundness simultaneously with the local review process. The panel provides an independent, third-party review of the technical merits of SRFB proposals from throughout the state.

'''RFP''': Request for Proposal (to solicit grant applications)

'''SARM''': Salmon Recovery Model (a project scoring matrix developed by the TAG)

'''Sponsor''': Shorthand used to refer to SRFB grant applicants, aka project sponsors.

'''[https://ybfwrb.org/grant-program/technical-advisory-group/ TAG]''': Technical Advisory Group

'''TI''': Targeted Investments. A grant program for large projects ($1-7M) that takes place in even numbered years.

=== '''Geography''' ===
'''Bonneville Dam''': the most downstream dam on the Columbia River.

'''The Dalles Dam''': the second most downstream dam on the Columbia River.

'''Gap-to-Gap''': The 8-mile stretch between Selah Gap and Union Gap

'''John Day Dam''': the third most downstream dam on the Columbia River, and second dam downstream of the Yakima River.

'''Lower Yakima''': The stretch of the Yakima River that is downstream of Union Gap.

'''McNary Dam:''' the fourth most downstream dam on the Columbia River, and first dam downstream of the Yakima River.

'''Naches Basin''': the watershed upstream of the mouth of the Naches River. Supports its own distinct population of steelhead (one of four ''MPGs'' in the basin).

'''Naches River''': A tributary of the Yakima River running from the Cascade Crest near White and Chinook Passes by the town of Naches to its confluence with the Yakima in the City of Yakima; a significant watershed for steelhead and bull trout.

'''Prosser Dam''': a dam on the Yakima River mainstem in Prosser, WA. Commonly called just "Prosser". Serves as an irrigation diversion for farms downriver in the Lower Yakima Valley.

'''Roza Dam''': a dam on the Yakima River mainstem in the Yakima River Canyon. Commonly called just "Roza." Serves as an irrigation diversion for much of the Lower Yakima Valley.

'''Satus Creek''': A tributary of the Yakima River on the Yakama Reservation; supports its own distinct population of steelhead (one of four ''MPGs'' in the basin).

'''Toppenish Creek''': A tributary of the Yakima River on the Yakama Reservation; supports its own distinct population of steelhead (one of four ''MPGs'' in the basin).

'''Upper Yakima''': Refers to the stretch of the Yakima River that is upstream of the confluence with the Naches River; a significant watershed for salmon, steelhead and bull trout.

'''Upper Yakima Basin''': Refers to the watershed upstream of the confluence of the Naches River; supports its own distinct population of steelhead (one of four ''MPGs'' in the basin).

'''Wapatox Dam''': A dam on the Naches River just downstream of the confluence of the Naches and Tieton Rivers. Commonly called just “Wapatox”. Serves as an irrigation diversion for farms in the Naches Heights and Upper Yakima Valley.

'''Yakima Basin''': Our watershed, within which all surface and groundwater drains to the Yakima River, and eventually to the Columbia River. The basin extends from Snoqualmie Pass, Chinook Pass, and White Pass all the way to the mouth of the Yakima River where it meets the Columbia River.

Main Page

2025-12-04T05:11:05Z

Aconley:

Welcome to Yakipedia, the online knowledge base hosted by the Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board!

We hope this wiki (yes, it's the same software that runs Wikipedia) will serve as a collaborative space where we can work together to tell the story of the Yakima Basin and the work that is being done to manage and restore its fish, wildlife and water resources. Whether you are a long-timer in the basin looking for an old report you remember but can't find, a new hire wanting to understand more about the watershed you are starting a project in, or a member of the public that just stumbled here thanks to Google, this knowledge base is for you!

This is a collaborative, living effort that will grow as people lean in and contribute to it; if you see something that needs to be added or corrected or would like to become an editor so you can add your own content, do let us know!

In addition to this wiki, we're making sure that key references are available. They are cited throughout this document and are included in our [https://www.zotero.org/groups/1635495/yakima_basin_references/library Zotero online library]; we're also working with the Yakima Valley Libraries to ensure the most important sources are in its digital archives. We're also building a GIS portal to share maps and geographic data for the basin; more on that in the near future!

We're hoping to translate our recovery plans into living documents housed in Yakipedia; do explore our [[Yakima Bull Trout Action Plan]] which we are in the middle of updating in this new format.

We're also working on detailed overviews of the many watersheds and reaches within the basin; [[Geographic Units|you can see the list of watersheds and reaches here]]; links to the overviews will be added as they are developed.

'''Other useful pages:'''

[[Yakima Basin Organizations and Web Resources|Yakima Basin Organization and Web Resources Page.]]

[[Yakima Basin Key References|Key References Web Page.]]

We are also developing an overview of [[historical references on fisheries in the Yakima Basin]]

Our [[Glossary]] is a growing guide to the words and acronyms that are frequently used in Yakipedia

Main Page

2025-12-04T05:07:36Z

Aconley:

Welcome to Yakipedia, the online knowledge base hosted by the Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board!

We hope this wiki (yes, it's the same software that runs Wikipedia) will serve as a collaborative space where we can work together to tell the story of the Yakima Basin and the work that is being done to manage and restore its fish, wildlife and water resources. Whether you are a long-timer in the basin looking for an old report you remember but can't find, a new hire wanting to understand more about the watershed you are starting a project in, or a member of the public that just stumbled here thanks to Google, this knowledge base is for you!

This is a collaborative, living effort that will grow as people lean in and contribute to it; if you see something that needs to be added or corrected or would like to become an editor so you can add your own content, do let us know!

In addition to this wiki, we're making sure that key references are available. They are cited throughout this document and are included in our [https://www.zotero.org/groups/1635495/yakima_basin_references/library Zotero online library]; we're also working with the Yakima Valley Libraries to ensure the most important sources are in its digital archives. We're also building a GIS portal to share maps and geographic data for the basin; more on that in the near future!

We're hoping to translate our recovery plans into living documents housed in Yakipedia; do explore our [[Yakima Bull Trout Action Plan]] which we are in the middle of updating in this new format.

We're also working on detailed overviews of the many watersheds and reaches within the basin; [[Geographic Units|you can see the list of watersheds and reaches here]]; the links to the overviews will be added as they are developed.

'''Other useful pages:'''[[Yakima Basin Organizations and Web Resources|Yakima Basin Organization and Web Resources Page.]]

[[Yakima Basin Key References|Key References Web Page.]]

We are also developing an overview of [[historical references on fisheries in the Yakima Basin]]

Our [[Glossary]] is a growing guide to the words and acronyms that are frequently used in Yakipedia

Geographic Units

2025-10-25T20:32:04Z

Aconley: /* WRIA 37 Lower Yakima Geographic Units */

We have divided the Yakima Basin into geographic reaches based on tributary watersheds and mainstem reaches. While we tried to follow HUC boundaries where possible, this is a unique arrangement that is meant to match how we talk about places in the basin.

The links below take you to individual pages for each area, where you can find detailed information on the watersheds, streams and river reaches in each geographic unit.

REDO INTRO; BUILD OUT LINKS BELOW

== Geographic Frameworks Used in the Yakima Basin ==
Recovery Board system

HUC system: https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography/watershed-boundary-dataset

Population areas by species

Subbasin Plan Assessment Units

ADD LINK/IFRAME FOR FUTURE WEB MAP

River miles?

More information on the default geographic organization used in Yakipedia can be found below.

== Yakima Basin ==
An online GIS layer for the Yakima Basin can be found here: '''ADD LINK TO GIS PORTAL'''

It makes up approximately 10% of the state of Washington, with an area of '''ADD.'''

The Yakima Basin is both a USGS HUC 4 (1703) and HUC 6 watershed (17030001) within the HUC 2 Region #17 (Pacific Northwest); interestingly there is no HUC designation for the Columbia Basin.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council uses the Columbia Basin as its top-level unit, which is divided into Provinces and then subbasins. The Yakima Basin is #62 of the 62 total subbasins, and is one of 11 subbasins within the Columbia Plateau Province. You can see a map of this framework here:''.'' https://www.nwcouncil.org/subbasin-plans/map/ The 2004 Yakima Subbasin Plan '''LINK''' divided the Yakima Subbasin into '''?? assessment units FIND/LINK TO MAP.'''

The Yakima Basin makes up approximately 2/3rds of the State of Washington's Middle Columbia Salmon Recovery Region. '''Link'''

The Yakima Basin is one of four Major Population Groups (MPGs) withing NOAA's Middle Columbia River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS).

The Yakima Basin is designated by USFWS as one of 24 Occupied Core Areas within the Mid-Columbia Bull Trout Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU).

'''''Add Map of Yakima in state?'''''

== WRIAs ==
Washinton State's Water Resource Areas (WRIAs) are our top-level breakout unless there is a compelling reason to us a different geographic framework. There are three WRIAs in the Yakima Basin, and they are consistent with the USGS HUC 8s.

'''WRIAs in the Yakima Basin'''
{| class="wikitable"
!WRIA
!Name
!HUC 8
!Description
|-
|37
|Lower Yakima
|17030003
|Yakima River and all its tributaries below the Naches River confluence
|-
|38
|Naches
|17030002
|Naches River and all its tributaries
|-
|39
|Upper Yakima
|17030001
|Yakima River and all its tributaries above the Naches River confluence
|}
See map below.

== Mid-Level Geographic Units ==
Middle layer are either watersheds (when all areas that drain to the lowest point in a unit are included in the unit) or reaches (when water flows into a unit from an upstream unit). We have designated 18 Mid-Level Units; they are consistent with HUC 10 watersheds except where we have a specific reason to split and/or combine HUC 10s. We use names that match local usage, which differ from the often-inscrutable official HUC names.

'''WRIAs and Mid-level Geographic Units'''
[[File:WRIAs and Mid-level Units.jpg|none|thumb|1110x1110px]]

'''Mid-Level Geographic Units'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Unit
!Name
!WRIA
!HUC 10(s)
!Description
|-
|1
|Upper Yakima Watershed
|39
|1703000103
|Yakima River and all tributaries except the Cle Elum from Cascade Crest to the mouth of the Teanaway, including Kachess and Keechelus Lakes
|-
|2
|Cle Elum Watershed
|39
|1703000101
|Cle Elum River and all its tributaries
|-
|3
|Teanaway Watershed
|39
|1703000102
|Teanaway River and all its tributaries
|-
|4
|Thorp to Ellensburg Reach
|39
|1703000105
|Yakima River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Teanaway downstream to the mouth of Wilson Creek
|-
|5
|Ellensburg Area Watershed
|39
|1703000104
|Wilson Creek and all of its tributaries
|-
|6
|Yakima Canyon Reach
|39
|1703000107
|Yakima River and its tributaries (except Wenas Creek) between the mouth of Wilson Creek and the mouth of the Naches
|-
|7
|Wenas Watershed
|39
|1703000106
|Wenas Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|8
|Upper Naches Watershed
|38
|1703000201
|American, Bumping and Little Naches Rivers and all their tributaries, including Bumping Lake
|-
|9
|Nile Reach
|38
|1703000202
|The Naches River from the confluence of the Bumping and Little Naches to the confluence of the Tieton and its tributaries
|-
|10
|Tieton Watershed
|38
|half of 1703000203
|The Tieton River and its tributaries including Rimrock Lake
|-
|11
|Lower Naches Reach
|38
|half of 1703000203
|Naches River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Tieton to the confluence with the Yakima, including Cowiche Creek
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|12
|Gap to Gap Reach
|37
|1703000302
|Yakima River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Naches to the mouth of Ahtanum Creek
|-
|13
|Ahtanum Watershed
|37
|1703000301
|Ahtanum Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|14
|Wapato Reach
|37
|1703000304, 1703000305 & part of 1703000310
|Yakima River from Union Gap to approximately 4.25 miles below the mouth of Satus Creek
|-
|15
|Toppenish Watershed
|37
|1704000306 & 1704000303
|Toppenish Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|16
|Satus Watershed
|37
|1704000307 & 1704000308
|Satus Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|17
|Mabton Reach
|37
|1703000309 and part of 1703000310
|Yakima River and its tributaries from approximately 4.25 miles below the mouth of Satus Creek to just downstream of the Benton County line
|-
|18
|Lower Yakima
|37
|1703000312, 1703000311 & part of 1703000310
|Yakima River and its tributaries from just below the Benton County line to the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers
|}

== Geographic Units ==
Geographic units are the smallest spatial unit in our framwork and are named after the dominant creek or river that passes through them. The are mean to represent a convenient scale at which to describe watersheds and reaches that are less numerous than HUC 12s (69 geographic units vs 153 HUCs) and and have names that intuitively describe their geography. Where possible these consist of one or more complete HUC 12s, but in some cases creating units that match general usage in the basin requires either combining or splitting HUC 12s.

=== '''WRIA 39 Upper Yakima Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 39 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1154x1154px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 1 || Gold Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010301) || Gold Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 2 || Keechelus Lake || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010301) || Keechelus Lake and all tributaries except Gold Creek
|-
| 3 || Upper Kachess River || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Upper Kachess River and its tributaries
|-
| 4 || Box Canyon Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Box Canyon Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 5 || Kachess Lake || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Kachess Lake and all its tributaries except Box Canyon and Upper Kachess
|-
| 6 || Cabin Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010302 || Cabn Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 7 || Big Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010305 || Big Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 8 || Upper Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010304 || Yakima River from Keechelus Dam to Easton Lake and all its tributaries except Cabin Creek
|-
| 9 || Easton Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 || 170300010306 || Yakima River from Easton Lake to the Cle Eum River and all its tributaries except Big Creek
|-
| 10 || Cle Elum Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010307 || Yakima River from the Cle Elum River to the Teanaway River and all its tributaries
|-
| 11 || Waptus River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010101 || Waptus River and its tributaries
|-
| 12 || Cooper River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010103 || Cooper River and its tributaries
|-
| 13 || Cle Elum River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010102
170300010104
170300010105
170300010106
| Cle Elum River and Lake and all their tributaries except the Wapatus and Cooper Rivers
|-
| 14 || North Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010201
170300010204
| North Fork Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 15 || Middle Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010202 || Middle Forl Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 16 || West Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010203 || West Forl Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 17 || Mainstem Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010205 || Mainstem Teanaway River from the confluence of the Middle and West Forks to its mouth and all its tributaries except the North Fork
|-
| 18 || Taneum Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010503
170300010504
| Taneum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 19 || Manastash Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE (one partial) ||
170300010508
170300010509
(170300010511)
|Manastash Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 20 || Reecer Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010510 || Reecer Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 21 || Swauk Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010501
170300010502
| Swauk Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 22 || Upper Canyon - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010505 || Yakima River from Teanawya River to Taneum Creek and all its tributaries except Swauk Creek
|-
| 23 || Thorp Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010506
170300010507
| Yakima River from Taneum Creek to Manastash Creek and all its tributaries except Reecer Creek
|-
| 24 || Ellensburg Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010511) || Yakima River and its tributaries from Manastash Creek to Wilson Creek
|-
| 25 || Wilson/Naneum Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010401
170300010402
170300010408
|Wilson Creek and all its tributaries except Coleman and Cherry Creeks
|-
| 26 || Coleman Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010403 || Coleman Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 27 || Cherry Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010404
170300010405
170300010406
170300010407
170300010409
|Cherry Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 28 || Yakima Canyon || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010702
170300010703
170300010704
170300010705
170300010706
170300010707
170300010708
|Yakima River from Wilson Creek to Selah Creek and all its tributaries except Umtanum Creek
|-
| 29 || Selah Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010709 || Yakima river from Selah Creek to the Naches River and all its tributaries except Wenas Creek
|-
| 30 || Umtanum Creek || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010701 || Umtanum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 31 || Wenas Creek || Wenas Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010601
170300010602
170300010603
170300010604
170300010605
|Wenas Creek and its tributaries
|}

=== '''WRIA 38 Naches Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 38 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1049x1049px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 32 || Little Naches River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020101
170300020102
170300020103
170300020109
| Little Naches River and its tributaries
|-
| 33 || Bumping River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020104
170300020105
170300020108
|Bumping River and its tributaries including Bumping Lake
|-
| 34 || American River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT ||
170300020106
170300020107
| American River and its tributaries
|-
| 35 || Upper Naches River || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020201
170300020202
| Naches River from Bumping River to Rock Creek
|-
| 36 || Nile Creek || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020203 || Nile Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 37 || Rattlesnake Creek || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020204
170300020205
170300020206
|Rattlesnake Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 38 || Middle Naches River (Nile) || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020207
170300020208
| Naches River from Rock Creek to the Tieton and all its triburaties except Nile and Rattlesnake Creeks
|-
| 39 || Clear Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020301 || Clear Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 40 || North Fork Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020302 || Nort Fork Tieton River and Clear Lake and all their tributaries except Clear Creek
|-
| 41 || South Fork Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020303
170300020304
| South Fork Tieton River and its tributaries
|-
| 42 || Indian Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300020305) || Indian Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 43 || Rimrock Lake || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300020305) || Rimrock Lake and all its tributaries except Indian Creek and the North and South Fork Tieton Rivers
|-
| 44 || Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020306
170300020308
| Tieton River and its tributaries from Rimrock Dam to the Naches River
|-
| 45 || Oak Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020307 || Oak Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 46 || Lower Naches River || Lower Naches Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020312 || Lower Yakima River from the Tieton to the Yakima and all its tributaries except Cowiche Creek
|-
| 47 || Cowiche Creek || Lower Naches Reach || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020309
170300020310
170300020311
|Cowiche Creek and its tributaries
|}

=== '''WRIA 37 Lower Yakima Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 37 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1000x1000px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 48 || Gap to Gap Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC12 || 170300030206 || Yakima River from the Naches River to Ahtanum Creek and all its tributaries except Wide hollow Creek and Moxee Drain
|-
| 49 || Wide Hollow Creek || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030204
170300030205
| Wide Hollow Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 50 || Moxee Drain || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300030201
170300030202
170300030203
|Moxee Drain and its tributaries
|-
| 51 || Ahtanum Creek || Ahtanum Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030101
170300030102
170300030103
170300030104
170300030105
|Ahtanum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 52 || Wapato Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030501
170300030502
170300030503
170300030506
170300031001
170300031002
| Yakima River from mouth of Ahtanum Creek to Yakima River from ~4.5 miles below Satus Creek and all its tributaries except Wanity Slough, Toppenish and Satus Creeks and Granger Drain
|-
| 53 || Wanity Slough and Marion Drain || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030401
170300030402
170300030403
|Wanity slough and its tributaries
|-
| 54 || Granger Drain || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030504
170300030505
| Granger Drain and its tributaries
|-
| 55 || Upper Toppenish Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030601
170300030602
170300030603
170300030605
| Toppenish Creek and its tributaries upstream of Simcoe Creek
|-
| 56 || Simcoe Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030301
170300030302
170300030303
170300030304
170300030305
|Simcoe Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 57 || Lower Toppenish Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030604
170300030606
170300030607
|Mainstem Toppenish Creek and its tributaries downstream of Simcoe Creek
|-
| 58 || Upper Satus Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030701
170300030701
170300030702
170300030706
| Satus Creek and its tributaries upstream of Logy Creek
|-
| 59 || Dry Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030801
170300030802
170300030803
|Dry Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 60 || Logy Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030703
170300030704
170300030705
|Logy Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 61 || Lower Satus Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030804
170300030805
170300030806
170300030807
| Satus Creek and its tributaries downstream of Logy Creek
|-
| 62 || Mabton Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Mabton Reach || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031003
170300031004
| Yakima River from ~4.5 miles below Satus Creek to just below the Benton County Line and all its tributaries except Sulfur Creek Wasteway
|-
| 63 || Sulphur Creek Wasteway || Mabton Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030901
170300030902
170300030903
170300030904
170300030905
170300030906
| Sulphur Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 64 || [[Prosser Reach|Prosser Reach - Yakima River Mainstem]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031007 || Yakima River and all its tributaires from just below the Benton County line to the mouth of Snipes Creek
|-
| 65 || [[Lower Yakima Reach - Yakima River Mainstem]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE || 170300031203
170300031205
170300031202
|Yakima River from the mouth of Snipes Creek to the Columbia River and all its tributaries except Corral Creek and Amon Creek
|-
| 66 || [[Spring and Snipes Creeks]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031005
170300031006
| Spring and Snipes Creek and their tributaries
|-
| 67 || [[Corral Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031201 || Corral Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 68 || [[Cold Creek (Lower Yakima)|Cold Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031101
170300031102
170300031103
170300031104
170300031105
170300031106
170300031107
170300031108
170300031109
|Cold Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 69 || [[Amon Creek Wasteway|Amon Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031204 || Amon Creek and its tributaries
|}
#

Geographic Units

2025-10-25T20:22:59Z

Aconley: /* WRIA 37 Lower Yakima Geographic Units */

Geographic Units

2025-10-25T20:21:09Z

Aconley: /* WRIA 37 Lower Yakima Geographic Units */

We have divided the Yakima Basin into geographic reaches based on tributary watersheds and mainstem reaches. While we tried to follow HUC boundaries where possible, this is a unique arrangement that is meant to match how we talk about places in the basin.

The links below take you to individual pages for each area, where you can find detailed information on the watersheds, streams and river reaches in each geographic unit.

REDO INTRO; BUILD OUT LINKS BELOW

== Geographic Frameworks Used in the Yakima Basin ==
Recovery Board system

HUC system: https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography/watershed-boundary-dataset

Population areas by species

Subbasin Plan Assessment Units

ADD LINK/IFRAME FOR FUTURE WEB MAP

River miles?

More information on the default geographic organization used in Yakipedia can be found below.

== Yakima Basin ==
An online GIS layer for the Yakima Basin can be found here: '''ADD LINK TO GIS PORTAL'''

It makes up approximately 10% of the state of Washington, with an area of '''ADD.'''

The Yakima Basin is both a USGS HUC 4 (1703) and HUC 6 watershed (17030001) within the HUC 2 Region #17 (Pacific Northwest); interestingly there is no HUC designation for the Columbia Basin.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council uses the Columbia Basin as its top-level unit, which is divided into Provinces and then subbasins. The Yakima Basin is #62 of the 62 total subbasins, and is one of 11 subbasins within the Columbia Plateau Province. You can see a map of this framework here:''.'' https://www.nwcouncil.org/subbasin-plans/map/ The 2004 Yakima Subbasin Plan '''LINK''' divided the Yakima Subbasin into '''?? assessment units FIND/LINK TO MAP.'''

The Yakima Basin makes up approximately 2/3rds of the State of Washington's Middle Columbia Salmon Recovery Region. '''Link'''

The Yakima Basin is one of four Major Population Groups (MPGs) withing NOAA's Middle Columbia River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS).

The Yakima Basin is designated by USFWS as one of 24 Occupied Core Areas within the Mid-Columbia Bull Trout Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU).

'''''Add Map of Yakima in state?'''''

== WRIAs ==
Washinton State's Water Resource Areas (WRIAs) are our top-level breakout unless there is a compelling reason to us a different geographic framework. There are three WRIAs in the Yakima Basin, and they are consistent with the USGS HUC 8s.

'''WRIAs in the Yakima Basin'''
{| class="wikitable"
!WRIA
!Name
!HUC 8
!Description
|-
|37
|Lower Yakima
|17030003
|Yakima River and all its tributaries below the Naches River confluence
|-
|38
|Naches
|17030002
|Naches River and all its tributaries
|-
|39
|Upper Yakima
|17030001
|Yakima River and all its tributaries above the Naches River confluence
|}
See map below.

== Mid-Level Geographic Units ==
Middle layer are either watersheds (when all areas that drain to the lowest point in a unit are included in the unit) or reaches (when water flows into a unit from an upstream unit). We have designated 18 Mid-Level Units; they are consistent with HUC 10 watersheds except where we have a specific reason to split and/or combine HUC 10s. We use names that match local usage, which differ from the often-inscrutable official HUC names.

'''WRIAs and Mid-level Geographic Units'''
[[File:WRIAs and Mid-level Units.jpg|none|thumb|1110x1110px]]

'''Mid-Level Geographic Units'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Unit
!Name
!WRIA
!HUC 10(s)
!Description
|-
|1
|Upper Yakima Watershed
|39
|1703000103
|Yakima River and all tributaries except the Cle Elum from Cascade Crest to the mouth of the Teanaway, including Kachess and Keechelus Lakes
|-
|2
|Cle Elum Watershed
|39
|1703000101
|Cle Elum River and all its tributaries
|-
|3
|Teanaway Watershed
|39
|1703000102
|Teanaway River and all its tributaries
|-
|4
|Thorp to Ellensburg Reach
|39
|1703000105
|Yakima River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Teanaway downstream to the mouth of Wilson Creek
|-
|5
|Ellensburg Area Watershed
|39
|1703000104
|Wilson Creek and all of its tributaries
|-
|6
|Yakima Canyon Reach
|39
|1703000107
|Yakima River and its tributaries (except Wenas Creek) between the mouth of Wilson Creek and the mouth of the Naches
|-
|7
|Wenas Watershed
|39
|1703000106
|Wenas Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|8
|Upper Naches Watershed
|38
|1703000201
|American, Bumping and Little Naches Rivers and all their tributaries, including Bumping Lake
|-
|9
|Nile Reach
|38
|1703000202
|The Naches River from the confluence of the Bumping and Little Naches to the confluence of the Tieton and its tributaries
|-
|10
|Tieton Watershed
|38
|half of 1703000203
|The Tieton River and its tributaries including Rimrock Lake
|-
|11
|Lower Naches Reach
|38
|half of 1703000203
|Naches River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Tieton to the confluence with the Yakima, including Cowiche Creek
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|12
|Gap to Gap Reach
|37
|1703000302
|Yakima River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Naches to the mouth of Ahtanum Creek
|-
|13
|Ahtanum Watershed
|37
|1703000301
|Ahtanum Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|14
|Wapato Reach
|37
|1703000304, 1703000305 & part of 1703000310
|Yakima River from Union Gap to approximately 4.25 miles below the mouth of Satus Creek
|-
|15
|Toppenish Watershed
|37
|1704000306 & 1704000303
|Toppenish Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|16
|Satus Watershed
|37
|1704000307 & 1704000308
|Satus Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|17
|Mabton Reach
|37
|1703000309 and part of 1703000310
|Yakima River and its tributaries from approximately 4.25 miles below the mouth of Satus Creek to just downstream of the Benton County line
|-
|18
|Lower Yakima
|37
|1703000312, 1703000311 & part of 1703000310
|Yakima River and its tributaries from just below the Benton County line to the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers
|}

== Geographic Units ==
Geographic units are the smallest spatial unit in our framwork and are named after the dominant creek or river that passes through them. The are mean to represent a convenient scale at which to describe watersheds and reaches that are less numerous than HUC 12s (69 geographic units vs 153 HUCs) and and have names that intuitively describe their geography. Where possible these consist of one or more complete HUC 12s, but in some cases creating units that match general usage in the basin requires either combining or splitting HUC 12s.

=== '''WRIA 39 Upper Yakima Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 39 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1154x1154px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 1 || Gold Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010301) || Gold Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 2 || Keechelus Lake || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010301) || Keechelus Lake and all tributaries except Gold Creek
|-
| 3 || Upper Kachess River || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Upper Kachess River and its tributaries
|-
| 4 || Box Canyon Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Box Canyon Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 5 || Kachess Lake || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Kachess Lake and all its tributaries except Box Canyon and Upper Kachess
|-
| 6 || Cabin Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010302 || Cabn Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 7 || Big Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010305 || Big Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 8 || Upper Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010304 || Yakima River from Keechelus Dam to Easton Lake and all its tributaries except Cabin Creek
|-
| 9 || Easton Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 || 170300010306 || Yakima River from Easton Lake to the Cle Eum River and all its tributaries except Big Creek
|-
| 10 || Cle Elum Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010307 || Yakima River from the Cle Elum River to the Teanaway River and all its tributaries
|-
| 11 || Waptus River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010101 || Waptus River and its tributaries
|-
| 12 || Cooper River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010103 || Cooper River and its tributaries
|-
| 13 || Cle Elum River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010102
170300010104
170300010105
170300010106
| Cle Elum River and Lake and all their tributaries except the Wapatus and Cooper Rivers
|-
| 14 || North Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010201
170300010204
| North Fork Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 15 || Middle Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010202 || Middle Forl Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 16 || West Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010203 || West Forl Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 17 || Mainstem Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010205 || Mainstem Teanaway River from the confluence of the Middle and West Forks to its mouth and all its tributaries except the North Fork
|-
| 18 || Taneum Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010503
170300010504
| Taneum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 19 || Manastash Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE (one partial) ||
170300010508
170300010509
(170300010511)
|Manastash Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 20 || Reecer Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010510 || Reecer Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 21 || Swauk Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010501
170300010502
| Swauk Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 22 || Upper Canyon - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010505 || Yakima River from Teanawya River to Taneum Creek and all its tributaries except Swauk Creek
|-
| 23 || Thorp Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010506
170300010507
| Yakima River from Taneum Creek to Manastash Creek and all its tributaries except Reecer Creek
|-
| 24 || Ellensburg Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010511) || Yakima River and its tributaries from Manastash Creek to Wilson Creek
|-
| 25 || Wilson/Naneum Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010401
170300010402
170300010408
|Wilson Creek and all its tributaries except Coleman and Cherry Creeks
|-
| 26 || Coleman Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010403 || Coleman Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 27 || Cherry Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010404
170300010405
170300010406
170300010407
170300010409
|Cherry Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 28 || Yakima Canyon || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010702
170300010703
170300010704
170300010705
170300010706
170300010707
170300010708
|Yakima River from Wilson Creek to Selah Creek and all its tributaries except Umtanum Creek
|-
| 29 || Selah Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010709 || Yakima river from Selah Creek to the Naches River and all its tributaries except Wenas Creek
|-
| 30 || Umtanum Creek || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010701 || Umtanum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 31 || Wenas Creek || Wenas Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010601
170300010602
170300010603
170300010604
170300010605
|Wenas Creek and its tributaries
|}

=== '''WRIA 38 Naches Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 38 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1049x1049px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 32 || Little Naches River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020101
170300020102
170300020103
170300020109
| Little Naches River and its tributaries
|-
| 33 || Bumping River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020104
170300020105
170300020108
|Bumping River and its tributaries including Bumping Lake
|-
| 34 || American River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT ||
170300020106
170300020107
| American River and its tributaries
|-
| 35 || Upper Naches River || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020201
170300020202
| Naches River from Bumping River to Rock Creek
|-
| 36 || Nile Creek || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020203 || Nile Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 37 || Rattlesnake Creek || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020204
170300020205
170300020206
|Rattlesnake Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 38 || Middle Naches River (Nile) || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020207
170300020208
| Naches River from Rock Creek to the Tieton and all its triburaties except Nile and Rattlesnake Creeks
|-
| 39 || Clear Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020301 || Clear Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 40 || North Fork Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020302 || Nort Fork Tieton River and Clear Lake and all their tributaries except Clear Creek
|-
| 41 || South Fork Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020303
170300020304
| South Fork Tieton River and its tributaries
|-
| 42 || Indian Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300020305) || Indian Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 43 || Rimrock Lake || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300020305) || Rimrock Lake and all its tributaries except Indian Creek and the North and South Fork Tieton Rivers
|-
| 44 || Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020306
170300020308
| Tieton River and its tributaries from Rimrock Dam to the Naches River
|-
| 45 || Oak Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020307 || Oak Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 46 || Lower Naches River || Lower Naches Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020312 || Lower Yakima River from the Tieton to the Yakima and all its tributaries except Cowiche Creek
|-
| 47 || Cowiche Creek || Lower Naches Reach || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020309
170300020310
170300020311
|Cowiche Creek and its tributaries
|}

=== '''WRIA 37 Lower Yakima Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 37 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1000x1000px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 48 || Gap to Gap Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC12 || 170300030206 || Yakima River from the Naches River to Ahtanum Creek and all its tributaries except Wide hollow Creek and Moxee Drain
|-
| 49 || Wide Hollow Creek || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030204

170300030205
| Wide Hollow Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 50 || Moxee Drain || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300030201

170300030202

170300030203
|Moxee Drain and its tributaries
|-
| 51 || Ahtanum Creek || Ahtanum Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030101

170300030102

170300030103

170300030104

170300030105
|Ahtanum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 52 || Wapato Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030501

170300030502

170300030503

170300030506

170300031001

170300031002
| Yakima River from mouth of Ahtanum Creek to Yakima River from ~4.5 miles below Satus Creek and all its tributaries except Wanity Slough, Toppenish and Satus Creeks and Granger Drain
|-
| 53 || Wanity Slough and Marion Drain || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030401

170300030402

170300030403
|Wanity slough and its tributaries
|-
| 54 || Granger Drain || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030504

170300030505
| Granger Drain and its tributaries
|-
| 55 || Upper Toppenish Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030601

170300030602

170300030603

170300030605
| Toppenish Creek and its tributaries upstream of Simcoe Creek
|-
| 56 || Simcoe Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030301

170300030302

170300030303

170300030304

170300030305
|Simcoe Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 57 || Lower Toppenish Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030604

170300030606

170300030607
|Mainstem Toppenish Creek and its tributaries downstream of Simcoe Creek
|-
| 58 || Upper Satus Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030701

170300030701

170300030702

170300030706
| Satus Creek and its tributaries upstream of Logy Creek
|-
| 59 || Dry Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030801

170300030802

170300030803
|Dry Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 60 || Logy Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030703

170300030704

170300030705
|Logy Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 61 || Lower Satus Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030804

170300030805

170300030806

170300030807
| Satus Creek and its tributaries downstream of Logy Creek
|-
| 62 || Mabton Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Mabton Reach || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031003

170300031004
| Yakima River from ~4.5 miles below Satus Creek to just below the Benton County Line and all its tributaries except Sulfur Creek Wasteway
|-
| 63 || Sulphur Creek Wasteway || Mabton Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030901

170300030902

170300030903

170300030904

170300030905

170300030906
| Sulphur Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 64 || [[Prosser Reach|Prosser Reach - Yakima River Mainstem]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031007 || Yakima River and all its tributaires from just below the Benton County line to the mouth of Snipes Creek
|-
| 65 || [[Lower Yakima Reach - Yakima River Mainstem]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE || 170300031203
170300031205
170300031202
|Yakima River from the mouth of Snipes Creek to the Columbia River and all its tributaries except Corral Creek and Amon Creek
|-
| 66 || [[Spring and Snipes Creeks]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031005

170300031006
| Spring and Snipes Creek and their tributaries
|-
| 67 || [[Corral Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031201 || Corral Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 68 || [[Cold Creek (Lower Yakima)|Cold Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031101

170300031102

170300031103

170300031104

170300031105

170300031106

170300031107

170300031108

170300031109
|Cold Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 69 || [[Amon Creek Wasteway|Amon Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031204 || Amon Creek and its tributaries
|}
#

Geographic Units

2025-10-25T20:15:47Z

Aconley:

We have divided the Yakima Basin into geographic reaches based on tributary watersheds and mainstem reaches. While we tried to follow HUC boundaries where possible, this is a unique arrangement that is meant to match how we talk about places in the basin.

The links below take you to individual pages for each area, where you can find detailed information on the watersheds, streams and river reaches in each geographic unit.

REDO INTRO; BUILD OUT LINKS BELOW

== Geographic Frameworks Used in the Yakima Basin ==
Recovery Board system

HUC system: https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography/watershed-boundary-dataset

Population areas by species

Subbasin Plan Assessment Units

ADD LINK/IFRAME FOR FUTURE WEB MAP

River miles?

More information on the default geographic organization used in Yakipedia can be found below.

== Yakima Basin ==
An online GIS layer for the Yakima Basin can be found here: '''ADD LINK TO GIS PORTAL'''

It makes up approximately 10% of the state of Washington, with an area of '''ADD.'''

The Yakima Basin is both a USGS HUC 4 (1703) and HUC 6 watershed (17030001) within the HUC 2 Region #17 (Pacific Northwest); interestingly there is no HUC designation for the Columbia Basin.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council uses the Columbia Basin as its top-level unit, which is divided into Provinces and then subbasins. The Yakima Basin is #62 of the 62 total subbasins, and is one of 11 subbasins within the Columbia Plateau Province. You can see a map of this framework here:''.'' https://www.nwcouncil.org/subbasin-plans/map/ The 2004 Yakima Subbasin Plan '''LINK''' divided the Yakima Subbasin into '''?? assessment units FIND/LINK TO MAP.'''

The Yakima Basin makes up approximately 2/3rds of the State of Washington's Middle Columbia Salmon Recovery Region. '''Link'''

The Yakima Basin is one of four Major Population Groups (MPGs) withing NOAA's Middle Columbia River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS).

The Yakima Basin is designated by USFWS as one of 24 Occupied Core Areas within the Mid-Columbia Bull Trout Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU).

'''''Add Map of Yakima in state?'''''

== WRIAs ==
Washinton State's Water Resource Areas (WRIAs) are our top-level breakout unless there is a compelling reason to us a different geographic framework. There are three WRIAs in the Yakima Basin, and they are consistent with the USGS HUC 8s.

'''WRIAs in the Yakima Basin'''
{| class="wikitable"
!WRIA
!Name
!HUC 8
!Description
|-
|37
|Lower Yakima
|17030003
|Yakima River and all its tributaries below the Naches River confluence
|-
|38
|Naches
|17030002
|Naches River and all its tributaries
|-
|39
|Upper Yakima
|17030001
|Yakima River and all its tributaries above the Naches River confluence
|}
See map below.

== Mid-Level Geographic Units ==
Middle layer are either watersheds (when all areas that drain to the lowest point in a unit are included in the unit) or reaches (when water flows into a unit from an upstream unit). We have designated 18 Mid-Level Units; they are consistent with HUC 10 watersheds except where we have a specific reason to split and/or combine HUC 10s. We use names that match local usage, which differ from the often-inscrutable official HUC names.

'''WRIAs and Mid-level Geographic Units'''
[[File:WRIAs and Mid-level Units.jpg|none|thumb|1110x1110px]]

'''Mid-Level Geographic Units'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Unit
!Name
!WRIA
!HUC 10(s)
!Description
|-
|1
|Upper Yakima Watershed
|39
|1703000103
|Yakima River and all tributaries except the Cle Elum from Cascade Crest to the mouth of the Teanaway, including Kachess and Keechelus Lakes
|-
|2
|Cle Elum Watershed
|39
|1703000101
|Cle Elum River and all its tributaries
|-
|3
|Teanaway Watershed
|39
|1703000102
|Teanaway River and all its tributaries
|-
|4
|Thorp to Ellensburg Reach
|39
|1703000105
|Yakima River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Teanaway downstream to the mouth of Wilson Creek
|-
|5
|Ellensburg Area Watershed
|39
|1703000104
|Wilson Creek and all of its tributaries
|-
|6
|Yakima Canyon Reach
|39
|1703000107
|Yakima River and its tributaries (except Wenas Creek) between the mouth of Wilson Creek and the mouth of the Naches
|-
|7
|Wenas Watershed
|39
|1703000106
|Wenas Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|8
|Upper Naches Watershed
|38
|1703000201
|American, Bumping and Little Naches Rivers and all their tributaries, including Bumping Lake
|-
|9
|Nile Reach
|38
|1703000202
|The Naches River from the confluence of the Bumping and Little Naches to the confluence of the Tieton and its tributaries
|-
|10
|Tieton Watershed
|38
|half of 1703000203
|The Tieton River and its tributaries including Rimrock Lake
|-
|11
|Lower Naches Reach
|38
|half of 1703000203
|Naches River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Tieton to the confluence with the Yakima, including Cowiche Creek
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|12
|Gap to Gap Reach
|37
|1703000302
|Yakima River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Naches to the mouth of Ahtanum Creek
|-
|13
|Ahtanum Watershed
|37
|1703000301
|Ahtanum Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|14
|Wapato Reach
|37
|1703000304, 1703000305 & part of 1703000310
|Yakima River from Union Gap to approximately 4.25 miles below the mouth of Satus Creek
|-
|15
|Toppenish Watershed
|37
|1704000306 & 1704000303
|Toppenish Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|16
|Satus Watershed
|37
|1704000307 & 1704000308
|Satus Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|17
|Mabton Reach
|37
|1703000309 and part of 1703000310
|Yakima River and its tributaries from approximately 4.25 miles below the mouth of Satus Creek to just downstream of the Benton County line
|-
|18
|Lower Yakima
|37
|1703000312, 1703000311 & part of 1703000310
|Yakima River and its tributaries from just below the Benton County line to the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers
|}

== Geographic Units ==
Geographic units are the smallest spatial unit in our framwork and are named after the dominant creek or river that passes through them. The are mean to represent a convenient scale at which to describe watersheds and reaches that are less numerous than HUC 12s (69 geographic units vs 153 HUCs) and and have names that intuitively describe their geography. Where possible these consist of one or more complete HUC 12s, but in some cases creating units that match general usage in the basin requires either combining or splitting HUC 12s.

=== '''WRIA 39 Upper Yakima Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 39 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1154x1154px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 1 || Gold Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010301) || Gold Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 2 || Keechelus Lake || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010301) || Keechelus Lake and all tributaries except Gold Creek
|-
| 3 || Upper Kachess River || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Upper Kachess River and its tributaries
|-
| 4 || Box Canyon Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Box Canyon Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 5 || Kachess Lake || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010303) || Kachess Lake and all its tributaries except Box Canyon and Upper Kachess
|-
| 6 || Cabin Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010302 || Cabn Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 7 || Big Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010305 || Big Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 8 || Upper Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010304 || Yakima River from Keechelus Dam to Easton Lake and all its tributaries except Cabin Creek
|-
| 9 || Easton Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 || 170300010306 || Yakima River from Easton Lake to the Cle Eum River and all its tributaries except Big Creek
|-
| 10 || Cle Elum Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010307 || Yakima River from the Cle Elum River to the Teanaway River and all its tributaries
|-
| 11 || Waptus River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010101 || Waptus River and its tributaries
|-
| 12 || Cooper River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010103 || Cooper River and its tributaries
|-
| 13 || Cle Elum River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010102
170300010104
170300010105
170300010106
| Cle Elum River and Lake and all their tributaries except the Wapatus and Cooper Rivers
|-
| 14 || North Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010201
170300010204
| North Fork Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 15 || Middle Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010202 || Middle Forl Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 16 || West Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010203 || West Forl Teanaway and its tributaries
|-
| 17 || Mainstem Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010205 || Mainstem Teanaway River from the confluence of the Middle and West Forks to its mouth and all its tributaries except the North Fork
|-
| 18 || Taneum Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010503
170300010504
| Taneum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 19 || Manastash Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE (one partial) ||
170300010508
170300010509
(170300010511)
|Manastash Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 20 || Reecer Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010510 || Reecer Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 21 || Swauk Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010501
170300010502
| Swauk Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 22 || Upper Canyon - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010505 || Yakima River from Teanawya River to Taneum Creek and all its tributaries except Swauk Creek
|-
| 23 || Thorp Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010506
170300010507
| Yakima River from Taneum Creek to Manastash Creek and all its tributaries except Reecer Creek
|-
| 24 || Ellensburg Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300010511) || Yakima River and its tributaries from Manastash Creek to Wilson Creek
|-
| 25 || Wilson/Naneum Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010401
170300010402
170300010408
|Wilson Creek and all its tributaries except Coleman and Cherry Creeks
|-
| 26 || Coleman Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010403 || Coleman Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 27 || Cherry Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010404
170300010405
170300010406
170300010407
170300010409
|Cherry Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 28 || Yakima Canyon || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010702
170300010703
170300010704
170300010705
170300010706
170300010707
170300010708
|Yakima River from Wilson Creek to Selah Creek and all its tributaries except Umtanum Creek
|-
| 29 || Selah Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010709 || Yakima river from Selah Creek to the Naches River and all its tributaries except Wenas Creek
|-
| 30 || Umtanum Creek || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010701 || Umtanum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 31 || Wenas Creek || Wenas Watershed || 39 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300010601
170300010602
170300010603
170300010604
170300010605
|Wenas Creek and its tributaries
|}

=== '''WRIA 38 Naches Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 38 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1049x1049px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 32 || Little Naches River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020101
170300020102
170300020103
170300020109
| Little Naches River and its tributaries
|-
| 33 || Bumping River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020104
170300020105
170300020108
|Bumping River and its tributaries including Bumping Lake
|-
| 34 || American River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT ||
170300020106
170300020107
| American River and its tributaries
|-
| 35 || Upper Naches River || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020201
170300020202
| Naches River from Bumping River to Rock Creek
|-
| 36 || Nile Creek || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020203 || Nile Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 37 || Rattlesnake Creek || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020204
170300020205
170300020206
|Rattlesnake Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 38 || Middle Naches River (Nile) || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020207
170300020208
| Naches River from Rock Creek to the Tieton and all its triburaties except Nile and Rattlesnake Creeks
|-
| 39 || Clear Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020301 || Clear Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 40 || North Fork Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020302 || Nort Fork Tieton River and Clear Lake and all their tributaries except Clear Creek
|-
| 41 || South Fork Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020303
170300020304
| South Fork Tieton River and its tributaries
|-
| 42 || Indian Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300020305) || Indian Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 43 || Rimrock Lake || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 SPLIT || (170300020305) || Rimrock Lake and all its tributaries except Indian Creek and the North and South Fork Tieton Rivers
|-
| 44 || Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300020306
170300020308
| Tieton River and its tributaries from Rimrock Dam to the Naches River
|-
| 45 || Oak Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020307 || Oak Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 46 || Lower Naches River || Lower Naches Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020312 || Lower Yakima River from the Tieton to the Yakima and all its tributaries except Cowiche Creek
|-
| 47 || Cowiche Creek || Lower Naches Reach || 38 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300020309
170300020310
170300020311
|Cowiche Creek and its tributaries
|}

=== '''WRIA 37 Lower Yakima Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 37 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1000x1000px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 48 || Gap to Gap Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC12 || 170300030206 || Yakima River from the Naches River to Ahtanum Creek and all its tributaries except Wide hollow Creek and Moxee Drain
|-
| 49 || Wide Hollow Creek || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030204

170300030205
| Wide Hollow Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 50 || Moxee Drain || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300030201

170300030202

170300030203
|Moxee Drain and its tributaries
|-
| 51 || Ahtanum Creek || Ahtanum Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030101

170300030102

170300030103

170300030104

170300030105
|Ahtanum Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 52 || Wapato Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030501
170300030502
170300030503
170300030506
170300031001
170300031002
| Yakima River from mouth of Ahtanum Creek to Yakima River from ~4.5 miles below Satus Creek and all its tributaries except Wanity Slough, Toppenish and Satus Creeks and Granger Drain
|-
| 53 || Wanity Slough and Marion Drain || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030401
170300030402
170300030403
|Wanity slough and its tributaries
|-
| 54 || Granger Drain || Wapato Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030504
170300030505
| Granger Drain and its tributaries
|-
| 55 || Upper Toppenish Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030601
170300030602
170300030603
170300030605
| Toppenish Creek and its tributaries upstream of Simcoe Creek
|-
| 56 || Simcoe Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030301
170300030302
170300030303
170300030304
170300030305
|Simcoe Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 57 || Lower Toppenish Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030604
170300030606
170300030607
|Mainstem Toppenish Creek and its tributaries downstream of Simcoe Creek
|-
| 58 || Upper Satus Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030701
170300030701
170300030702
170300030706
| Satus Creek and its tributaries upstream of Logy Creek
|-
| 59 || Dry Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030801
170300030802
170300030803
|Dry Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 60 || Logy Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030703
170300030704
170300030705
|Logy Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 61 || Lower Satus Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030804
170300030805
170300030806
170300030807
| Satus Creek and its tributaries downstream of Logy Creek
|-
| 62 || Mabton Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Mabton Reach || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031003
170300031004
| Yakima River from ~4.5 miles below Satus Creek to just below the Benton County Line and all its tributaries except Sulfur Creek Wasteway
|-
| 63 || Sulphur Creek Wasteway || Mabton Reach || 37 || HUC 12 MERGE ||
170300030901
170300030902
170300030903
170300030904
170300030905
170300030906
| Sulphur Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 64 || [[Prosser Reach|Prosser Reach - Yakima River Mainstem]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031007 || Yakima River and all its tributaires from just below the Benton County line to the mouth of Snipes Creek
|-
| 65 || [[Lower Yakima Reach - Yakima River Mainstem]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE || 170300031203
170300031205
170300031202
|Yakima River from the mouth of Snipes Creek to the Columbia River and all its tributaries except Corral Creek and Amon Creek
|-
| 66 || [[Spring and Snipes Creeks]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031005
170300031006
| Spring and Snipes Creek and their tributaries
|-
| 67 || [[Corral Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031201 || Corral Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 68 || [[Cold Creek (Lower Yakima)|Cold Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 MERGE ||
170300031101
170300031102
170300031103
170300031104
170300031105
170300031106
170300031107
170300031108
170300031109
|Cold Creek and its tributaries
|-
| 69 || [[Amon Creek Wasteway|Amon Creek]]|| Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031204 || Amon Creek and its tributaries
|}
#

2025-10-15T05:33:46Z

Aconley: /* NACHES WATER RESOURCE AREA (WRIA 38) */

We have divided the Yakima Basin into geographic reaches based on tributary watersheds and mainstem reaches. While we tried to follow HUC boundaries where possible, this is a unique arrangement that is meant to match how we talk about places in the basin.

The links below take you to individual pages for each area, where you can find detailed information on the watersheds, streams and river reaches in each geographic unit.

REDO INTRO; BUILD OUT LINKS BELOW

== Geographic Frameworks Used in the Yakima Basin ==
Recovery Board system

HUC system: https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography/watershed-boundary-dataset

Population areas by species

Subbasin Plan Assessment Units

ADD LINK/IFRAME FOR FUTURE WEB MAP

River miles?

More information on the default geographic organization used in Yakipedia can be found below.

== Yakima Basin ==
An online GIS layer for the Yakima Basin can be found here: '''ADD LINK TO GIS PORTAL'''

It makes up approximately 10% of the state of Washington, with an area of '''ADD.'''

The Yakima Basin is both a USGS HUC 4 (1703) and HUC 6 watershed (17030001) within the HUC 2 Region #17 (Pacific Northwest); interestingly there is no HUC designation for the Columbia Basin.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council uses the Columbia Basin as its top-level unit, which is divided into Provinces and then subbasins. The Yakima Basin is #62 of the 62 total subbasins, and is one of 11 subbasins within the Columbia Plateau Province. You can see a map of this framework here:''.'' https://www.nwcouncil.org/subbasin-plans/map/ The 2004 Yakima Subbasin Plan '''LINK''' divided the Yakima Subbasin into '''?? assessment units FIND/LINK TO MAP.'''

The Yakima Basin makes up approximately 2/3rds of the State of Washington's Middle Columbia Salmon Recovery Region. '''Link'''

The Yakima Basin is one of four Major Population Groups (MPGs) withing NOAA's Middle Columbia River Steelhead Distinct Population Segment (DPS).

The Yakima Basin is designated by USFWS as one of 24 Occupied Core Areas within the Mid-Columbia Bull Trout Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU).

'''''Add Map of Yakima in state?'''''

== WRIAs ==
Washinton State's Water Resource Areas (WRIAs) are our top-level breakout unless there is a compelling reason to us a different geographic framework. There are three WRIAs in the Yakima Basin, and they are consistent with the USGS HUC 8s.

'''WRIAs in the Yakima Basin'''
{| class="wikitable"
!WRIA
!Name
!HUC 8
!Description
|-
|37
|Lower Yakima
|17030003
|Yakima River and all its tributaries below the Naches River confluence
|-
|38
|Naches
|17030002
|Naches River and all its tributaries
|-
|39
|Upper Yakima
|17030001
|Yakima River and all its tributaries above the Naches River confluence
|}
See map below.

== Mid-Level Geographic Units ==
Middle layer are either watersheds (when all areas that drain to the lowest point in a unit are included in the unit) or reaches (when water flows into a unit from an upstream unit). We have designated 18 Mid-Level Units; they are consistent with HUC 10 watersheds except where we have a specific reason to split and/or combine HUC 10s. We use names that match local usage, which differ from the often-inscrutable official HUC names.

'''WRIAs and Mid-level Geographic Units'''
[[File:WRIAs and Mid-level Units.jpg|none|thumb|666x666px]]

'''Mid-Level Geographic Units'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Unit
!Name
!WRIA
!HUC 10(s)
!Description
|-
|1
|Upper Yakima Watershed
|39
|1703000103
|Yakima River and all tributaries except the Cle Elum from Cascade Crest to the mouth of the Teanaway, including Kachess and Keechelus Lakes
|-
|2
|Cle Elum Watershed
|39
|1703000101
|Cle Elum River and all its tributaries
|-
|3
|Teanaway Watershed
|39
|1703000102
|Teanaway River and all its tributaries
|-
|4
|Thorp to Ellensburg Reach
|39
|1703000105
|Yakima River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Teanaway downstream to the mouth of Wilson Creek
|-
|5
|Ellensburg Area Watershed
|39
|1703000104
|Wilson Creek and all of its tributaries
|-
|6
|Yakima Canyon Reach
|39
|1703000107
|Yakima River and its tributaries (except Wenas Creek) between the mouth of Wilson Creek and the mouth of the Naches
|-
|7
|Wenas Watershed
|39
|1703000106
|Wenas Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|8
|Upper Naches Watershed
|38
|1703000201
|American, Bumping and Little Naches Rivers and all their tributaries, including Bumping Lake
|-
|9
|Nile Reach
|38
|1703000202
|The Naches River from the confluence of the Bumping and Little Naches to the confluence of the Tieton and its tributaries
|-
|10
|Tieton Watershed
|38
|half of 1703000203
|The Tieton River and its tributaries including Rimrock Lake
|-
|11
|Lower Naches Reach
|38
|half of 1703000203
|Naches River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Tieton to the confluence with the Yakima, including Cowiche Creek
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|12
|Gap to Gap Reach
|37
|1703000302
|Yakima River and its tributaries from the mouth of the Naches to the mouth of Ahtanum Creek
|-
|13
|Ahtanum Watershed
|37
|1703000301
|Ahtanum Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|14
|Wapato Reach
|37
|1703000304, 1703000305 & part of 1703000310
|Yakima River from Union Gap to approximately 4.25 miles below the mouth of Satus Creek
|-
|15
|Toppenish Watershed
|37
|1704000306 & 1704000303
|Toppenish Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|16
|Satus Watershed
|37
|1704000307 & 1704000308
|Satus Creek and all its tributaries
|-
|17
|Mabton Reach
|37
|1703000309 and part of 1703000310
|Yakima River and its tributaries from approximately 4.25 miles below the mouth of Satus Creek to just downstream of the Benton County line
|-
|18
|Lower Yakima
|37
|1703000312, 1703000311 & part of 1703000310
|Yakima River and its tributaries from just below the Benton County line to the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers
|}

== Geographic Units ==
Geographic units are the smallest spatial unit in our framwork and are named after the dominant creek or river that passes through them. The are mean to represent a convenient scale at which to describe watersheds and reaches that are less numerous than HUC 12s (69 geographic units vs 153 HUCs) and and have names that intuitively describe their geography. Where possible these consist of one or more complete HUC 12s, but in some cases creating units that match general usage in the basin requires either combining or splitting HUC 12s.

=== '''WRIA 39 Upper Yakima Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 39 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1154x1154px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 1 || Gold Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 Split || 170300010301 ||
|-
| 2 || Keechelus Lake || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 Split || (170300010301) ||
|-
| 3 || Upper Kachess River || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 split || (170300010303) ||
|-
| 4 || Box Canyon Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 Split || 170300010303 ||
|-
| 5 || Kachess Lake || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 Split || (170300010301) ||
|-
| 6 || Cabin Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010302 ||
|-
| 7 || Big Creek || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010305 ||
|-
| 8 || Upper Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || (170300010303) ||
|-
| 9 || Easton Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010306 ||
|-
| 10 || Cle Elum Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Upper Yakima Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010307 ||
|-
| 11 || Waptus River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010101 ||
|-
| 12 || Cooper River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010103 ||
|-
| 13 || Cle Elum River || Cle Elum Watershed || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010102, 170300010104, 170300010105, 170300010106 ||
|-
| 14 || North Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010201, 170300010204 ||
|-
| 15 || Middle Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010202 ||
|-
| 16 || West Fork Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010203 ||
|-
| 17 || Mainstem Teanaway River || Teanaway Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010205 ||
|-
| 18 || Taneum Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010503, 170300010504 ||
|-
| 19 || Manastash Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010508, 170300010509 ||
|-
| 20 || Reecer Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010510 ||
|-
| 21 || Swauk Creek || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010501, 170300010502 ||
|-
| 22 || Upper Canyon - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010505 ||
|-
| 23 || Thorp Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010506, 170300010507 ||
|-
| 24 || Ellensburg Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Thorp to Ellensburg Reach || 39 || Split (HUC12) || 170300010511 ||
|-
| 25 || Wilson/Naneum Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010401, 170300010402, 170300010408 ||
|-
| 26 || Coleman Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010403 ||
|-
| 27 || Cherry Creek || Ellensburg Area Watershed || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010404,170300010405,170300010406,170300010407,170300010409 ||
|-
| 29 || Yakima Canyon || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010702, 170300010703, 170300010704, 170300010705, 170300010706, 170300010707, 170300010708 ||
|-
| 29 || Selah Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010709 ||
|-
| 30 || Umtanum Creek || Yakima Canyon Reach || 39 || HUC12 || 170300010701 ||
|-
| 31 || Wenas Creek || Wenas Watershed || 39 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300010601, 170300010602, 170300010603, 170300010604, 170300010605 ||
|}

=== '''WRIA 38 Naches Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 38 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1049x1049px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Geographic Unit !! Mid-level Unit !! WRIA !! Source !! HUC12_List !! Description
|-
| 32 || Little Naches River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300020101,170300020102,170300020103 ||
|-
| 33 || Bumping River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC12 Split || 170300020104,170300020105,170300020108 ||
|-
| 34 || American River || Upper Naches Watershed || 38 || HUC12 Split || 170300020106,170300020107 ||
|-
| 35 || Upper Naches River || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020202 ||
|-
| 36 || Nile Creek || Nile Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020203 ||
|-
| 37 || Rattlesnake Creek || Nile Reach || 38 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300020204, 170300020205, 170300020206 ||
|-
| 38 || Middle Naches River (Nile) || Nile Reach || 38 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300020207,170300020208 ||
|-
| 39 || Clear Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020301 ||
|-
| 40 || North Fork Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020302 ||
|-
| 41 || South Fork Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300020303, 170300020304 ||
|-
| 42 || Indian Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 Split || (170300020305) ||
|-
| 43 || Rimrock Lake || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 Split || (170300020305) ||
|-
| 44 || Tieton River || Tieton Watershed || 38 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300020306, 170300020308 ||
|-
| 45 || Oak Creek || Tieton Watershed || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020307 ||
|-
| 46 || Lower Naches River || Lower Naches Reach || 38 || HUC12 || 170300020312 ||
|-
| 47 || Cowiche Creek || Lower Naches Reach || 38 || HUC12 Split || 170300020309,170300020310,170300020311 ||
|}

=== '''WRIA 37 Lower Yakima Geographic Units''' ===
[[File:WRIA 37 Geographic Units.jpg|none|thumb|1000x1000px]]

{| class="wikitable"
! 48 !! Gap to Gap Reach - Yakima River Mainstem !! Gap to Gap Reach !! 37 !! HUC12 !! 170300030206 !!
|-
| 49 || Wide Hollow Creek || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030204,170300030205 ||
|-
| 50 || Moxee Drain || Gap to Gap Reach || 37 || HUC12 || 170300030201, 170300031102, 170300031103 ||
|-
| 51 || Ahtanum Creek || Ahtanum Watershed || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030101, 170300030102, 170300030103, 170300030104, 170300030105 ||
|-
| 52 || Wapato Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Wapato Reach || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030501, 170300030502, 170300030503, 170300030506, 170300031001, 170300031002 ||
|-
| 53 || Wanity Slough and Marion Drain || Wapato Reach || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030401,170300030402,170300030403 ||
|-
| 54 || Granger Drain || Wapato Reach || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030504,170300030505 ||
|-
| 55 || Upper Toppenish Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030601,170300030602,170300030603,170300030605 ||
|-
| 56 || Simcoe Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || || 170300030301, 170300030302, 170300030303, 170300030304, 170300030305 ||
|-
| 57 || Lower Toppenish Creek || Toppenish Watershed || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030604,170300030606,170300030607 ||
|-
| 58 || Upper Satus Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030701,170300030701,170300030702,170300030706 ||
|-
| 59 || Dry Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030801,170300030802,170300030803 ||
|-
| 60 || Logy Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030703,170300030704,170300030705 ||
|-
| 61 || Lower Satus Creek || Satus Watershed || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030804,170300030805,170300030806,170300030807 ||
|-
| 62 || Mabton Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Mabton Reach || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031003,170300031004 ||
|-
| 63 || Sulphur Creek Wasteway || Mabton Reach || 37 || Merge (HUC12) || 170300030901,170300030902,170300030903,170300030904,170300030905,170300030906 ||
|-
| 64 || Prosser Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031007 ||
|-
| 65 || Lower Yakima Reach - Yakima River Mainstem || Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || (170300031003),(170300031005),170300031202 ||
|-
| 66 || Spring and Snipes Creeks || Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031005,170300031006 ||
|-
| 67 || Corral Creek || Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031201 ||
|-
| 68 || Cold Creek || Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031101, 170300031102, 170300031103, 170300031104, 170300031105, 170300031106, 170300031107, 170300031108, 170300031109 ||
|-
| 69 || Amon Creek || Lower Yakima || 37 || HUC12 || 170300031204 ||
|}

==== [[Lower Yakima River|'''Lower Yakima''']] (USGS HUCs 1703000310, 1703000311 and 1703000312) ====

# [[Prosser Reach|Prosser Reach - Yakima River Mainstem]]
# [[Lower Yakima Reach - Yakima River Mainstem]]
# [[Spring and Snipes Creeks]]
# [[Corral Creek]]
# [[Cold Creek (Lower Yakima)|Cold Creek]]
# [[Amon Creek Wasteway]]
# [[Yakima Delta]]

Geographic Units

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Aconley: /* NACHES WATER RESOURCE AREA (WRIA 38) */

Geographic Units

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Aconley:

Geographic Units

Geographic Units

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Aconley: /* Mid-Level Geographic Units */

File:WRIAs and Mid-level Units.jpg

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Aconley: Map of WRIAs and Mid-level Geographic Units from 10/14/2025

== Summary ==
Map of WRIAs and Mid-level Geographic Units from 10/14/2025

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Aconley: /* Naches (WRIA 38) Assessments */

In some cases, it’s easy to know what project to do next. In others, it may require detailed analysis to identify and prioritize options that best meet restoration goals. This type of analysis is typical completed in assessments and reach/watershed restoration plans. These documents typically include detailed assessments of current habitat conditions and key limiting factors for target species and identify and prioritize potential projects to address those limiting factors. This page describes assessments and watershed/reach plans that have been completed to guide fisheries restoration work in the Yakima Basin.

== '''Basinwide Assessments''' ==
The Salmon Recovery Act of 1998 directed the Washington State Conservation Commission to complete Limiting Factors Assessments to guide salmon recovery investments. The Limiting Factors Analysis for the Yakima Basin<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://archives.yvl.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6c66415-7e67-44ad-8951-fbc0f0a004d6/content |title=Habitat Limiting Factors Yakima River Watershed Water Resource Inventory Areas 37-39 Final Report |last=Haring |first=Don |date=2001 |publisher=Washington State Conservation Commission}}</ref> was completed by Don Haring in 2001 and remains one of the best resources for information on the Yakima River and its tributaries. While some of its recommendations may be out of date, it remains an essential reference for project sponsors. An archived copy can be viewed at: https://archives.yvl.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6c66415-7e67-44ad-8951-fbc0f0a004d6/content

== '''Lower Yakima (WRIA 37) Assessments''' ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Lead
!Notes
|-
|2011
|[https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Lower_Yakima_Assessment.pdf Lower Yakima Assessment]
|Benton Conservation District
|General assessment of conditions and potential projects in the Yakima River and tribs in Benton County
|-
|2012
|[https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/WapatoReachAssessment.pdf Wapato Reach Assessment]
|WDFW/Yakama NAtion
|Assessment of fish habitat and potential projects on the mainstem Yakima from Union Gap to the Mabton Bridge.
|-
|2014
|[https://secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search/ProjectSnapshotAttachmentData.aspx?id=198977 Yakima River Delta Habitat Asessment]
|Mid-Columbia Fisheries
|Focused on the confluence of the Yakima River with the Columbia and potential benefits of Bateman Island Causeway removal
|-
|2017
|[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320269988_Factors_Influencing_Predation_on_Juvenile_Fishes_Emigrating_Through_the_Lower_Yakima_River_Basin Lower Yakima Predation Assessment]
|Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board
|Prepared by Geoff McMichaels
|-
|2021
|[https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Water-Stargrass-Management-Techniques_FINAL.pdf Water Stargrass Management Techniques]
|Benton Conservation District
|Review of potential ways to manage water stargrass including mechanical, chemical and environmental control
|-
|''Proposed''
|''Ahtanum Watershed Assessment''
|''Yakama Nation''
|''Identified as a need to help prioritize restoration actions''
|}

== '''Naches (WRIA 38) Assessments''' ==
{| class="wikitable"
!'''Year'''
!'''Title'''
!'''Lead'''
!'''Notes'''
|-
|2017
|[https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/LN_Geomorph_Assessmnt_FINAL_20170512.pdf Little Naches Geomorphic Assessment]
|Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board
|Prepared by Hoda Sondossi; focus on flooplain restoration opportunities in the Little Naches River.
|-
|2016
|[https://ybfwrb.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lower-Tieton-River-Assessment_Final-Report_w-Appendic.pdf Lower Tieton River Assessment]
|Yakama Nation YKFP Program
|Focus on identifying floodplain restoration opportunities.
|-
|Proposed
|''Upper Naches Assessment''
|''Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board/Yakama Nation YKFP Program''
|''Identified as a need to identify critical limiting factors for chinook and steelhead and prioritize restoration actions''
|}

== '''Upper Yakima (WRIA 39) Assessments''' ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Lead
!Notes
|-
|2013
|[https://www.kccd.net/manastash-creek-assesment Manastash Reach Assessment]
|Kittitas Conservation District
|Focused on identifying opportunities for habitat restoration and flood hazard reduction on private lands on Manastash Creek.
|-
|2015
|[https://secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search/ProjectSnapshotAttachmentData.aspx?id=238756 Kittitas Reach of the Yakima River]
|Kittitas County
|Assessment of habitat conditions and needs from the Jefferies Levee to the upper end of the Yakima Canyon; led to significant land acquisitions by county with associated restoration in progress. Referenced techincal memos can be found [https://secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search/ProjectSnapshot.aspx?ProjectNumber=12-1358 here].
|-
|2015
|[https://secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search/ProjectSnapshot.aspx?ProjectNumber=12-1306 Gold Creek Assessment and Conceptual Design]
|Kittitas Conservation Trust
|Focused on habitat needs in Gold Creek and the impact of Gold Creek Pond on instream flows. There is no single report; the link is to the project page; see project attachment section for links to the Habitat, Geomorphic and Hydrology memos and concept designs.
|-
|2017
|[https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/public-works/flood/reports.aspx Wilson, Naneum and Cherry Creek Watershed]
|Kittitas County
|Data collection and preliminary analysis of fish habitat needs in the tributaries surrounding Ellensburg, with a focus on understanding possible fish passage routes to Upper Naneum Creek.
|-
|2019
|[https://secure.rco.wa.gov/prism/search/ProjectSnapshotAttachmentData.aspx?id=432960 Kachess Assessment]
|Kittitas Conservation Trust
|Focus on bull trout habitat restoration opportunities in the Upper Kachess River above Kachess Lake.
|-
|
|Teanaway Assessments
|
|'''ADD'''
|}

== '''Timber Company Watershed Assessments''' ==
GATHER AND ADD TO TABLE

== References ==

Yakima Basin Assessments

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