Water Stargrass Coalition
This page is for information about the Yakima Water Stargrass Coalition (YWSC), which brings diverse parties in the Yakima Basin together to address the issues created by the heavy growth of Water stargrass (Heteranthera dubia) in the Lower Yakima River. General information about Water stargrass, the issues it creates for water quality, habitat, fisheries, recreation and more, and our efforts to manage it can be found on the Water stargrass page. THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS; DO HAVE PATIENCE AS WE BUILD IT OUT
Organization of the Coalition
The Water Stargrass Coalition welcomes all interested parties; if you are interested in being added to our member contact list, contact ?????. Current organizations that are active in the Coalition include:
- Benton Conservation District
- Benton County
- Benton County Mosquito Control District
- Columbia Irrigation District
- Kennewick Irrigation District
- Middle Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group
- US Army Corps of Engineers
- US Bureau of Reclamation
- Washington Department of Fish and Widlife
- Washington Department of Ecology
- Washington State University
- Yakama Nation
- Yakima Basin Fish & Wildlife Recovery Board
- Yakima Basin Joint Board
ADD A PHOTO OF THE GROUP IN WHITE SPACE ABOVE
The Benton Conservation District is the lead organizer of the Coalition, and funding for work to date has come from a wide variety of sources, including the Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Ecology, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and many more. The Coalition works closely with the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan its many partners.
The Coalition works jointly identify and plan priority actions, secure and coordinate the funding needed to implement those actions, and conduct outreach and engage with decision makes to build support for the Coalition's efforts.
Meetings of the Coalition
The Coalition holds full membership meetings 2 to 6 times per year.
INFO ON UPCOMING MEETINGS
LIST/LINKS FOR PAST MEETINGS?
The Coalition also regularly convenes topic-specific work groups to coordinate specific initiatives and projects
ADD DETAIL (build out with a blurb on each group and its focus?)
Yakima Water Stargrass Strategic Plan
One of the primary current goals of the Coalition is to develop a strategic plan for Water stargrass management efforts that can guide and support the work of our many partners.
MORE DETAIL ON PLANNIGN PROCESS AND HOW TO ENGAGE
discuss link to YBIP plan?
Coalition Documents
ADD KEY DOCS (charter, plans, archive of update emails/newseltters, etc