April 23, 2002
John Redding
(208) 378-5212
Dave Kaumheimer
(509) 575-5848 ext. 232

Public Meetings on Kennewick and Columbia Irrigation Districts Pump Exchange Scheduled

The Bureau of Reclamation has announced two public scoping meetings on the Kennewick and Columbia Irrigation Districts Pump Exchange. The purposes of the meeting are to solicit input on the alternatives developed for the exchange and to identify potential issues and impacts associated with those alternatives.

Congress authorized Reclamation to conduct a feasibility study to investigate both a Yakima River water exchange with the Columbia River and the electrification of the Chandler hydraulic pumps. These actions would increase lower Yakima River instream flows during the irrigation season and benefit anadromous fish. The feasibility study will be combined with an environmental impact statement. The EIS will describe and analyze potential impacts associated with the feasibility study alternatives. A draft report is expected in 2003.

On May 1, two meetings will be held at the WestCoast Tri-Cities Hotel (across from the Columbia Center Mall), North 1101 Columbia Center Blvd., in Kennewick, Washington. The first meeting will begin with a 12:00-1:00 p.m. open house, followed by the public scoping meeting from 1:00-3:00 p.m. The second meeting will begin with a 6:00-7:00 p.m. open house, followed by the public meeting from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

The meeting facilities are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Please contact Dave Kaumheimer at (509) 575-5848 ext. 232 for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids.

Si decea atender la junta y necesita un interprete en espaņol, por favor llame a John Evans al (509) 575-5848 ext. 251.

For more information concerning the meetings or to submit written comments, contact Dave Kaumheimer, Upper Columbia Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation,1917 Marsh Road, Yakima WA or call (509) 575-5848 ext. 232.