Aerial photograph of Kachess Dam and Reservoir taken by Reclamation.
Welcome to the virtual public meeting website for the Kachess Dam Safety of Dams modification project environmental assessment.
On Sept. 22, 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation released the final environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for the Kachess Dam safety project. Reclamation analyzed cost-effective measures to reduce long-term risks, per Reclamation’s Public Protection Guidelines, to maintain water deliveries throughout the Yakima basin, minimize impacts to the environment, and water flows for endangered species. The project area is located in Kittitas County, two miles north of Easton, Washington.
Reclamation is committed to ensuring its dams do not present unacceptable risk levels to people, property, and the environment as part of its Safety of Dams program mission. These requirements result in a need for Reclamation to implement corrective action to bring static and hydrologic risks at Kachess Dam below public protection guidelines while minimizing impacts to the environment.
Reclamation is conducted a public scoping period and public comment period in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to gather information from Tribes, government agencies, interested parties, and the public to identify relevant comments, concerns and/or issues. The EA and FONSI are available on Reclamation’s Kachess Dam Safety of Dams modification project environmental assessment website.
For more information on the Kachess Dam Safety of Dams modification project environmental assessment, please contact Candace McKinley, supervisory environmental protection specialist at BOR-SHA-KSODNEPA@usbr.gov.
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