CLE ELUM, Wash. — Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) announced $5 million in funding for the Cle Elum Reservoir. The money is intended to address the safe passage of fish and resilience against drought in the region.
As announced by the office of Sen. Murray, these funds will go toward the Cle Elum Pool Raise Project — a project that’s equitably and sustainably meant to enhance streams and living quality for the region’s fish.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the water storage capacity in the region is supposed to be increased by 14,600 acre-feet once the project is completed.
“Salmon are an integral part of our culture, our economy, and our traditions here in Washington state—that’s why I fight so hard to make salmon recovery a federal priority,” Sen. Murray said.
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These funds are one segment of $210 million being dispersed through the Biden/Harris Administration’s Drought Resilience Projects, which are meant to prevent drought and mitigate its impacts across the Western United States.
“This project is an important component of the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan which will help the ecosystem and economy to be resilient to climate change into the future,” Urban Eberhart, Secretary Manager of the Kittitas Reclamation District said.
Funds are also being dispersed for separate but related projects in California, Oregon, Montana, Colorado and Arizona.
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