The Yakama Nation, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and partners, are designing and constructing improvements to the Wapato Diversion Dam (Diversion) on the Yakima River, about two miles south of Union Gap, Washington. The Diversion project is being developed over several years and consists of two main stages: (1) A series of short-term repairs constructed in March of 2024 and (2) The design and construction of features to achieve long-term, multidisciplinary objectives. This is a multi-objective project that will benefit fish populations, the farm economy, river function, and Yakama Nation natural and cultural resources and exercise of Treaty Rights. The project is currently in design, with a multi-year construction phase anticipated to start in 2028.
Please see the BIA maintained project website for more information: https://wapatodiversion.com/home.
The project aims to achieve substantial improvements in:
- Fish passage for salmon, steelhead, lamprey, and other native species
- Opportunities for tribal fish harvest
- Reliability of the water supply to the Wapato Irrigation Project
- Operator safety
- River function, including sediment passage and flow continuity
- Upstream flood risks
The project is currently in preliminary design and alternatives assessment. We plan on selecting the preferred alternative by the end of 2026.
Project Photos:
Status: Active
- PresentProject Manager
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Tom Elliott ,
Project Manager
509 314-9703