TRI-CITIES, Wash. – Throughout the Tri-Cities, city councils voted on a joint letter urging the transfer of federal riverfront lands from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers back to local and tribal governments.
The letter represents a significant step in a decade-long effort led by the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) to regain control, following a nearly 80-year-long period of control by the federal government.
David Reeploeg, vice president of federal programs at TRIDEC, is just one of many who have held the reigns of this project.
“The original concept came from former Kennewick Mayor Brad Fisher, my predecessor here, Gary Peterson, and then former Congressman Doc Hastings,” said Reeploeg. “I came on in 2017, and I’ve sort of been running with it ever since.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took control of much of the riverfront property during the 1940s and 50s after devastating floods. Back then, the land was privately owned. Since then, local governments have leased the land, which now includes parks, levees and other important infrastructure.
If or when the land is handed back to local municipalities and tribes, TRIDEC says they hope to establish better communication with one another and increase preservation and education efforts.
As to how much land they’re looking to take control of, Reeploeg doesn’t know for sure.
“We haven’t exactly calculated the total number of acres, but it’s well into the hundreds. Probably closer to a thousand plus acres,” Reeploeg said.
Such land includes the entirety of Columbia Park, most of the Richland shoreline, and more.
Reeploeg says he’s excited to see the project moving forward and is committed to working with local tribes and legislation until the job is done.
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