YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. – Starting September 2, an initiative led by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Yakama Nation Fisheries and other partners will tackle the issue of water stargrass in the lower Yakima River.
According to a WDFW release, the removal of water stargrass will occur near Prosser and Benton City, targeting areas from the Prosser City Wastewater Plant to the Yakama Nation Prosser Hatchery, and then shifting to the Benton City Unit of WDFW’s Sunnyside-Snake River Wildlife Area.
Water stargrass, a native aquatic plant, has seen explosive growth, adversely affecting salmon, irrigation and recreational river use. WDFW said the plant displaces fall Chinook salmon from their historic spawning areas, forcing them into warmer waters and further upriver, which increases their exposure to predators and lethal temperatures.
“The work is not likely to impact salmon spawning since it won’t take place during October or November when spawning occurs,” says Trevor Hutton, WDFW South Central Fish Program Manager. “WDFW biologists will be on site to monitor the presence of fish in the area before, during, and after the work is completed.”
The project will use excavators to remove the stargrass, with plants temporarily placed on the riverbank to dry before being composted.
Work is expected to last most of September.
