Part of Yakima Delta wildlife area temporarily closed for restoration
The temporary closure area at the Yakima Delta Habitat Management Unit is bordered in red. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is closing the area, including the Columbia Park Trail parking lot, from Aug. 4 to 14 to begin work on the Amon Creek ecosystem restoration project.
Courtesy USACE Walla Walla DistrictA major ecosystem restoration project in the Yakima Delta means those who like to visit the wildlife area off Columbia Park Trail will have to wait to take a hike there.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has closed the parking lot and the habitat area it serves, which includes the outlet of Amon Creek into the Yakima River, until Aug. 14.
“The closure ensures public safety while contractors mobilize equipment and begin work site preparation,” the Corps said in a statement. “Once the initial construction phases are complete, the Corps will establish safety zones to allow the public to access parts of the area again.”
The restoration project is part of a partnership with the Benton Conservation District, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants.
Work crews will redirect Amon Creek’s flow into a new location on the river, providing a better thermal refuge for migrating salmon.
