Yakima River
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The Yakima River is a river in Washington state, United States. It flows into the Columbia River and is named after the Yakama people. Lewis and Clark wrote in their journals that the Sahaptin people called it Tâpe têtt, possibly from the French word tape-tête, meaning "head hit". The river starts in the Cascade Range at an elevation of 2,449 feet (746 m) near Easton.[1][2]
The river is 214 miles long and has an average drop of 9.85 feet per mile. It starts in the Cascade Range at Keechelus Dam near Snoqualmie Pass, then flows through Easton and Yakima, and joins the Columbia River in Richland, creating the Yakima River Delta. The Yakima River valley is famous for its wine.[3]
River development
The Yakima River and its streams have been changed a lot for farming. Many dams and canals for irrigation have been built. Sometimes, water used for irrigation goes back to the river through drains. This irrigation system affects the river's flow, causing both low and high water levels compared to how it used to be. The USGS has four gauges to measure the river's flow. The highest flow, 3,542 cubic feet per second, is recorded in Union Gap, halfway up the river. The two gauges downstream show lower average flows.[4]
Yakima River Media
Rafters enjoying a summer day on the Yakima River at West Richland, Washington near the confluence with the Columbia River.
A Syrah wine grown in the Yakima Valley AVA.
The Yakima River south of Union Gap
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References
- ↑ "Search the Journals | Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition". lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- ↑ "October 18, 1805 | Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition". lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- ↑ staff, Seattle Times (2008-05-15). "Yakima Valley has wine and 300 days of sun". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
- ↑ "Yakima River and Esquatzel Coulee Basins and the Columbia River from Richland to Kennewick" (PDF). Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005.