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WDFW, Yakama Nation to begin pilot removal of water star grass in Lower Yakima River near Benton City

Benton City Council · September 3, 2025
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Summary

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Yakama Nation will begin a pilot project next week to remove dense water star grass in a 1.5-mile Benton City reach of the Lower Yakima River, using a spider excavator and monitoring impacts on Chinook salmon. Work will use the Benton City boat launch and is expected to run through the end of the month.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Yakama Nation plan to begin a pilot removal of dense water star grass in the Lower Yakima River near Benton City as early as next week, WDFW habitat biologist Cassandra Weeks told the Benton City Council on Sept. 2.

"We're excited that beginning today, September 2, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in collaboration with the Yakama Nation will lead a project to remove water star grass in 2 reaches of the Lower Yakima River," Weeks said. The Benton City reach will be worked from the Benton City boat launch upstream about 1.5 miles, she said.

Weeks said crews will use a spider excavator with a rake implement to remove the…

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