View source for Yakima River

{{short description|River in Washington state, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}{{Infobox river
| name               = Yakima River
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = WASR10 YakimaRiver.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = [[Washington State Route 10|State Route 10]] winds past the Yakima River near the town of [[Thorp, Washington|Thorp]].
| map                = Yakimarivermap.jpg
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = Map of the Yakima River watershed
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = Cities
| subdivision_name5  = [[Cle Elum, Washington|Cle Elum]], [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]], [[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]], [[Sunnyside, Washington|Sunnyside]], [[Richland, Washington|Richland]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|214|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="nwcouncil">[http://www.nwcouncil.org/fw/subbasinplanning/yakima/plan/1_Overview.pdf Yakima Subbasin Plan Overview], Northwest Power and Conservation Council</ref> 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= [[Kiona, Washington|Kiona]], [[river mile|RM]] 30<ref name="wdr2005">[https://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-wa-05-1/pdf/wa00103ADR2005_Figure60.pdf Yakima River and Esquatzel Coulee Basins and the Columbia River from Richland to Kennewick], Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005</ref>
| discharge1_min     = {{convert|225|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|3493|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="wdr2005">[https://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-wa-05-1/pdf/wa00103ADR2005_Figure60.pdf Yakima River and Esquatzel Coulee Basins and the Columbia River from Richland to Kennewick], Water Resources Data-Washington Water Year 2005</ref>
| discharge1_max     = {{convert|59400|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge2_location= [[Mabton, Washington|Mabton]], [[river mile|RM]] 60
| discharge2_min     = 
| discharge2_avg     = {{convert|3311|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge2_max     = 
| discharge3_location= [[Union Gap, Washington|Union Gap]], [[river mile|RM]] 107
| discharge3_min     =  
| discharge3_avg     = {{convert|3542|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge3_max     = 
| discharge4_location= Umtanum, [[river mile|RM]] 140
| discharge4_min     =  
| discharge4_avg     = {{convert|2430|cuft/s|m3/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge4_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[Keechelus Lake]]
| source1_location   = [[Kittitas County, Washington|Kittitas County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|47|19|20|N|121|20|21|W|display=inline}}<ref name="GNIS">{{Gnis|1528343|Yakima River}}, [[USGS]] GNIS.</ref>
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|2520|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>[[Google Earth]] elevation for GNIS source coordinates.</ref>
| mouth              = [[Columbia River]] at [[Lake Wallula]]
| mouth_location     = [[Richland, Washington|Richland]], [[Benton County, Washington|Benton County]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|46|15|10|N|119|13|51|W|display=inline,title}}<ref name="GNIS"/>
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|344|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>[[Google Earth]] elevation for GNIS mouth coordinates.</ref>
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = {{convert|6150|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="nwcouncil"/>
| tributaries_left   = [[Cle Elum River]], [[Teanaway River]]
| tributaries_right  = [[Naches River]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''Yakima River''' is a [[tributary]] of the [[Columbia River]] in south central and eastern [[Washington (state)|Washington]] state, named for the indigenous [[Yakama Nation|Yakama]] people. [[Lewis and Clark]] mention in their journals that the [[Sahaptin|Chin-nâm pam]] (or the Lower Snake River Chamnapam Nation) called the river '''''Tâpe têtt'''''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=William |title=October 18, 1805 |url=https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/item/lc.jrn.1805-10-18 |website=Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition |publisher=Center for Digital Research in the Humanities with the University of Nebraska Press |access-date=24 December 2022 |date=18 October 1805}}</ref> (also rendered ''Tapteete''),<ref>{{cite web |title=Search results for Place : Yakima (Tapteete) River |url=https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/search?places=Yakima%20%28Tapteete%29%20River |website=Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition |publisher=Center for Digital Research in the Humanities with the University of Nebraska Press |access-date=24 December 2022}}</ref> possibly from the French ''tape-tête'', meaning "head hit". The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is {{convert|214|mi|km|0}}, with an average drop of {{convert|9.85|ft/mi}}. It is the longest river entirely in [[Washington (state)|Washington]] state.

== Course ==

The river rises in the [[Cascade Range]] at an elevation of {{convert|2449|ft|m|0}} at Keechelus Dam on [[Keechelus Lake]] near [[Snoqualmie Pass]], near [[Easton, Washington|Easton]]. The river flows through that town, skirts [[Ellensburg, Washington|Ellensburg]], passes the city of [[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]], and continues southeast to [[Richland, Washington|Richland]], where it flows into the [[Columbia River]] creating the [[Yakima River Delta]] at an elevation of {{convert|340|ft}}.

About 9 million years ago, the Yakima River flowed south from near [[Vantage, Washington|Vantage]] to the [[Tri-Cities, Washington|Tri-Cities]], and then turned west straight for the [[Pacific Ocean|ocean]] through Badger Canyon west of [[Kennewick, Washington|Kennewick]]. Badger Canyon was once a waterway of the Yakima River, this pre-existing channel led the Yakima River to make tribute to the [[Columbia River]] at the current location of the city of Kennewick. Beginning nearly 15,000 years ago the [[Columbia Plateau]] was transformed by the successive [[Missoula Floods|Missoula glacial outburst floods]]. Much of the flood water made way down the Columbia river Channel where a 'choke-point' known as [[Wallula Gap]] caused the restriction of flow. Floodwaters began ponding near the Tri-Cities resulting in the back-flooding of the Columbia's tributary valleys. Badger Canyon was an entry point for back-flooding of the Yakima Valley, successive floods left behind thick deposits of sediments in Badger Canyon and the Valley beyond. These flood deposits which were deposited in large quantities in short amounts of time changed the ground elevation within Badger Canyon causing the Yakima River to re-route north of Red Mountain and enter the Columbia River by present-day [[Richland, Washington|Richland]].{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

During the last [[ice age]], the [[Missoula Floods]] further altered the landscape of the area, opening up the Horn Rapids area to the Yakima River. The [[Amon Creek|West Fork of Amon Creek]] now utilizes Badger Canyon.<ref name="geocache">
{{cite web
 | title= Amon Basin Earthcache
 | publisher= Groundspeak
 | url= http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=6f35a75f-0c7c-46aa-bcf4-39b8a08a25e2
 | access-date= 20 Feb 2013
}}
</ref>

The first western explorers to visit the river were [[Lewis and Clark Expedition|Lewis and Clark]] on or about October 17, 1805. They stopped briefly at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia, although they did not proceed upriver. The river was then known to local Native Americans as "Tap Teel", although the area has been inhabited since prehistory.

== Recreation ==
{{stack|[[File:Rafters enjoying a summer day on the Yakima below Horn Rapids (1).png|thumb|right|Rafters enjoying a summer day on the Yakima River at West Richland, Washington near the confluence with the Columbia River.]]}}

The Yakima River is used for [[rafting]], [[kayaking]], and [[fishing]], especially around the Ellensburg area and near the confluence with the Columbia River during the summer months.  The Yakima River is ranked between [[International Scale of River Difficulty|Class I and Class II rapids]], depending on the circumstances and season. In the Tri-Cities, the delta where the Yakima meets the Columbia has several hiking trails.

The dry climate, with over 300 sunshine days a year, draws visitors from Seattle, about two hours' drive away.<ref>{{citation|newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=Yakima Valley has wine and 300 days of sun |date=May 15, 2008| url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/yakima-valley-has-wine-and-300-days-of-sun/}}</ref>

== Yakima Valley ==

The Yakima River Basin consists of approximately {{convert|6150|sqmi}} located in south central Washington State. It is bounded by the Cascade Mountains on the west, the [[Wenatchee Mountains]] on the north, [[Rattlesnake Mountain, Benton County, Washington|Rattlesnake Mountain]] and the [[Rattlesnake Hills]] on the east, and the [[Horse Heaven Hills]] to the south. The basin encompasses areas designated by the [[Washington Department of Ecology]] as the Upper Yakima Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs) 38 and 39 and the Lower Yakima WRIA 37. The dividing line between these northern and southern sections is the confluence of the [[Naches River|Naches]] and Yakima Rivers.

[[File:Yakima Syrah.jpg|left|thumb|upright|A Syrah wine grown in the Yakima Valley AVA.]]
The Yakima River provides [[irrigation]] for the dry but fertile land in the valley, and irrigated agriculture is the economic base. Agricultural land totals {{convert|1000|sqmi}}, including irrigated pastures, orchards, grapes, hops, and field crops. A significant portion of Washington [[apples]] and [[cherries]] are grown in the valley, as well as most (75%) of the United States's [[hops]]. Since the late 20th century, the [[wine]] industry has grown rapidly in the area. It is the location of the [[Yakima Valley AVA]], a designated [[American Viticultural Area]].

Major landowners in the valley include federal and state agencies and the Yakama Indian Nation. Private ownership accounts for {{convert|1246818|acre|km2}}. The [[United States Forest Service]] manages {{convert|892509|acre|km2}}, and the Yakama Nation owns {{convert|889786|acre|km2}} within the basin.<ref name="nwcouncil"/> Forested areas in the northern and western portions of the basin occupy approximately {{convert|2200|sqmi}} and are used for recreation, wildlife habitat, timber harvest, grazing, and tribal cultural activities. Range lands comprise about {{convert|2900|sqmi}} and are used for military training, grazing, wildlife habitat, and tribal cultural activities.

Major population centers include the city of [[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]] and the [[Tri-Cities, Washington|Tri-Cities]] area. Population growth for the 1990s was projected at 7.9% in [[Kittitas County, Washington|Kittitas County]], 19.7% in [[Yakima County, Washington|Yakima County]], and 22.7% in [[Benton County, Washington|Benton County]]. While much of the growth in Benton and Yakima counties has been in and around the incorporated areas, most of the growth in Kittitas County has been in unincorporated areas.

[[File:Yakima River south of Union Gap.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|The Yakima River south of [[Union Gap, Washington|Union Gap]]]]
In addition to irrigated agriculture, the major economic driving forces include timber harvest and processing, cattle, and outdoor recreation. With the significant reduction in timber harvesting on federal lands and the implementation of the [[Northwest Forest Plan]] to protect the endangered [[northern spotted owl]], the timber economy has been greatly eroded in recent years. The proximity to high population areas of the [[Puget Sound]] has caused a rapid increase in the demand for outdoor recreational experiences in the basin.<ref name="1997 EPA Performance Plan">[https://web.archive.org/web/20030404030211/http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10%5cecocomm.nsf/ecoweb/Yakima+River+Basin+Fiscal+Year+1997+Performance+Plan United States EPA Performance Plan]</ref>

==River modifications==
The Yakima River and its tributaries have been heavily altered for the purpose of irrigated agriculture. There are numerous dams and irrigation canals. Irrigation runoff is in places returned to the river through canal drains. The irrigation system in the Yakima's watershed causes periods of both severe river dewatering and elevated flows, relative to the historic streamflow regime. As a result, [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] statistics for the Yakima River are heavily affected by the irrigation system.<ref name="nwcouncil"/> The [[USGS]] operates four streamflow gauges on the Yakima River. The highest average discharge recorded, {{convert|3542|cuft/s|m3/s}}, is more than halfway up the river at [[Union Gap, Washington|Union Gap]]. The two downriver gauges show average flows of a reduced amount.<ref name="wdr2005"/>

{{Panorama|image=File:Yakima_River_Panorama.jpg |fullwidth=5653 |fullheight=1200 |caption=180° panorama of the Yakima River as viewed from [[Washington State Route 821|Highway 821]]. |height=180}}

==See also==
*[[List of rivers of Washington (state)]]
*[[List of tributaries of the Columbia River]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Washington}}

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[[Category:Yakima River| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Yakima, Washington]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Columbia River]]
[[Category:Rivers of Yakima County, Washington]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kittitas County, Washington]]
[[Category:Rivers of Benton County, Washington]]
[[Category:Valleys of Washington (state)]]