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35 The dam is hazardous for watercraft and floating cable lines restrict river users from approaching the dam. Natural impediments Shallow water with sweepers and overhanging trees – are located on the Yakima River from its origins below Lake Keechelus Dam to Lake Easton and then below Lake Easton Dam to just above the confluence with the Cle Elum River. The water in these stretches of the river are very shallow, rapid, and too cluttered to safely support canoes, kayaks, rafts, drift, and other frame boats in all seasons. Long stretches of these river segments are relatively isolated and difficult to respond to in emergencies. Sharp bends and logjams – are permanent features on the Yakima River stretch just above the confluence with the Cle Elum River making this river segment impassable and extremely dangerous for all river uses. The numerous sharp and blind bends and logjams in this stretch of the river as well as its remoteness make it very difficult to respond to emergencies by boat. Braided channels and logjams – are permanent features on the Yakima River from just above Ellensburg at the KOA Campground to just below the Ringer Loop Road and the entry into the Lower Canyon. The river has cut, and continues to modify, numerous side and braided channels in the river through this stretch with hazardous swift currents, overhanging trees, and logjams on most of them. This stretch of the river is extremely dangerous for fishing tube floats, canoes, kayaks, and all non-frame rafts and boats, and hazardous even for frame boats if the users are not familiar with the river’s numerous side channels. River use classifications Based on the preceding assessments, the Yakima and Cle Elum Rivers segments are classified as follows: Hazardous for all users due to shallow water, rapids, braided channels, logjams, diversion dams § Yakima River from below Keechelus Dam to Lake Easton § Lake Easton Dam to WDFW’s King Horn Slough-Hundley Road access site § P&RC’s Bullfrog Road South access site to the Cle Elum River confluence § Just below Cle Elum’s Memorial/Fireman’s Park to just above WDFW’s Teanaway Junction access site § From WDFW SR-10 Takeout to the Ellensburg Water Company Diversion Dam Hazardous for all users except frame boats due to shallow water, rapids, braided channels, and logjams § City of Ellensburg’s Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park at Umptanum Bridge to below WDFW’s Ringer Loop Road South access site Qualified for fishing rafts and drift boats with frames as a result of braided channels and logjams § Yakima River from Cle Elum River confluence to just above WDFW’s Teanaway Junction access site § Proposed City of Ellensburg’s City Wells access site below the Ellensburg Water Company Diversion Dam to the proposed takeout at the slough in the upper portion of the City of