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<br />38 <br /> <br />§ Proposed Bullfrog Road Bridge on the Cle Elum River – will <br />provide access for on-water emergencies for the 18-foot inflatable <br />jet boat upriver the complete extent of the Cle Elum River to the <br />Lake Cle Elum Dam, upriver on the Yakima to Lake Easton Dam and <br />downriver to WDFW’s SR-10 Takeout if necessary. The proposed <br />launch will be located on Suncadia property between the well sites <br />adjacent to the original Bullfrog Road Bridge where the river is deep <br />enough to accommodate boat trailers. The Sheriff currently <br />launches from WDFW’s Teanaway Junction access site that is <br />considerably downriver from most emergencies and involves a BNSF <br />Railroad crossing. <br /> <br />§ Proposed Swauk Creek Access – will provide access for the 18- <br />foot inflatable and flat bottom jet boats on the Yakima River upriver <br />to the Cle Elum River confluence or beyond if necessary and <br />downriver to the Ellensburg Water Company Diversion Dam. The <br />site is readily accessible from SR-10 Highway but involves an <br />existing BNSF Railroad crossing. <br /> <br />§ Existing WDFW Thorp/Green Bridge – provides access for the <br />18-foot inflatable and flat bottom jet boats on the Yakima River <br />upriver to the Cle Elum River confluence or beyond if necessary and <br />downriver to the Ellensburg Water Company Diversion Dam or the <br />same river stretch as the proposed Swauk Creek Access. The Swauk <br />Creek Access site is readily accessible from SR-10, a low volume <br />high-speed highway, while Thorp/Green Bridge is located on a rural <br />road involving lower speeds and potential traffic congestion during <br />emergencies. <br /> <br />§ Existing WDFW SR-10 Takeout – provides access for the 18-foot <br />inflatable and flat bottom jet boats on the Yakima River upriver to <br />the Cle Elum River confluence or beyond if necessary or the same <br />river stretch as the proposed Swauk Creek Access. However, the <br />launch ramp is not properly aligned for jet sled and boat launch or <br />trailering and is located at the end of the emergency response river <br />stretch. <br /> <br />§ Existing City of Ellensburg Irene Rinehart Riverfront <br />Park/Umptanum Bridge – provides access for the 18-foot flat <br />bottom jet boat on the Yakima River upriver to the Ellensburg Water <br />Company Diversion Dam or downriver past Ringer Loop Road and <br />into the Lower Canyon if necessary. However, the launch ramp is <br />being undercut by the river’s swift current and needs to be rebuilt <br />to accommodate the jet sled and boat trailers as well as launch into <br />the current away from the bridge supports and debris buildups. <br />Boulders could be inserted into the river above the launch to <br />redirect the current and the ramp could be moved north on the site <br />to provide sufficient launch space. <br /> <br />§ Proposed Kittitas County Thrall Road/Wilson Creek Access – <br />will provide a launch for the 18-foot flat bottom sled jet boat on the <br />Yakima River as far upriver to the Ellensburg Water Company <br />Diversion Dam if or downriver into the Lower Canyon to Roza Dam <br />if necessary. The Sheriff currently uses the launch at WDFW’s <br />Ringer Loop Road South that will eventually be undercut and <br />flooded by river currents. This site and WDFW’s site involve an <br />existing BNSF Road crossing at Ringer Road for the WDFW site and a <br />proposed crossing at about Thrall Road for the Kittitas County site. <br /> <br />§ Existing Roza Campground – provides a launch for the 18-foot <br />flat bottom jet boat for emergency access downriver to the Roza <br />Dam and upriver past Ringer Loop Road if necessary. However, the <br />BLM campground is at the end of most emergency calls and requires <br />navigating heavy recreation and tourist traffic on Canyon Road <br />during summer months and the Epic Float river event. <br /> <br />River uses <br /> <br />Recreationalists utilize a variety of shore and watercraft that <br />require different skill levels, river knowledge and experience, and <br />appropriate river conditions on the Yakima and Cle Elum Rivers <br />including: <br /> <br />Fishing from shore <br />Fly-fishing where the shoreline can be accessed from public sites, <br />or public lands, or on private properties where owners are <br />agreeable along the complete length of the Yakima, Cle Elum, and <br />Teanaway Rivers including: <br />