Public Notice: Water Quality Certification of Satus Creek Restoration Project on the Yakama Reservation

Water Quality Certification of Satus Creek Restoration Project on the Yakama Reservation
How to Comment
Comments Due

Please submit your comments by email to R10-401-Certs@epa.gov on or before January 2 at 5pm (Pacific time).

If you are unable to submit comments by email, or if you need other assistance, please contact Jeff Brittain at 206-553-0532.

Do not submit any information you consider to be confidential business information. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make.

Publish Date

Summary

On October 15, 2025, EPA received a request from the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation for a water quality certification for the Satus Creek Wood Loading RM 20-25 Project [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District project number NWS-2025-00831].

Section 401(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act requires applicants for federal permits and licenses that may result in discharges into waters of the United States to obtain certification that the discharge will comply with applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act. Where no state agency or Tribe has authority to give such certification, EPA is the certifying authority.

In this case, the proposed project is within the Yakama Reservation. Therefore, EPA is the certifying authority for this proposed project.

According to the application, the Yakama Nation proposes to impact wetlands and waters in order to conduct aquatic habitat restoration activities. The project is located in Satus Creek in Yakima County, Washington (latitude 46.2149988, longitude -120.4532282).

EPA is requesting comments on its Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification for this proposed project.

Project description

The Yakama Nation proposes to impact approximately 985 linear feet of stream by excavating approximately 1,285 cubic yards and discharging approximately 1,101 cubic yards of fill material.

The project would create in-stream habitat for Endangered Species Act listed salmon and steelhead through the addition of large woody debris in the form of six engineered log jams within Satus Creek between river miles 20-25. Approximately 153 pieces of wood would be placed to complete these structures.

Temporary impacts include fill related to equipment access. Vegetation establishment plans include over 15,000 upland and riparian plantings and seeding over a 3.7 acre area.

A copy of the application is available upon request by contacting Jeff Brittain (brittain.jeffrey@epa.gov), 206-553-0532.

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Last updated on December 2, 2025