Posted on August 5, 2026
RICHLAND, Wash. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has temporarily closed the Columbia Park Trail parking lot and surrounding habitat area at the Yakima Delta Habitat Management Unit from Aug. 4 to 14 to accommodate the start of a major ecosystem restoration project.
The closure ensures public safety while contractors mobilize equipment and begin work site preparation. Once the initial construction phases are complete, USACE will establish safety zones to allow the public to access parts of the area again.
The Walla Walla District is partnering with Benton Conservation, the Yakima Nation and Northwest Hydraulic Consultants to conduct the Amon Creek restoration. Crews are redirecting the creek to flow into the Yakima Delta at a new location, which will provide a better thermal refuge for salmon migrating through the river system.
