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Water began flowing through the Yakima River in Richland on Tuesday after the removal of a section of the 500-foot-long causeway at Bateman Island, which had blocked the river for 85 years. The causeway, built around 1939-1940, impeded salmon migration and created stagnant habitats.

The Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $1.2 million contract to Pipkin Inc. for the causeway removal, expected to continue into February 2024. The removal aims to improve salmon populations and overall river health, while the island will remain accessible only by boat or swimming.