Planners say they knew the cost to build would outweigh the benefits...
Just not like this.
We're talking about every dollar spent on it, would only get 16 cents worth of benefit.
And the Bureau says it mostly had to do with the danger our salmon would be in.
Action News spoke to a homeowner way out where Black Rock would be built.
He's still waiting for the government to come knock on his door.

"The dam itself would fit directly over the house," Paul Tilley explains.

Tilley's lived off highway 24 the last 7 years or so.
He built this place from the ground up.
It's his palace, his farm, his practice hunting ground...

"Well I kinda got lucky there with one specific shot..."

But the last couple years,Paul's been preparing for a move.
He knows the proposed Black Rock Reservoir project wouldn't leave room for him.

"My place was here, now it's under here."

But Paul says the government's promised to take care of him.
He's been feeling torn about it.

(Reporter) "So is it the thought of seeing it torn up, Paul?..."
"No it's actually the thought of starting over," he replies.

But Paul believes in Black Rock.
He thinks it'll be great for area fish, for recreation, and of course, for local farmers who need irrigation.
That's what he says he told congressman Doc Hastings, a big proponent of the project.

"'Whatd'ya feel?'
And I said, 'Well I don't mind selling, I know Yakima needs it, and I don't wanna get taken...'"

The congressman's office couldn't confirm for us that he went out to Paul's property.
But they did release this statement from him about the report.
"Studies of this magnitude are a real challenge, but I am committed to seeing a full, accurate study completed so informed decisions can be made."
It sounds like a lot of politician-speak, but Hastings seems to make it clear he's not done with pushing for Black Rock.
And that's fine with Paul, who's thinking of moving closer to Yakima anyway.

'It's a 70,75 mile a round trip everytime we just go get a loaf of bread."

The Bureau says a 60 day comment period follows this report.
Then they'll release their final statement.
The meetings will be in Yakima and Kennewick.
You can find detailed information on these meetings at the Bureau of Reclamation's website:
http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=20381
The meetings go through the end of March.

The other two proposed projects are up by Wymer.
Black Rock's got the most press because it's a much bigger endeavor.
The dam would be as big as the Grand Coulee.
It'd also cost about 7 billion dollars.