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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 8, 2000
00-077
Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
YAKIMA - Water-right transfers approved by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) will lead to improved in-stream flows in the Twisp and Methow rivers as well as provide a more reliable irrigation water source for many Methow Valley residents.
Nearly 70 requests have been okayed that will allow some residents to begin using groundwater wells to irrigate their property instead of relying on river water diverted by the Methow Valley Irrigation District (MVID). Decisions are pending on another 25 applications.
Due to canal failures and deteriorating facilities, many irrigation-district customers historically have received marginal delivery service. Some have not received irrigation water for many years.
In addition, the Twisp and Methow rivers have suffered from low stream flows at crucial times for fish spawning, rearing and passage.
"These water-right decisions are the first step toward eliminating the irrigation district's diversions from the river and modernizing it to be fish friendly," said Bob Barwin, a water resources manager for Ecology.
Improvement plans call for residents to use individual wells to irrigate lands below Booth Canyon on the west and below Beaver Creek on the east. They also call for the irrigation district to convert to a pressurized pump system and three well fields to supply irrigation water to those remaining in the district.
Funds for the $4 million project have been set aside by the Bonneville Power Administration and the Department of Ecology.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
