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Department of Ecology News Release - Dec. 19, 2003
03-238
YAKIMA - As directed by the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB), the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has re-evaluated how much water the Methow Valley Irrigation District (MVID) will be allowed to divert from the Methow and Twisp rivers.
For the 2004, 2005 and 2006 irrigation seasons, the MVID must limit its combined diversion to 41 cubic-feet-per second (cfs), according to a supplemental administrative order issued to the irrigation district on Friday, Dec. 19.
By the 2007 irrigation season, the irrigation district will not be allowed to divert more than a total of 31 cfs, to water some 1,300 acres of irrigable land.
On Aug. 20, 2003, the PCHB ruled that the irrigation district was unlawfully wasting water and upheld an April 2002 order by Ecology directing MVID to limit its diversion. In addition, the PCHB required Ecology to re-examine the MVID system and determine what funding might be available for improving how water is conveyed and delivered.
The PCHB ruling came after both the irrigation district and the Okanogan Wilderness League (OWL) challenged Ecology's original order. The original order would have allowed the district to divert up to 53 cubic-feet-per second (cfs).
According to the new analysis, the MVID system of open ditches and canals, even after piping of the lateral ditches two years ago, is only 41 percent efficient.
"This a very poor efficiency rate when you compare this system to others, both in Central Washington and nationally," explained Bob Barwin, a water resource manager for Ecology in Yakima. "Typically, open-ditch systems are 50 percent efficient or better."
As part of the new order, MVID must improve the system by tight-lining or piping the least efficient portions of the west canal, thereby reducing how much water is taken from the Twisp River. Funding for improvements is available from a number of sources, including $ 1million from the Bonneville Power Administration.
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Media contacts: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610
Pollution Control Hearings Board Web site: http://www.eho.wa.gov/Boards_PCHB.aspx (Link updated 11/06/07)
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
