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Department of Ecology News Release - April 23, 2007
07-096
YAKIMA - Columbia-Snake river water users are being invited to participate in a voluntary program to measure how much water they divert and take advantage of cost-sharing grants to help pay for installing metering devices.
With the support of agricultural, business and environmental communities, the Washington Legislature passed the Columbia River Basin Water Supply Act in 2006. As part of the legislation, lawmakers directed the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to collect information on how much water is being diverted from the Columbia-Snake river system.
Over the next three years, the agency hopes to measure 90 percent of water use on the Columbia River.
"Gathering this data will help fill key information gaps and help us better manage our water resources, now and in the future," said Dan Haller, Ecology's Columbia River team manager. "Without this information it's tough to make new water-right decisions that protect existing water rights and stream flow requirements -- and meet future water needs."
The first phase of the metering program will focus on water withdrawn in Washington State within one mile of the rivers, above McNary Dam up to Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River and to Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake River. Affected water users will receive informational packets on the program in the mail.
These water users have until July 31, 2007 to participate in the program and take advantage of $1 million in grants to assist in purchasing water measuring devices. Grant money will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Ecology is partnering with local conservation districts to assist water users in meeting these requirements. Participation forms and cost-share grant applications are available through Ecology and local conservation districts.
For more information, water users may contact Meghan O'Brien at (509) 454-4238 or via email at meob461@ecy.wa.gov. Information is available online at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cwp/metering.html.
Background information: In 1993, the Washington Legislature added metering to the water code and now requires measuring of all surface water diversions. The code also requires that surface and groundwater diversions be measured in fish-critical waters.
In December 2000, Thurston County Superior Court ordered Ecology to develop and implement a plan to bring the state into compliance with the metering law.
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Media contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509)575-2610
Ecology's Web site: http://www.ecy.wa.gov
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
