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Department of Ecology News Release - June 4, 2008
08-151
YAKIMA – Water users between Wells Dam and Priest Rapids Dam can participate in a cost-sharing program to install metering devices and voluntarily report their diversions from the Columbia River.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is gathering the information as part of the Columbia River water management program’s efforts to better understand how much water is diverted annually from the Columbia River.
The Legislature has made $1 million available on a first-come, first-served basis for grants. Voluntary participation forms and cost-share grant applications are available through Cascadia Conservation District in Wenatchee. Affected water users will receive informational packets on the program in the mail. Water users have until Oct. 31, 2008, to submit application forms.
In 1993, the Legislature added metering to the water code, which now requires measuring of all surface water diversions. Those who do not participate in the voluntary program will still need to comply with requirements of the law.
This is the second phase of the Columbia River water measurement project. The first phase focused on irrigators withdrawing water between McNary Dam and Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River and from the mouth up to Lower Monumental Dam on the Snake River. So far, 70 percent of diverters are participating in the program.
“Gathering this data will help fill key information gaps and help us better manage our water resources, now and in the future,” said Rick Roeder, 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.”
Water measurements help the state to more accurately evaluate current water uses and to forecast future water supply needs. In addition to publishing total water use information on its website, Ecology will report this information in a long-term water supply and demand forecast due to the Legislature in 2011 and updated every five years.
For more information, water users may contact Eiko Urmos-Berry at (509) 575-2397 or via email at eurm461@ecy.wa.gov. Information is available online at:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/measuring/measuringhome.html.
Two years ago, state, federal and tribal governments agreed to end long-standing disputes about how to share the Columbia River water resource. At that time, Gov. Gregoire signed into law the historic Columbia River Basin Water Resource Management bill, breaking decades of gridlock over water in eastern Washington. That breakthrough occurred because of a respectful consensus built among many diverse stakeholders that depend on water from the Columbia.
The 2006 legislation made a commitment to developing new storage and water conservation projects on the Columbia River and provided a formula for assigning newly acquired water. One-third of new water will be allocated to support stream flows for fish. Two-thirds of new water will be available for new out-of stream water uses, such as farming, industry and municipal growth.
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Media Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, 509-575-2610; jred461@ecy.wa.gov
More information online: Columbia River water management program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cwp/crwmp.html
Columbia River water measuring program: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0711010.pdf
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
