Watershed Planning > Watershed Planning Updates by WRIA > Palouse

Palouse Watershed Planning-WRIA 34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grants awarded through June 2008

$849,000

Projected grants July 2008 - June 2009 

$100,000

Background

The Palouse watershed planning group started Phase 4 in January 2008. They are on schedule to complete their detailed implementation plan by December 2008. Noteworthy elements of the detailed implementation plan include:

• Recommendations for instream flows and permit exempt wells in the North Fork Palouse basin.

• Prioritization of the Pullman-Washington State University (WSU) Water Reuse Project.

• A ground water data framework project with the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee (PBAC). The PBAC will provide Palouse basin water interests in Washington and Idaho with an integral component of bi-state sustainable aquifer management.

To improve water supplies, the planning group completed the “Palouse Aquifer Enhanced Recharge Feasibility Project” (Golder 2008) on Kamiak Butte. The project did not lead to a recommendation for construction, but did provide valuable information on hydrogeological characteristics. Ecology, acting on the planning group’s recommendation, is contributing over $1 million to the City of Pullman and WSU for their water reuse project, to ease demand on the declining Grande Ronde aquifer.

Palouse watershed planning group members contributed to a very successful Third Annual Palouse Water Summit in Moscow. Participants included Washington State Senator Schoeslor, Idaho State Senator Schroeder, Moscow Mayor Chaney, and Palouse Mayor Echanove. Other attendees included members of PBAC, universities, private businesses, and state agencies.

The Palouse watershed has significant groundwater challenges. Area aquifer levels have been declining over a foot a year for many years. The planning group, in collaboration with PBAC, is seeking funding to improve the groundwater monitoring network and identify options for sustainable regional water supplies, especially for the growing university communities of Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho.

Instream flow status

The planning group completed recommendations for minimum instream flows, allocation limits, and a reservation for new permit exempt wells for the North Fork Palouse River. The group will also be seeking funds for assessing the in-stream habitat of additional streams.

Link to other resources, studies, data

• Palouse - WRIA 34 Phase 3 Final Watershed Plan - December 2007
• WRIA 34