Re: Corridor quid-pro-quo

["Steve Gill" <hydrohead69@hotmail.com>]

Visionaries,

Regarding Bill London's post concerning Mayor Comstock's offer:
"... Moscow would benefit from some kind of quid-pro-quo deal
with Whitman County.  Moscow would bankroll this sprawl plan by providing
water and sewage from the city for businesses on the Corridor and Whitman
County would let Moscow drill a well in Washington where the aquifer is
deeper. "

There is such an agreement allowing this type of interstate cooperative water resource development.  The Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee is charged with coordinating efforts to ensure a long-term supply of high quality water.

GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
As you may be aware, the communities of the Palouse region rely on ground water as their sole source of drinking water.  There are two aquifers used by the six stakeholders; the primary drinking water source is a deeper basalt aquifer referred to as the Grande Ronde while a shallower basalt aquifer, the Wanapum, provides limited water for the stakeholders.  The ground water level in the Grande Ronde aquifer continues to decline at a rate of over one-foot per year.  Selected wells in the Wanapum aquifer indicate a similar rate of ground water level decline is occurring in that aquifer.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In 1987, the Idaho Department of Water Resources became concerned about the possible "mining" of Moscow area ground water resources and threatened state action.  Idaho State guidelines for water resource development state that pumping greater quantities of water from the aquifer than is recharged is unlawful.

This threat and local concern over this specific issue and other possible future problems resulted in the reactivation of the Pullman-Moscow Water Resources Committee (NOTE; the PMWRC is now known as the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee (PBAC)) in October 1987.   The PBAC is a unique, voluntary, cooperative, multijurisdictional committee comprised of six stakeholders: the cities of Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho, Washington State University, the University of Idaho, and Whitman and Latah Counties.   The PBAC consists of twelve members, two members from each of the six stakeholders an administrative representative and, for the local governments, an elected commissioner or council member.

The PBAC also employs the services of an Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor  who's responsibilities include developing and maintaining a database of information, grant writing, administrative duties, technical consultation, community outreach, and water education on the Pullman-Moscow basin.  The database includes ground water pumpage records and ground water level information from selected wells in the Palouse area.  In addition to the database, reports, which had been issued over the past 100 years, are collected and catalogued making them more accessible for interested persons.

The PBAC proposes ground water management goals and strategies, which the stakeholders voluntarily undertake to overcome the obstacle of governmental boundaries and avoid state-mandated management. The stakeholders recognize that by voluntary cooperation they retain control of local ground water management.  Both the Washington Department of Ecology and the Idaho Department of Water Resources believe the committee is an important vehicle by which information concerning the lawful use and long term management of water can be collected and dispersed to the residents of the Palouse.

Specific goals include: 1) monitoring ground water pumpage and water levels, 2) determining public support for conservation measures, 3) evaluating of alternative supplies, and 4) defining demographic and political aspects of the ground water management problem.

Beginning in 1991, the committee conducted a series of public meetings where the local municipalities, universities, and residents formulated a ground water management plan for the Palouse area.  The 1992 "Ground Water Management Plan" includes intergovernmental agreements signed by the six stakeholder's representatives and an interagency agreement signed by the two state water management agencies, Idaho Department of Water Resources and Washington Department of Ecology.

The 1992 Ground Water Management Plan includes: the need for water conservation activities, the use of water educational programs, annual reviews of progress toward the adopted goals and objectives, action plans, water data recording procedures, data maintenance, defining basin boundaries, defining recharge characteristics, and recommended research for the Basin.

The PBAC publishes a annual water-use report to provide an update on local ground water use, drinking water quality and related water resource issues.  The 1998 report includes 1) a historical overview of water resource management in the Palouse region, 2) a summary of 1998 ground water pumpage volume in the Palouse region, 3) aquifer water level data, 4) drinking water quality, and 5) a review of 1998 PBAC accomplishment.  The 1998 Palouse Basin Annual Water Use Report will be availabe June 15, 1999.  To request a copy call Steve Gill, PBAC Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor @ 885-4569.

IDAHO PBAC MEMBERS:

Steve Gill, Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor
University of Idaho
304 McClure Hall
Moscow, Idaho 83844-3021
Phone:	(208) 885-4569
FAX:	(208) 885-6431
E-mail:  hydrohead69@hotmail.com

Gary Presol
Moscow Director of Public Works
P.O. Box 9203
Moscow, Idaho 83843
Phone	(208) 883-7034
FAX:	(208) 883-7033

Pam Palmer
Moscow City Council Member
813 Kenneth
Moscow, Idaho 83843
Phone:	(208) 883-3741
Office: (208) 885-5586
E-mail:  ppalmer@moscow.com

Don Huskey
University of Idaho
Facilities Management
Moscow, Idaho  83844-1231
Phone:	(208) 885-7350

Larry Kirkland, Vice-Chair
University of Idaho
Facilities Management
Moscow, Idaho  83844-1231
Phone:	(208) 885-6683
FAX:	(208) 885-5748
E-mail:	larryk@uidaho.edu

Loreca J. Stauber
Latah County Commissioner
5th & Van Buren
Moscow, Idaho 83843
Phone:	(208) 882-8580
Home:	(208) 882-1133

Tom Townsend, Chair
447 East 8th Street
Moscow, Idaho  83843


WASHINGTON PBAC MEMBERS:

Mark Workman
Pullman City Public Works Director
P.O. Box 249
Pullman, Washington  99163
Phone:	(509) 334-4555
FAX:	(509) 334-2751
Email:  engr@pullman-gov.cm

Sue Hinz
Pullman City Council
1445 N.W. Kenny
Pullman, Washington 99163
Phone:	(509) 332-1168
Office:	(509) 335-3583
Email: hinz@wsu.edu


Jay Becker
Facilities Development Department
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington  99164-1150
Phone:	(509) 335-9018
FAX:	(509) 335-9070
E-mail:	jay_becker@wsu.edu

Craig Benjamin
Acting Director, Physical Plant WSU
P.O. Box 641150
Pullman, Washington  99164-1150
Phone:	(509) 335-9000
FAX:	(509) 335-9304
E-mail:	craig_benjamin@wsu.edu

Les Wigen
Whitman County Courthouse
N. 404 Main Street
Colfax, Washington 99111
Phone:	(509) 397-6200
FAX:	(509) 397-6355

Derek Pohle
Whitman County Engineer
Public Service Building
North 310 Main
Colfax, Washington 99111
Phone:	(509) 397-6206
FAX: 	(509) 397-6210



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