public water/private profit

[Bill London <london@moscow.com>]

    Naylor Farms (located a few miles north of Moscow) has requested
rights to pump 2.8 billion gallons of water from our aquifer every year
to use for irrigated farming in this area.  The request to the Idaho
water rights board was made by Brent Thompson, who owns the Sacajawea
Motel in Lewiston.
    2.8 billion gallons per year is more than the cities of Moscow and
Pullman PLUS both universities used in 1998.
    According to Mark Cook, Moscow's public works director, both Moscow
and Pullman have filed a protest with the Idaho Department of Water
Resources and will be meeting with them on Friday.  Both Moscow and
Pullman are asking Naylor Farms to withdraw that request.  If Naylor
refuses, the cities hope to schedule a public hearing here about this.
    Stay tuned....