Re: public water/private profit

[Priscilla Salant <psalant@moscow.com>]

Visionaries,

I have so many questions about the proposed irrigation project.  Does
anyone know more about the efficacy of applying clay as a pesticide?  And
our topography here on the Palouse would seem to preclude extensive
irrigation, especially of this magnitude.  What's the plan?

I also don't understand why discussions are being held behind closed doors.
 The public will benefit by hearing both the pros and cons instead of
speculating about tidbits of information and rumor.  Open the discussions,
please.

Priscilla Salant  

At 08:31 AM 11/6/2002 -0800, Bill London wrote:
>    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....
>
>