Gov. Gregoire announces major water supply projects

July 18, 2008

*As Written*

Thank you for joining me this morning.

This great river reminds us all how important water is in the lives of everyone who calls the Tri-Cities home.

Here, the Columbia is not only a source of enjoyment and recreation -- it�s the heart of this region�s economy.

I am extremely pleased to be joined by the Kennewick Irrigation District, the city of Kennewick, and the Columbia Snake River Irrigators.

We�re here to announce three projects that are a direct result of our work to break a decades-long stalemate over access to water on the Columbia River.

The projects we�re supporting today will produce new water supplies for farms, cities, and industry -- and meet the acute water needs of fish in both the Columbia and Yakima rivers.

The projects are three shining examples of what happens when we set aside differences and negotiate to serve both the economy and the environment.

We now know that we don�t have to fight over water. We don�t have to go to court. We don�t have to tie up water resources for years. We now know that we can sit down and negotiate, we can cooperate, so that everybody benefits.

Earlier this morning, an important agreement was signed by the Director of Ecology and Columbia-Snake Irrigators president Don Odegard. It represents exactly what I�m talking about � a new spirit of negotiation and cooperation.

The irrigators are making a commitment to be the most efficient water users in the state. In turn, the state will develop a �drought insurance program� so farmers have the water supplies they need during low water years.

Up to now, whenever river flows were low, a billion dollars worth of crops were put in jeopardy and many irrigators were at risk of having their water shut off.

This agreement promotes state-of-the-art water savings that farmers can put in the bank for when they will need it the most.

Also today, I�m thrilled to announce the first phase of a $15-million investment that could bring new water to Red Mountain � a highly productive and valuable grape-growing region.

The Kennewick Irrigation District is receiving $95,000 towards the proposal to pump its water from the Columbia River instead of the Yakima River.

The exchange will really help stream flows, which we really need to help fish recover in the Yakima River.

Red Mountain has a growing reputation in the wine industry. New water for this area will only make it more productive so it can take its place among the world�s finest vineyards.

And finally, we�re here to highlight a $1 million project to store water underground in the winter and make it available to homes and fish when water supplies fall short in the summer.

The city of Kennewick plans to take millions of gallons of water from the Columbia River and store it in natural basalt aquifers beneath Southridge.

We�re investing $200,000 to build a well to test how much water can be stored and then later withdrawn from the aquifer.

The city gains greater flexibility for how it delivers water to its customers, and one-third of the cold, stored water will be returned to the river during peak migratory and spawning seasons.

This pilot project also provides a tremendous opportunity to see if similar aquifer storage projects can be built across the state.

The landmark water legislation we won 2006 is beginning to bear fruit. A lot of the credit for these projects belongs to your local legislators.

They joined a bipartisan effort. And our hard work together makes $200 million available to develop new water supplies from the Columbia River -- benefiting farms, growing communities and fisheries.

This is a triple win for families and businesses throughout the region. And it ensures we leave enough water in the river for our endangered salmon during the driest months.

While I�m here today, I also want to highlight two more examples of how we�re working together the Washington Way to solve water issues.

Southeast of us, we have a new in-stream flow rule that ensures� for the first time � that there will be water in the Walla Walla River during the summer months. Salmon are returning to the river, and growers and communities can depend on the water they need.

And, to the north, we will soon begin delivering new water to the Columbia Basin from Lake Roosevelt, behind Grand Coulee Dam.

This was a direct result of the 2006 landmark legislation and government-to-government agreements between the state and affected tribes. In years to come, millions of gallons of stored water will increase irrigation�city water supplies�and stream flows for endangered fish during the dry months.

Throughout Washington, we are working to conserve water and use it wisely. And I am proud to say I�ll keep working � across the aisle and across the state.

Thank You