News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 17, 2004
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Dept. of Ecology, 509-575-2610

Gov. Gary Locke Unveils 20-Year Water Plan for Columbia River Region

KENNEWICK – Dec. 17, 2004 – Gov. Gary Locke today unveiled a bold plan that secures water for Columbia River communities and farmers for the next 20 years and sets aside a substantial amount of water to enhance fisheries.

In a ceremony today, Locke signed an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Columbia Basin Project irrigation districts, and the state Dept. of Fish and Wildlife on a Columbia River Initiative water management program. He also proposed legislation and $79 million in new state funding to support the program.

Locke was joined at the event, which took place at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, by senior federal administrators, state and local government officials, irrigation district commissioners and others.

“I believe this is the largest single economic development investment in Eastern Washington in decades,” Locke said. “This plan represents the first real break-through in a long struggle between the demand for new water from the Columbia River and the consequences those withdrawals may have on efforts to restore salmon. I’m pleased that we are providing this economic boost while also sustaining and protecting our natural resources.”

Locke continued, “Through this plan, we have the opportunity to boost the economy of Eastern Washington by $186 million and add up to 9,000 new jobs while also providing additional protection for salmon. I appreciate the support we’ve already received for making this investment in Eastern Washington, and I urge the Legislature and the next governor to not let this unique opportunity pass us by.”

Although Bob Lohn, head of NOAA Fisheries’ northwest regional office, could not attend today’s event, he said his agency supports Locke’s proposal.

“Finding water to meet the needs of both fish and people along the Columbia River is critical to the region,” said Lohn. “The Columbia River Initiative takes a major step in our collective efforts to accomplish this goal. NOAA Fisheries supports the collaborative approach of the CRI and looks forward to working with all interests along the river to achieve its underlying goals.”

Locke’s plan makes water available to people and fish through conservation programs and water purchases. In the long-term, the plan calls for re-evaluating how stored water is now managed and exploring new storage opportunities.

“Meeting multiple needs for water from the Columbia River will require all of us working together to find collaborative solutions,” said Bill McDonald, Pacific Northwest regional director for the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). “The agreements signed today provide a window of opportunity to move forward. We look forward to working with the state, tribes, districts and other interested parties on this initiative.” McDonald was represented at today’s event by Bill Gray with the Bureau of Reclamation.

The agreement with Reclamation provides a path for obtaining 30,000 acre-feet of irrigation water for basin farmers who now rely on the declining Odessa aquifer. The governor also has requested $15 million in capital spending to study new water-storage facilities.

Locke said agreements are also in the works with the Bonneville Power Administration and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation to make additional water available to meet the needs of cities along the Columbia River.

The deal includes water for those whose rights now may be interrupted when flows reach critically low levels.

In all, the Columbia River Initiative identifies some 728,000 acre-feet of water to meet the region’s needs for the next 20 years. Of that amount, 485,000 acre-feet would be held in trust as mitigation for new out-of-stream uses, while 243,000 acre-feet would be held for the benefit of fish.

The plan’s water acquisition program would meet the needs of all outstanding Columbia River water-right requests pending before the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and provide a reserve for the region’s forecasted water needs.

Ecology has filed a rule proposal to govern how the regulatory portion of the water management program would be implemented. More information on the proposal and information on the economic and science studies supporting the plan may be found on-line at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/cri/crihome.html.


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