Leo Bowman Board of County Commissioners DISTRICT 1 BENTON COUNTY Max Benitz, Jr. P.O. Box 190 - Prosser, WA 99350-0190 DISTRICT 2 Phone (509) 786-5600 or (509) 736-3080 Claude Oliver Fax (509) 786-5625 DISTRICT 3 September 4, 2003 Secretary Gale Norton Department of Interior 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 Re: Water 2025: Preventing Crisis and Conflict in the West Dear Secretary Norton: Benton County applauds Department of Interior’s farsighted approach towards preventing future water crises in the arid West, entitled Water 2025. We reviewed the documentation available regarding Water 2025 and on the balance believe the approach, which emphasizes the leadership role of state and local governments in water issues, to be beneficial in preventing water conflicts. We do however have an issue regarding the tools available listed in the Water 2025 proposal, specifically the lack of additional storage as a tool for meeting water scarcity demands. To truly provide a “…balanced, practical approach to water management for the next century.”, as proposed in Water 2025, additional water storage must not be precluded from the discussion. Perhaps a case study from our region may be helpful in illuminating our concerns. The mighty Columbia River creates the northern, eastern and southern border of Benton County. Cutting through the heart of the County, as it makes its way to the Columbia, is the Yakima River. While the Yakima is small in comparison to the Columbia (the average annual flow of the Yakima is 1/40 of the flow of the Columbia) water from the Yakima is relied on for a major share of the region’s agricultural economy and can play a key role in salmon recovery on the mainstem Columbia. The five existing storage reservoirs on the Yakima and its tributaries built between 1908 and 1933, store approximately 1/3 of the annual flow and 2/5 of the average annual demand. Snow pack is commonly referred to as the “sixth reservoir” and that reservoir often fails, leading to droughts in 10 of the last 30 years. Recent climate change models indicate that snow levels will continue to rise and snow pack will continue to decrease. While ranked as a medium risk for potential conflict in Water 2025, the County believes that risk is understated. Escalating conflict in the basin is a question of when, not if. Two recent actions provide an opportunity to avert this upcoming conflict. Those actions are the recent completion of the Acquavella adjudication process, and the completion of the Yakima Basin Watershed Plan. After 25 years, the parties to the Acquavella case have finally reached a settlement, leading to the end of major adjudication actions in the Yakima Basin and laying the foundation for answering the environmental and economic needs of the Basin. The Yakima Basin Watershed Plan is a state sponsored document, created by regional Yakima Basin 1/3 interests. The Plan plots a course for averting conflict through the tools listed in Water 2025, including development of a water marketing program, continued water conservation, and improvements to the existing water management system. The Plan does identify that even if all these actions are taken, the Basin will still be drastically short of water in many years, not taking into account that additional environmental requirements will be put on the management and use of water in the Basin and that long term changes in climate will likely heighten the scarcity of water in the sixth reservoir. The Plan contends that scarce water in one out of every three years is not conducive to the economy nor the environment, and recommends that additional water be identified through the creation of additional storage or a water exchange with the Columbia River. That brings us to what is commonly referred to as the “Black Rock Proposal”. In 2001, Benton County set aside $500,000 to perform a feasibility study of a pump exchange project between the Yakima and Columbia Basin. The proposed pump exchange project would borrow water for a 40 mile stretch of the Columbia River, returning the water at the confluence of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers. The proposal represents a “grass roots” solution to continued water scarcity in the Yakima Basin. Yakima County, Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Washington State Department of Ecology also contributed to the Reconnaissance Level Study, contributing $100,000, $500,000, and $100,000 respectively. The Study sought fatal flaws in the engineering, financial, geotechnical, and environmental domains, and found none. While there is much work left to be done, the project does offer the potential to provide reliable water to economic interest in the Yakima Basin, while at the same time improving river and habitat conditions, thereby enhancing salmon runs. We have provided a CD containing the major reports and other information regarding the Black Rock proposal. Perhaps there are areas in the West where all needs can be met through conservation, marketing and improved management of water resources, but that is certainly not the case in the Yakima Basin. The Board of Benton County Commissioners strongly encourages the Department of Interior to include the development new water infrastructure as its “Seventh Principle” in Water 2025, and additional water storage as the “Fifth Tool” in preventing water crisis. Sincerely, Board of Benton County Commissioners Max Benitz, Chairman Encl: 1, Black Rock CD 2/3 cc: Honorable Gary Locke Honorable Maria Cantwell Governor of Washington United States Senator P.O. Box 40002 825 Jadwin Avenue, G-58-A Olympia, WA 98504-0002 Richland, WA 99352 Honorable Patty Murray Honorable Joyce Mulliken United States Senator Washington Senate 2988 Jackson Federal Bldg. P.O. Box 40413 915 2nd Avenue Olympia, WA 98504-0413 Seattle, WA 98104 Honorable Richard (Doc) Hastings Honorable Jim Honeyford Member, United States House of Washington Senate Representatives P.O. Box 40415 302 E. Chestnut Olympia, WA 98904-0415 Yakima, WA 98901 Honorable George Nethercutt Honorable Alex Deccio Member, United States House Washington Senate Representatives P.O. Box 40414 920 W. Riverside, Suite 594 Olympia, WA 98904-0414 Spokane, WA 99201 Washington State Congressional Yakima County Commissioners Delegation 102 North 2nd Street 2988 Jackson Federal Bldg. Yakima, WA 98901 915 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98104 Kittitas County Commissioners Yakima Basin Joint Board 205 W. 5th Avenue, Rm 108 470 Camp 4 Road Ellensburg, WA 98926 Yakima, WA 98908-8812 Mr. J. Eric Glover Mr. Charlie De la Chappelle Area Manager YBSA Upper Columbia Area Office P.O. Box 30 1917 Marsh Road Prosser, WA 99350 Yakima, WA 98901-2058 3/3.