Members ATtendance

VISITORS:  Farida Leek, WSU Ph.D student; Jim Bailey, Golder Associates; Kevin Gardes, City of Pullman; Nikki Agidius, Latah County; Cheryl Morgan, Property owner along SFPR in Pullman; Alyssa Douglas, DEQ.

Approval of the August 19, 2004 Meeting Minutes –Tom Scallorn, PBAC vice chair called the meeting to order at 2:35 P.M.  Minutes were approved by consensus.

 

1)     Status of Passive Recharge Project using UI Well # 2 – This topic is continued from last meeting. The PBAC consensus was that it was okay to continue to pursue looking into using Well #2 as a passive recharge test well.  

2)     PBAC Recommendations and Handout for Idaho Interim Natural Resource Legislative Subcommittee Hearing in Moscow –  The Idaho Working Group has been holding hearings this summer on critical aquifer issues in six basins throughout the state.  [The Idaho Working Group is comprised of 1/3 state Senators and 1/6 state representatives that are divided up into five subcommittees. Four subcommittees are focusing on one basin each; the North Idaho subcommittee is looking into critical groundwater issues in two Idaho basins.]  North Idaho subcommittee meeting is on October 1, 2004 at 10:00 A.M., Moscow County Chambers at Moscow City Hall, to receive input on recommendations and funding proposals for the North Idaho area. The North Idaho Working Group is asking that PBAC provide:

a)      Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee Project Proposals – These are proposals to be presented to the Idaho Working Group who will then submit them to the Idaho Legislature for possible funding.  Everyone agreed with the proposed projects hierarchy and liked the way they are written. This is an excellent opportunity for North Idaho to gain some monetary help in solving its critical groundwater problems. Below are the recommended projects that PBAC is planning to work on in the future when funding becomes available.

i) Monitoring Well Fields Nos. 2 and 3: Purpose of these projects is to obtain critical data to clarify whether the Palouse Basin deep aquifer can be recharged by utilizing a natural interface between the North Fork of the Palouse River and the Wanapum Aquifer. Estimated cost: Monitoring Well Field 2= $220,000 and Monitoring Well Field 3= $154,000. Some concerns were raised as to whether Idaho would fund a project that is so close to the Idaho/Washington border.

 

ii) Pilot Passive Recharge Well: The purpose of this project is to develop a better understanding of the potential for using naturally occurring recharge from the upper aquifer to enhance recharge of the lower aquifer by the use of passive recharge wells. Estimated cost - $100,000. No further comments were made.

 

iii) Pilot Infiltration Basin or Combined Wetlands/Infiltration Basin: The purpose of this project is to increase understanding of the potential for enhancing natural recharge to upper aquifer through use of infiltration or combined infiltration basin/wetlands facilities. Estimated cost - $88,000.  No further comments were made.

 

iv) Aquifer Model Development: The purpose of this project is to create a computerized model of the Palouse aquifer systems that would allow for more accurate projection of existing and future aquifer conditions. Estimated cost - $50,000. No further comments were made.

v) Pilot Surface Catchment Project: The purpose of this project is to determine the feasibility of installing precipitation catchment facilities that permit injection of high quality water into the upper and/or lower aquifers. Estimated cost - $150,000. Cost estimate of this project is $0.10 a square foot and does not include land purchase. 

b)     “Interim Natural Resources Committee; North Idaho Working Group – Palouse Basin Aquifer Goals”:  A handout of a draft of PBAC’s suggested responses to the subcommittee’s listed charges, developed by the Idaho legislature, was reviewed.

 

i) Recommend actions the State should undertake to assist or supplement the efforts of the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee (PBAC) – Provide funding help for the six proposed projects and facilitate these projects through reasonable application of existing and future water quality regulations. Review the existing 1992 Palouse Basin Groundwater Management Plan and addendums to determine potential improvements to PBAC’s goals and strategies.

 

ii) Evaluate and make recommendations regarding an administrative structure for ensuring that short-term and long-term Moscow/Pullman Aquifer management goals and objectives are implemented. Facilitate the continued operations of PBAC by recognizing the unique characteristics of the region. Provide IDWR participation in PBAC’s efforts.  Work with entities of PBAC to strengthen the existing plan rather than form a new management group. It was also suggested that the various colleges should become more involved.

 

iii) Study and recommend methods for funding implementation of Moscow/Pullman Aquifer System management goals and objectives. Fund the six proposed projects with the intent of helping PBAC reach its goals by 2020. Provide assistance to PBAC in the acquisition of federal funds to meet its goals and objectives. Legislators have heard that the local governments are putting money into this goal.  Les MacDonald will attempt to point out to the Idaho Working Group that since local funding is limited in the Palouse Basin it will be difficult to reach PBAC’s goals by 2020, without outside funding help.

 

iv) Recommend how Washington State and Idaho interests in the aquifers should be addressed. Promote interstate cooperation at the state level on water supply issues. The only corrections to this recommendation were a few wording changes.

3)     PBAC Position Statement on Naylor Water Right Application – Stroschein stated that the only reason that there is a hearing September 29^th in Moscow, is because of the many interveners. Latah County has been in discussion with Naylor regarding the protocol. No decision has been made because of the lack of public opinion. Pullman and Moscow have agreed to withdraw their protests if the protocol is allowed to become attached to the water right. If Naylor Farm ends up not having its own aquifer, and its wells are connected to the Grande Ronde and/or Wanapum such that senior water right holders are adversely impacted, then their water right application is voided. Naylor Farms will also be required to monitor all wells up to ½  mile away from the farm. A key concept is that the protocol will serve as a template for further large water right applications.
Stroschein was curious as to what PBAC’s official stand was on the issue. Stroschein stated that if he didn’t hear any objections he was going to share the PBAC position statement on the Naylor water right application as drafted by Kirkland. Les MacDonald questioned the timing of this. He wondered if it isn’t a bit premature to make a statement, because PBAC is supposed to be the very last step before issuing the permit. A question was raised as to whether it would be okay to share PBAC’s unofficial stance with legal counsel, but not to go public and make it an official statement as of yet. No formal action was taken on an official stance by PBAC at this time.
 

4)     OLD BUSINESS 

a)      Annual Report  –n/a

b)     Budget Sheet   –n/a

 

5)     REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

a)      WRIA – Next WRIA meeting is next Tuesday, September 21, 2004. A tour is scheduled for the eastern portion of the basin, starting at 8 A.M. from Schmuck Park in Colfax and returning about 4 P.M.

b)     Exposure in the Communities – n/a

c)      Other- Paradise Creek Advisory Group, which has been struggling to get an MCL for Paradise Creek, will be coming out with a final report. The Paradise Creek WAG is the first watershed advisory group to get funded by Idaho. The funding was for 1.5 million dollars.

6)     NEW BUSINESS- n/a

7)     Motion to adjourn.  Meeting adjourned by consensus at 3:50 P.M.  

 

8)      NEXT MEETING DATE -   October 21, 2004 University of Idaho Facilities Management meeting room.