January 18, 2001
Meeting Minutes
University of
Idaho, McClure Hall Rm. 411
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UI: Larry Kirkland,
Facilities Engineer |
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WSU: Craig Benjamin
(Chair), Assistant Director of Facilities Operations |
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UI: Jay Becker
(Vice-Chair), Assistant Director, Utilities and Engineering |
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WSU: Pete Grigas,
Facilities Planning |
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Moscow: Tom Scallorn,
Water Dept. Superintendent |
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Pullman: Mark Workman,
Dir. Public Works |
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Moscow: Steve Busch, City
Council Member |
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Pullman: Sue Hinz, City
Council Member |
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Latah County: Loreca
Stauber, County Commissioner |
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Whitman County: Les Wigen,
County Commissioner |
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Latah County: Tom
Townsend, citizen |
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Whitman County: Derek
Pohle, County Engineer |
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Executive Secretary and
Technical Advisor: Juliet McKenna |
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Bill French (Moscow resident), Art Garro (City of Pullman), Roy Mink (Idaho Water Resources Research Institute), Kathleen Warnick (Latah County resident)
Craig Benjamin (Chair) called the meeting to order at 2:35 P.M. Minutes were approved with minor edits provided by Larry Kirkland.
C. Benjamin asked Committee members to review the timeline that was approved by PBAC in June 2000 and identify individuals, or entities, that should be responsible for implementation of individual tasks. Comments should be emailed to him or Juliet McKenna before next meeting and this will be discussed further at the February meeting.
The legal review from the UI is still not completed. Once it is, the document will be finalized for signatures.
J. McKenna noted that during 2000, PBAC updated the Goals of the Groundwater Management Plan (GMP); however an official updated document was not published. According to the original GMP published in 1992, the GMP shall be updated every five years. J. McKenna will provide a draft of an updated document for review and approval. Entities are responsible for reporting on progress of their specific Action Plan each year. Each entity shall provide a status update by the February meeting.
L. Kirkland, C. Benjamin, and Roy Mink met with Representative Tom Trail on December 22, 2000 to review PBAC's request for funding from the state. Trail and Schroeder were comfortable with the background information provided and will keep PBAC informed as the request makes its way through the budget process.
In late December 2000, individuals representing WSU and Pullman PBAC met with Rep. Mark Schoesler to discuss his support for trying to obtain state funding for the Pullman-WSU wastewater reuse project. Initially, funds will be requested to fund the design portion of the study (approximately $450,000). At a recent City Council meeting, Pullman City Council officially agreed to endorse this initial request, and acknowledged that the city may be required to provide some seed funds for the project. Funding for project completion will be requested from the state during subsequent biennia.
J. McKenna made a presentation at the quarterly leadership breakfast on January 3, 2001 at University Inn in Moscow. Several Committee members heard positive feedback on the presentation. J. McKenna should either post a copy of the Power Point presentation on the PBAC web site, or email it to all members. K. Warnick suggested writing a letter to the editor of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News correcting the error in the first paragraph of the article, explaining that water levels have NOT stopped declining.
J. McKenna is moving this summer and will be leaving her position with the Committee in April or May. She presented PBAC members with a memo outlining several important considerations for hiring and listing key requirements for any PBAC staff. [A copy of this memo is available upon request.] A hiring subcommittee was formed that includes: Larry Kirkland, Craig Benjamin, Mark Workman, Sue Hinz, Tom Townsend, and Tom Scallorn. Roy Mink and Craig Benjamin will discuss some options for part-time contract work through IWRRI, that may enable a search for a person who can work full-time (part-time with PBAC, and part-time with IWRRI).
J. McKenna and 3 people representing Moscow will attend the American Water Works Association water conservation workshop in Portland, Oregon on February 1-2. Other upcoming meetings that may be of interest to PBAC members include:
· Pacific Northwest Groundwater Issues Workshop sponsored by National Groundwater Association - February 23;
· Pacific Northwest Section AWWA Regional Conference - Yakima, Washington May 1-3; the program includes a seminar on industrial, commercial, and institutional water conservation, and technical programs on water resource issues in the NW, and measuring water conservation effectiveness. Contact Yakima Conference Committee at (509) 575-6154 or J. McKenna for more information;
· AWWA Water Reuse, Conservation, and Resources Management Conference and Exhibition - January 27-30, 2002 in Las Vegas. This new conference combines three conferences that were previously held separately and should offer a diverse program that is of interest to anyone involved in Palouse Basin water issues. Call for papers (abstract deadline is April 27, 2001) and more information can be found at www.awwa.org/02wrcm/call.
J. McKenna reminded the Committee that several organizations and agencies designate the first week in May as Groundwater Awareness or Water Week, in order to bring attention to local water issues. She asked for suggestions on activities or events to arrange that could be offered by each entity. L. Kirkland suggested video taping another presentation on water by J. McKenna. Roy Mink said that northern Idaho has a number of activities coordinated for the week, and Tom Scallorn said that Debbie Ellard in the Water Department will be organizing events and publicity for Moscow.
Moscow – No word has been received yet on the EPA preliminary grant application submitted by J. McKenna and T. Scallorn. A decision is expected by the end of January.
Moscow Well #6 is being serviced, so the pump is removed and video log will be performed.
Construction continues at the new waste water treatment plant.
The City continues with their appeal of the NPDES permit issued by EPA
Moscow and the UI –Plans are going ahead to design and create a xeriscape garden at the UI Arboretum. Startup funds will come from the City of Moscow, the UI Arboretum, and outside funding. J. McKenna will assist Arboretum staff with preparing a grant application to the Idaho Community Foundation.
UI – Jay Becker would like to see several things occur including: construction of a second effluent line to the golf course, construction of a shallow well dedicated to fisheries in forestry, and expand effluent system to include the Administration Building lawn. He also discussed the possibility of creating wetlands to handle excess effluent and remove nitrates if the City of Moscow does not successfully appeal the NPDES permit. The UI can also look to increase land application to use the excess effluent.
Pullman - According to Mark Workman, the casing and materials are being built according to specifications for Well #7 and an RFP will go out soon for construction of the well housing and booster station. The goal is to have the well operational by June 2002. Leaks in the Landis Reservoir (on College Hill) were repaired without draining the tank by putting epoxy in the tank, which fills in leaks as the water is drawn out. Well #4 is currently off-line for maintenance. Pullman is considering use of a new technology called "Aquafreed" which rehabilitates wells by injecting a substance that freezes, cracks up blockage, then thaws and can be flushed out.
Palouse - An update on the new well will be provided by Tom Scallorn.
2000 Annual Report - It was agreed that the format should include updated pumping and water level data, and not repeat the extensive background information provided in the 1999 Annual Report. Copies of the 1999 Annual Report will continue to be made available and the 2000 report will be much shorter.
Thursday, February 15,
2001 at 2:30 pm
McClure Hall Room 411
The meeting was adjourned by consensus.
Respectfully Submitted,
Juliet M. McKenna
Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor