+
Minutes
February 19, 1997
Moscow City Hall Annex
Conference Room
Jay
Becker, Chair.(WSU), Don Huskey, Vice Chair.(UI), Larry Kirkland (UI), Gary
Presol (Moscow), Loreca J. Stauber (Latah County), Tom Townsend (Latah County),
Sue Hinz (Pullman), Les Wigen (Whitman County), John Skyles (Whitman County),
Anne Volmer (Conservation Coordinator), Steve Gill (Acting Executive
Secretary/Hydrologic Technician)
Larry
Waters (Pullman), Pam Palmer (Moscow), Joe Spoonemore (WSU), Christian Petrich.
Dale
Ralston (UI), Kent Keller (WSU), Wade Hathhorn (WSU), Scott King (King
Groundwater Science, Inc.), Randall Doneen and Timothy Moody (Whitman County
Health Department),
The
meeting was called to order by PMWRC Chair J. Becker at 2:30 P.M.
Minutes
from November 13, 1996 and January 8, 1997 were unanimously approved (L.
Kirkland motioned, D. Huskey seconded).
New PMWRC
representatives: J. Becker introduced two new
entity representatives to the PMWRC; Loreca J. Stauber, Latah County
Commissioner, is Latah County’s new PMWRC member and Sue Hinz, Pullman City
Council, is the City of Pullman’s new PMWRC representative,
Whitman
County’s Growth Management Act: S. Gill
presented a draft of the PMWRC position statement concerning critical aquifer
recharge areas within Whitman County.
The draft was drawn up in response to L. Wigen’s request for a statement
from the PMWRC indicating potential critical aquifer recharge areas within
Whitman County. S. Gill qualified the
PMWRC’s position by pointing out this statement is based on research and
experience to the best knowledge of the PMWRC on ground water issues in this
area. The statement was presented at
the Whitman County Commissioners Public Hearing held on January 31, 1997 in
Colfax, WA. There will be two
additional public hearings on the critical aquifer recharge area designation
for Whitman County: 7pm March 3, 1997 and 7pm March 10, 1997. The final decision will be made by the
commissioners on March 24, 1997.
Dr.
Dale R. Ralston, (UI), professor of hydrogeology presented the following
proposal seeking funding support from the PMWRC. Dr. Ralston introduced a proposal that focused on water
management within the Pullman-Moscow basin.
The impetus for the proposal is based on two major tenets: 1) the
long-term annual recharge to the basin is sufficient for present demands and 2)
the future growth in water use within the basin will need to be balanced by
water conservation. Four major research
areas comprise this proposal.
Specifically:
1.
Recent
research efforts from both the University of Idaho and Washington State
University has resulted in a better understanding concerning the basin
boundaries and recharge assumptions found in the computer model by Lum and
others, (1990). Additional research is needed to
test the redefined basin boundaries and the mechanisms and rates of recharge to
the basalt aquifers.
2.
The
steadily declining water levels throughout the basin may be addressed by
artificially recharging the basalt aquifers.
The existing downward movement of groundwater flow within the basin may
allow groundwater diversion from the Palouse River via a shallow aquifer and a
series of connector wells to the lower basalt aquifers. Research is needed on an innovative
two-aquifer artificial recharge scheme that is being proposed for the basin.
3.
The
possible artificial aquifer recharge scheme raises specific legal questions concerning
the surface-groundwater management across a state boundary. Research is needed on a number of legal
questions related to the development of a groundwater management program
administered by a local entity (PMWRC) that include utilization of both surface
and ground water resources that span a state boundary.
4.
Finally, the voluntary water conservation
efforts by the two cities and two universities have been successful in reducing
the annual increase in basin pumpage. Research
is needed on identification and implementation of ways to achieve additional
levels of water conservation within the basin.
The
Pullman-Moscow basin is an excellent test area for the development of
interstate groundwater management programs. The purpose of this proposal is to
explore alternatives for groundwater management of an interstate aquifer
system. The general objective is to use
the Pullman-Moscow basin as a test area for development of a water management
plan based on water conservation, the hydrogeologic and legal aspects of
utilization of the existing resource (water in storage and natural recharge)
and the development of artificial recharge from an interstate surface water
source.
The
project will be carried out as an integrated effort of researchers from the
University of Idaho and Washington State University with the Pullman-Moscow
Water Resources Committee and two state regulatory agencies (Washington
Department of Ecology and the Idaho Department of Water Resources). The hydrogeologic research team will consist
of: Dr. Dale R. Ralston, Professor of Hydrogeology and Dr. John H. Bush,
Associate Professor of Geology from the University of Idaho; and Dr. Kent
Keller, Professor of Geology and Dr. Wade Hathhorn, Assistant Professor of
Civil Engineering from Washington State University. They will have primary responsibility for the research described
under objectives 1 and 2. In all cases,
this project is an extension of past or ongoing research efforts by these
researchers. Dr. Douglas Grant,
Professor of Law, University of Idaho, will accomplish the legal research
effort. Professor Grant is a recognized
expert on groundwater law with specific expertise on the appropriation doctrine
of water rights as practiced in Idaho and Washington. A PMWRC staff person in cooperation will conduct the water
conservation research with water managers from the two cities and two
universities.
The
Pullman-Moscow Water Resources Committee with the addition of representatives
from the Idaho Department of Water Resources and Washington Department of
Ecology will serve as the research project advisory board. The PMWRC will play an active role insuring
that the research efforts are directed toward solving problems directly related
to long-term basin management.
The
project time line will be two to three years with an overall budget of about
$120,000 to $140,000 per year. Dr. Dale
R. Ralston anticipates obtaining $100,000 from the USGS with the remainder
coming from the PMWRC. He will need a
2:1 match for all federal dollars. The
matching funds will be existing salaries offered as in-kind services.
Dr.
Kent Keller thanked the PMWRC for past support and noted that additional
research is needed to expand his previous work on water dating. His previous research was centered on the
area defined by Lum and others (1990) as the Pullman-Moscow basin. Further research around the area of Palouse
and Potlatch is needed. Additionally, the use of carbon dating of water samples
will add a reliable, state-of-art mechanism to determine the age of water and
recharge characteristics.
T.
Townsend showed concern regarding the possible contamination of our current
high quality groundwater with the surface water from the Palouse River. Dr. Keller explained that the water would
not be derived directly from the Palouse River, but instead would be shallow
groundwater that has been exposed to microbial actions resulting in high
quality groundwater. Dr. Ralston noted
that the issue of water quality would be of utmost concern to both the research
team and the Idaho Department of Water Resources and Washington Department of
Ecology.
L.
Kirkland noted that he supported the project and felt that previous studies on
the economics of alternative sources of water for the Pullman-Moscow basin
indicated prohibitive costs would be incurred with overland pipeline projects
or the damming of rivers. G. Presol offered his support noting that the City of
Moscow has looked at many alternatives to groundwater for municipal water needs
but none have proven cost-effective.
J.
Becker offered his support for the project.
He noted that previous PMWRC support, directed towards scientific
research, allowed the PMWRC a level of technical expertise necessary to
communicate effectively with the state agencies. This proposal allows the PMWRC to evaluate the quality and the
quantity of our water resources from public awareness of water conservation
efforts while maintaining public health standards.
L.
Stauber offered her support of the proposal but questioned how to present this
request for additional funding to Latah County. What would be the benefits to county residents of such a
proposal? Dr. Keller offered that by
knowing the rate and movement of recharge of groundwater, that the issue of
declining water levels in county wells may be addressed. Dr. Ralston offered to make a presentation
to the county commissioners.
A.
Volmer asked what does the fourth objective entail? Dr. Ralston explained that the proposal would require an
expansion of water conservation efforts across the Pullman-Moscow basin. Specifically, the two cities and two
universities will need evaluate current water conservation efforts and look
into new innovative measures to increase water conservation.
L. Kirkland made a motion for initial support of Dr. Ralston’s proposal, pending a confirmed budgetary analysis (G. Presol seconded, motion was unanimously approved). Dr. Ralston suggested that L. Kirkland and S. Gill be appointed as PMWRC contact personnel for budgetary information ( J. Becker motioned, G. Presol seconded, motion was unanimously approved).
Anne
Volmer distributed copies of two articles on water conservation that had
recently been published. Additionally,
she informed the committee that 3 interns have been added to the Pullman-Moscow
Water Resources Conservation Subcommittee for the Spring 1997 semester:
·
Lonnie
Huter is a senior at the University of Idaho in the Environmental Science
program. Lonnie will continue the
expansion of the PowerPoint presentation developed last fall by intern Wendy
Tucker. However, whereas Wendy’s
presentation focused on Water Conservation for Campus, Lonnie will be
developing a series of slides illustrating hydrogeological processes, water
usage, and water level information. His
internship will be for 1 credit.
·
Shane
Cherry is a senior at the University of Idaho in the Environmental Science
program. Shane will focus on developing
a paper, which discusses the feasibility, and legal ramifications concerning
the use of graywater water to supplement irrigation needs specific to the
Pullman-Moscow basin. His internship will be for 1 credit.
·
David
Uberuaga is a senior at the University of Idaho in the Environmental Science
program. David will produce a poster
illustrating the University of Idaho’s use of wastewater effluent for
irrigation purposes. His internship
will be for 2 credits.
The addition of these three interns will further PMWRC’s water
efficiency efforts in the Palouse, while allowing the students to gain valuable
real-life experience.
A.
Volmer, informed the committee she would no longer be able to maintain her
20-hour per week commitment as PMWRC’s Water Conservation Coordinator. However, she would be able to work on a
limited scale from her home on smaller project oriented goals. She cited that care of her daughter Lelia,
would prevent her from meeting the half-time requirement. J. Becker stated the committee is satisfied
with Anne job and would be willing to work with her until her one-year contract
expired in June 1997.
The
meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:05 P.M.
The next meeting will be
held: 1:30 P.M.
- Thursday March 13, 1997 at McCluskey
Services Building Washington State University.
Respectfully Submitted,
Steve
W. Gill
PMWRC Acting Executive Secretary/Hydrologic Technician