PBAC Minutes -
April
29, 1999
University
of Idaho McClure Hall # 411
Craig
Benjamin (WSU), Steve Gill (Executive Secretary), Larry Kirkland, Vice Chair.
(UI), Derek Pohle (Whitman County), Tom Scallorn (Moscow for G. Presol), Tom
Townsend, Chair. (Latah County), Mark Workman (Pullman).
Jay
Becker (WSU), Sue Hinz (Pullman), Don Huskey (UI), Pam Palmer (Moscow), Gary
Presol (Moscow-represented by Tom Scallorn), Loreca J. Stauber (Latah County),
Les Wigen (Whitman County).
Ron
Cooper (Pullman), Dr. C. Kent Keller, (WSU), Tom Lamar (PCEI), Mike Nelson
(WSU), Sara Olson (WSU), Dr. Jim Osiensky (UI), Dr. Christian Petrich (IWRRI),
Dr. Dale Ralston (UI), Kathleen Warnick.
The meeting was called to order by PBAC Chair Tom Townsend
at 2:35 p.m.
Minutes from
the March 31, 1999 meeting were unanimously approved (C. Benjamin motioned, M.
Workman seconded).
PBAC Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor (ES/TA) Position
Announcement: S. Gill
presented a draft of the PBAC ES/TA position announcement to the
committee. He noted that in the draft
approved by the PBAC Personnel Subcommittee the ES/TA would be a salaried
position; however, to change the ES/TA from the current IH (hourly) to salary
would require two modifications: 1) the position will have to be formerly
recognized by the Idaho Board of Education, and 2) the rate of benefits charged
to the PBAC will increase from the current rate of 13% to 34%.
C. Benjamin motioned that the
PBAC ES/TA position remain an IH (hourly) position and that the position
announcement should read as follows: This
position requires an obligation of between 10 and 20 hours per week.
Compensation will be between $10 and $15 per hour, depending on qualifications
and experience. (See enclosed position announcement). M. Workman
seconded.
The motion was approved unanimously.
Status of the WDOE Well rehabilitation project: S. Gill explained to the committee that he spoke to John
Covert, Hydrogeologist with WDOE in Spokane, concerning whether or not a permit
has to be issued prior to the rehabilitation of the Pullman-Moscow WDOE
observation well. According to Mr. Covert,
no permit is required to clean out the well; however, if additional drilling
would be required, then a permit would have to be issued. S. Gill stated that he will request a
letter stating such from Mr. Covert and have a copy sent to both the PBAC and
to Burns Well Drilling, Inc. of Grangeville, Idaho (the low-bidder for the RFP
on the WDOE Well).
Dr. Christian Petrich: Treasure Valley Hydrologic
Project: Dr. Petrich
IWRRI-Boise, PBAC past Executive Secretary stated that the purpose of the
Treasure Valley Hydrologic Project is to develop a better understanding of
water resources in the Treasure Valley, and to build a computer model that
represents that understanding. Knowledge and information gained during this project
will be used to evaluate changes in regional and local ground water levels.
The
project is being guided by policy and technical advisors. A Policy Advisory
Committee, consisting of representatives from United Water Idaho, Inc., Ada and
Canyon County governments, and elected officials from Ada and Canyon County
communities, is defining general water resource and planning questions to be
answered through this project. A Technical Advisory Committee, consisting of
Treasure Valley geological and hydrological experts, is providing technical
guidance and review.
Background: The
Treasure Valley has experienced tremendous population growth in recent years.
Population growth, ground water level declines in some areas, and recent
drought conditions in the Boise Valley have heightened public concern about
regional water issues.
Changing
land use patterns have contributed to changing hydrologic conditions.
Significant amounts of desert area were converted to flood irrigated
agriculture beginning in the 1860s. Irrigation led to increases in shallow
ground water levels in some areas. The shallow ground water levels provided an
inexpensive and readily obtainable source of water supply that is used
extensively throughout the valley.
Much
of the population growth in the Treasure Valley has been occurring in
previously flood-irrigated agricultural areas, resulting in increased pumpage
and a reduction in local aquifer recharge. In addition, irrigation in some
areas has become more efficient, reducing the amount of irrigation-related
infiltration. Decreasing aquifer recharge and increasing pumpage is thought to
be contributing to decreasing ground water levels in some areas.
Project
Components: Managing water
resources in the context of changing land use patterns and population increases
requires a better understanding of Treasure Valley hydrology. This project, and
the products and tools that the project will provide, will lead to a better
understanding of Treasure Valley hydrology.
Project
tasks include 1) investigating Treasure Valley geologic and hydrologic
characteristics, 2) developing a computer model to simulate ground water flow
in the regional hydrologic system, and 3) using the model to simulate impacts
to Treasure Valley ground water levels from changes to regional pumpage and/or
aquifer recharge. Specifically:
1. Measuring water levels in 300 Treasure Valley wells in a one
week period of time has been done four different times to give the project a
snapshot in time of current water levels.
2. Establishing a network of 72 long-term ground water
observation wells, and measuring water levels in these wells on a periodic
basis.
3. Evaluating ground and surface water interaction through a
series of seepage measurements in canals, streams, and rivers.
4. Preparing a preliminary water budget showing inflows to and
outflows from the Treasure Valley ground water system.
5. Interpreting hydrologic and hydrogeologic data from United
Water Idaho, Inc., and conducting additional aquifer tests in United Water
Idaho wells.
6. Installing three nests of deep wells for geological
characterization. These wells will be installed by United Water Idaho, Inc.,
and will be used to monitor ground water levels at different depths below
ground surface.
7. Delineating boundaries of the shallow and deep portions of
the aquifer system on the basis of existing geophysical data and information
not previously interpreted for water resource investigations.
8. Interpreting and presenting existing Treasure Valley ground
water quality data.
9. Preparing a preliminary ground water flow model of the
Treasure Valley aquifer system.
10. Providing computerized access to data and information from
this project through the IDWR Environmental Data Management System.
Implications for Palouse
Basin: Dr. Petrich explained that much of what has been done thus
far for the Treasure Valley Hydrologic Project applies to the Palouse
basin. Specifically:
A)
Basic data collection is very
important. Measure/collect/assimilate on regular basis. g Ground water levels g increase scope. g Stream flows g quantify chemically and hydraulically. g Water Chemistry g information of water quality and water age is needed.
B)
Improve basic flow system understanding through geochemistry and hydraulics.
C)
Focus on recharge, discharge, and capture of ground water.
D)
Consider water demand as well as water supply. g New construction guidelines and zoning ordinances. g New water rate structure.
E)
Consider parameter estimation methods as way of
testing alternative Palouse basin hydrogeological conceptualizations. g Vertical rate of ground water flow between Wanapum and
Grande Ronde.
S. Gill noted that, in reference
to Dr. Petrich’s Implication (D), the Whitman County Planning Commission is
presently amending the Whitman County Zoning Ordinance Section 19.03 and adding
Chapter 19.15, The Pullman-Moscow Corridor District (PMC). At the Whitman County Planning Commission’s
meeting of 21 April 1999 the Commission deleted the following subsection: 19.15.040(20)C - All land uses which utilize ground water
shall install and maintain a water meter, in order to determine the amount of
water use, to build a water use base.
Water use amounts shall be reported annually to the Whitman County
Environmental Health District.
The committee then discussed the
proposed changes to The
Pullman-Moscow Corridor District (PMC).
The committee noted that the Whitman County Planning Commission’s lack
of consideration for the scientifically proven long-term ground water level
decline and the continuing importance of basic data collection is in
disagreement with the Whitman County
Action Plan from the1992
Pullman-Moscow Water Resources Committee Ground Water Management Plan.
C.
Benjamin motioned that the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee draft a letter to
both the Whitman County Planning Commission and the Whitman County Board of
Commissioners outlining the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee’s concerns
regarding the issue of non-compliance by the Whitman County Planning Commission
in following the Whitman County Action
Plan in the Pullman-Moscow Water
Resources Committee Ground Water Management Plan through the deletion of
Section 19.15.040(20)C from the proposed Pullman-Moscow Corridor
District (PMC): Whitman County Zoning Ordinance Section 19.03 - Chapter 19.15.
M. Workman seconded. The
motion was approved unanimously.
NOTE:
After the meeting adjourned, the Whitman County Engineer, Derek Pohle, sent a
letter explaining that the reason the Whitman County Planning Commission had
deleted the requirement for water meters at businesses is that under Washington
State Law businesses with employees would be classified as a Group B or Group A
water system and would have to be metered. (see enclosed letter)
Dr. C.
Kent Keller, WSU and Dr. Jim Osiensky, UI approached the committee concerning
their research proposal made at the 31 March 1999 PBAC meeting.
At
that meeting Dr. Keller and Dr. Osiensky proposed a cooperative WSU-UI ground
water research project investigating the following water resource concerns (1)
Are the cities and universities pumping water that is presently being recharged
in the Palouse-Potlatch area? (2) Has
long-term pumping from the four main entities (Pullman, WSU, Moscow and UI)
affected the ground water gradient in the Grande Ronde to the extent that
spring and stream discharge near Colfax and Union Flat Creek is being affected,
and (3) Is it feasible to capture natural discharge, either from surface water
(N. Fork Palouse) or from an upper aquifer (such as the surficial loess aquifer
near N. Fork Palouse or directly from the Wanapum basalt) and recharge the
lower Grande Ronde basalt (either directly or indirectly?)
Their
proposal would include the following tasks:
A) Hydraulic monitoring and hydraulic modeling of wells,
streams, and springs.
B) Isotope or other chemical/physical monitoring of wells,
streams, and springs.
C) Geochemical modeling
D) Drilling new wells: 1.
New observation well in the Palouse-Pullman corridor, 2. Piezometers above
and below Wanapum/Grande Ronde boundary
Funding Discussion: M.
Workman asked who would do this research?
Dr. Osiensky stated that the
hydraulic and the isotope research would need to be done jointly by the UI and
WSU research staff. He continued that
the coordination of research efforts by UI and WSU would result in the PBAC receiving
a much better overall picture of the basin’s water resource potential.
M. Workman asked what this scope
of work might cost?
Dr. Keller replied that the coordinated isotope and hydraulic monitoring
plus modeling, sampling, and two (2) graduate students per year would cost
approximately $50,000/year.
Additionally, at the 31 March 1999 PBAC meeting Dr. Ralston had
estimated the cost to drill new wells, one into the Wanapum ($5,000), one into
the Grande Ronde ($15,000) and several specific piezometers ($20-25,000) would
cost approximately $50,000 for the entire package.
S.
Gill stated that a recent water resource development project that is being
designed by Dr. Dale R. Ralston might should encourage the committee to
consider funding this proposal by Dr. Keller and Dr. Osiensky.
New
Palouse City Well: Dr. Dale R. Ralston is designing a new municipal well for
the City of Palouse, Washington. The
PBAC has a significant opportunity to collect important data on the Palouse
area ground water system without having to drill their own well. Valuable data that can be obtained during
the drilling of the Palouse well includes: 1) discrete water age dating
(isotope work), 2) hydraulic information (aquifer flow rates, water level
variations between the upper loess, the Wanapum basalt, the sediment layer and
the Grande Ronde basalt, 3) geophysic logging of the well and possibly adjacent
area, and more. The drilling of the new
Palouse well could be the impetus for the committee to begin a long-term water
research program.
M.
Workman suggests that Dr. Keller and Dr. Osiensky [along with by Dr. Dale R.
Ralston] prepare a multi-year project timeline and budget, and present their
proposal at the May PBAC meeting.
The meeting
was adjourned at approximately 5:05 P.M.
2:30 PM
Thursday
May 20, 1999
University of Idaho
McClure Hall # 304
Respectfully
Submitted,
Steve
W. Gill, PBAC Executive Secretary/Technical Advisor