Water Wars II

By lordoflys
(4 votes) (report abuse)
Ice irrigation between Hwy 10 and the river

The reservoirs are currently very low so we'll need some decent snow pack this winter to get us thru the next irrigation season. The National Weather Service and Accuweather both predict a warmer and drier than normal winter. According to these two prognasticators, El Nino will be the dominant weather factor this year. Hopefully, they are wrong. Another weather service, The Farmer's Almanac, predicts a cool winter for the NW, with average precipitation. The Farmer's Almanac is more concerned with sunspots and moon and planet positioning than El Nino. I don't think El Nino was around when the Almanac started up in 1818.

I hope the Almanac is right this year. No matter if you are a believer of global warming or not. A dry, moderate winter will endanger many people in this County. Will it take another painful drought to convince someone to pony up and decide what can be done to make more water available? You would think that of the billions spent in reconstructing Iraq and Afghanistan, and the big money being spent on countless other make work projects, corporate bailouts, bridges to nowhere, and TSA grants....that someone might step up and say, "hey", "how about some money to keep the apples and cherries growing along the Yakima River?", "How about some backup water storage for the timothy hay growers in Central Washington State?". "How about a few bucks to keep salmon running up the Cle Elum River"? Why not? In fact, these people I'm talking about actually pay into the government every year so why not help them out, too? Forget about that airport ($200m) in the Aleutians. There's only 150 people living there and they usually don't go anywhere anyway. We should have had Reclamation make a dollar cost/benefit analysis on THAT one.

2001, 1977 and Acquavella bylordoflys9 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
2001 was our last big drought. It resulted in job and crop losses in the valley. The TWSA for that year was 35%, which meant jr water rights holder received 35% of their normal allotment while sr. holders received 100% of theirs. The TWSA is determined by the BOR prior to the irrigation season. Sometimes they get it wrong. They did in 1977 when the forecast was 6%. Because of that forecast many farmers refused to plant crops. As the season progressed, though, the BOR realized they made a mistake and the TWSA was raised much higher. The damage was already done, however, and Roza Irrigation sued them. Then the Yakama's sued in response, basically stating that no matter how much rain falls, no matter how much water in in the reservoirs, the 1855 Treaty ensures them water above all other water rights holders. Then everyone started suing. So the DOE sued everyone in response. That was the start of Washington vs Acquavella, which is the longest current running lawsuit in the known universe. James J. Acquavella is assured of his place in history, or at least in legal libraries.

Interestingly enough, he probably doesn't know what the fuss is all about. His name was chosen by the BOE because it was synonymous with water. I wonder if he still owns his five acres in the Tri-Cities?

The economic losses estimated for the 2001 drought was $400 million. Not included is the personal suffering of the families involved. No price on that and there is no cost/benefit analysis on emotional stress. There is very little water in the reservoirs right now. Maybe less this year than in 2001. Less probability for floods early next year as a result but that is small comfort to junior water subscribers. I'm not a water professional so I'm not exactly sure of this assessment. If anyone out there has a comment on this pls do so.
What's the point? We're due for a dry one. And there hasn't been enough done since 1977 by local leaders, the State, or the feds at the BOR to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
Picture Was Familiar byClem9 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
My son took a picture of me riding my bike past the same water wheel. I have a nice little loop that starts in Cle Elum and loops around Thorp back to South Cle Elum and back home which is maybe 35 miles.

The Ellensburg Daily record has archived their papers on the internet. I did a google search that turned up an article from 1986 which reported a drought was the number one story of 1986. A little more interesting I thought was another drought in 1981 in which the Sunnyside Irrigation district sued the BOR for pumping water out of the resevoirs below the "dead water" level and distributing it on a "percentage" basis rather than a "senior rights holder" basis. If you do some checking around you can see that the different Irrigation Districts have also sued each other over water.

Nice time to end the "Water Wars 1" since Roslyn has also apparently
solved its water problems with the Yakama Nation and the other irrigators signing off on their water deal. The willingness of the irrigators and the Yakama Nation to go after relatively small "use" of water really isnt anything new. I am pretty sure if their hadnt been the moratorium their would have been a lawsuit forcing mitigation.

We have Water Wars but it looks like a "solar war" may be brewing if the Teanaway Solar Project gets a green light. The Wind Generators may also become an issue in the next couple of years. One of the councilmen wants a moratorium on wind generators. Also on my bike ride I saw some sore of device in a field that is apparently used to measure wind speed near the old "flow generator".
RE: Picture Was Familiar bylordoflys9 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse)
I don't really know too much about the solar or the wind generators. There is a concern that these alternative energy systems are created primarily for the tax credits, rather than viable businesses aiding the economy. Sounds like a great bike ride, though. Are you riding a mountain or road bike?
RE: Picture Was Familiar byClem9 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse)
I ride my road bike most of the time. If I ride my mountain bike its usually on Cle Elum Ridge. In Roslyn they like to call it Roslyn Ridge. Next spring I am going to Belgium for a race called the Tour De Flanders. It will be my first real trip out of the country.

I havent been able to figure out the economics at all on the home wind generators. If someone can show how they can pay off in 10 years I would be interested. The only way they make sense is when you are off the grid and have to depend on solar panels and a generator. The break throughs in the cost of solar panels in the past year has been interesting. The Teanaway Solar project wouldnt have been feasable 2 years ago.
Upper County Blues bylordoflys9 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I can't for the life of me figure out why some people consider development as a foregone conclusion. I am, of course, talking about the Teanaway. A rich New Yorker bought 46,000 acres of our historic, ecologically rich timberland (it was zoned timber when he bought it) and we're actually considering letting him and his company, American Forest Land Co., change the zoning and develop it into playgrounds for the rich but environmentally deprived.

The NKC Tribune has a great article on this debate, good job. County Commissioners, sensing the almighty dollar, will be quick to roll over and beg for this new master of theirs. Will we stand by and watch them change zoning laws that will destroy one of the most beautiful natural settings in this state? Mr. Wayne Schwandt, a company VP, was paternalistic in his parting statement to those gathered at the latest public hearing on this proposal, many of them residents. "Change does happen", he said. Yes, IF YOU LET THESE GUYS sidestep laws that were put into place to protect this area.
"...and I understand that change is unsettling". Yes, Wayne. You stand to make millions after turning the Teanaway into a much larger version of Suncadia.
Atty. Anna Nelson, from Seattle, was the meeting moderator. Who is paying her salary? She said that county commissioners will soon have before them three land use and zoning options for the Teanaway. Oh yeah? Well, Anna, I hope whatever they are they fall under the current zoning, timberland. And it's my fervent hope that the good people of the Teanaway, hunters, fishermen, hikers, horse people, birdwatchers, fish watchers, bikers, campers...and people who like the Teanaway just like it is, don't let these conmen with money bully themselves into turning this paradise into 9 acre ranchettes... or worse.
RE: Upper County Blues byMC9 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse)
It's inevitable if the CCs continue to behave how they have in the past. Their actions in the recent water wars haven't made me hopeful. Note that they're suddenly fumbling along with GMA issues:
http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/articles/2008/10/19/news/doc4

IMO they may be trying to look good/look busy now that water issues have been dangled over their head by the state and there's a huge new development on the horizon. Ironic that this meeting is scheduled in the "Teanaway Hall".

The city of Roslyn fought for sec 17 behind town and got it. Cle Elum seemed to give up on green space behind town without even trying. Will the county bargain for anything for us proles to enjoy? I want to believe in miracles, BUT.... *sigh*
RE: Upper County Blues bycountrygirl119 months ago (5 votes) (report abuse)
Thank you, lord, for the pavlovian dog image of our CC. Couldn't make the public meeting at the Teanaway Grange last evening. I assume it was more of the same, change is coming so get over yourselves. There are many opposed to developement and I believe it could come down to a court challenge. We'll see. There are viable commercial options, and the timber market will come back. to AFLC I say, you bought it as timberland, manage it as timberland and get over yourself.
RE: Upper County Blues byClem9 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I think the American Forest Land Company is stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place and is acutally looking for a bailout from either the Fed, State of Washington, or a private organization like the Cascade Land Conservancy.

Lordoflys, I am not worried at all about another Suncadia because there simply is not the demand there to support another development. The owners of the property are sitting back in Connecticut and New York trying to figure out how to sell this property. I think 3-4 years ago they thought of developing it but with the economy downturn I dont think its possible.

Last week I had a 5-10 minute "survey" phone call which I am sure was sponsored by American Forest concerning the Teanaway. Much of this survey had to do with how much "support" I would give to either the Forest Service, State or someone else buying the property and preserving it. Others have said we should wait and see what the proposals are for the Teanaway. The one thing I havent been able to figure out is whether Teanaway residents support development or oppose it. It seems like everyone that attends these meeting owns 20+ acres and thinks that at sometime they will split the property thus many support development.

I am guessing that other people are looking at the development proposals from the sidelines not wanting to "tip" their hand at what they might be willing to pay to stop development. Maybe American Forest should just come right out and say what they want for the property. Its probably worth less now than it was 10 years ago with no timber companies interested in it.
another county dud wont work byMaxtodon9 months ago (5 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
how many other of these super project property deals are already not selling.

secret canyon off the clockum is one of them. been for sale for two years in there nothing moving.

north of ebrg airport? upper green canyon Reecer Crk Robbins rd (SunEast) pheasant lane chukar ridge courier creek. list goes on forever nothing selling more places up for sale every week some for rent everyone is broke cant afford anything even with the stimulous real estate fed packege.

so how will they deveope Teamaway? theyll get third the way done go broke mess everything up and itll get taken over.

not a good idea. I like developement if its done rite but this does not sound to good at all for any reason ever.
No one disagreeing? byAureliux9 months ago (6 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Amazing, well... I don't see why it should be converted from timberland e i t h e r . So there.

In my previous neighborhood we had a development problem that I didn't like. Old 10 acre original homestead in a prime location purchased for next to nothing even in those days because it was mostly wet saturated soil and almost swamp.

Next thing you know, the owner wanted to turn it all into high end condos with ponds, all kinds of nice amenities, and no one wanted it around. Already were beginning to have problems with apartments and the challenges that arrived with that kind of influence in a fairly stable single family one house, one lot zoning.

Not one resident of the city wanted it turned into condos. We packed out the city council chambers. Dare I mention that the mayor and council were quite left of center non-republican?

We were all assured that it would NOT be apartments. Greenery would be preserved, trees would be saved wherever possible... Open spaces for the residents, several ponds with a park like setting for us ALL to enjoy...

IT was built. No one liked it. Nothing we did as neighbors and fellow residents seemed to really do anything other than get nattered at because we were too set in our ways of traditional family home life.

Developer/owner sold about 1/3 of the units, apparently pocketed the money, managed to NOT pay his subcontractors, and bankrupted the project. A judge took over. Remaining units were immediately converted to apartments and were put up for rent to help pay some of the outstanding liens.

When there were still too many vacant units they were turned over to emergency housing from a title "something" that was related to welfare and I can't remember what that was called.

The trees which were left were declared a hazard because they were stand supporting Douglas fir trees and couldn't be out in the open by themselves without being blown down. So all the trees were gone. The ponds turned into open nasty contaminated ground water pools that stunk to high heaven in the summer and were horrible mosquito breeding grounds. BUT it was the pools that dried the old swamp land out enough to build on.

Condo owners tried to sell and bail out because it was turning into a really, really bad place. The first series of renters jumped ship as soon as their lease was up to get out of there as fast as possible. More of the less desirable tenants showed up.

It's still a complete and total zoo around there. And was done in the name of development, and then in the name of helping out humanity.

Timberland is good. Development CAN be good. But this time around, I don't think the county should do their own economic bail out program for disappointed out of state investors.

So there you go. No arguments from me, perhaps from a different point of view, though.

Speaking of vacant, foreclosed properties and empty rental houses that could be going into receivership? Or whatever it's called? I'm definitely not into real estate...

Does anyone know the current rules in the State of Washington Dept. of Health and Welfare or Human Services or whatever its called, about how they can suddenly decide to fill up vacant housing, and bus in people from another county so they can have a place to live? I can't remember what that is/was called but I've seen it happen and it is not always a real pleasant experience for a neighborhood or school district.

Yes, it's probably off topic. But IF they do a big project that isn't needed in either Teanaway or another area around here, I see nothing but imminent failure all the way around and WE ALL need to be aware of the possible consequences.

A.
RE: No one disagreeing? byMC9 months ago (6 votes) (report abuse)
Unfortunately both ag and forest lands are prime targets. 50 years from now, where is our food and timber/paper/etc supposed to come from? For those that don't care about environmental issues, IMO they should start to think about these things from a national security standpoint.
RE: No one disagreeing? bylordoflys9 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse)
Traveling through Germany recently I was amazed at the amount of land set aside for public use and preservation in urban areas and outside. It is virtually impossible for individuals or groups to change land use zone designation here and in places like Japan. And for very good reason. If individuals and corporations were allowed to changed zonings for profit doesn't that defeat the purpose of zoning in the first place? It will benefit the people living in the Kittitas Valley to stick to it's guns on this issue. Not to mention the people living here in the future who will thank you as well.

MC's point is very well taken. Especially food production. The building of I90 took thousands of acres of useful agricultural land in the Kittitas Valley out of production. It could have been different. Can we all just stop and consider what is being done, here? Growth for growth's sake is nuts. An ever-expanding economy does not have to mean the urbanization of our natural heritage. Economic expansion through development is a fast-food fallacy. Ultimately, it forces higher property taxes for public service upgrades and degrades the quality of life for everyone. Those who don't profit from it cannot afford to live here anymore. And, when the cycle is over, everyone suffers.
The Rape of theTeanaway bylordoflys9 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I was baptized in the West Fork of the Teanaway River on a warm afternoon in July of 1964. I doubt that it would be physically possible anymore. Not enough water. In those days most of the timber was still standing. There was much more water flowing in the Teanaway back in those days. I asked a climatologist from the UDUB once why this was. He said it was not so much that less rainfall was coming down. He said it had more to do with extensive logging causing water to drain rather than percolate (or something like that). And, boy, did Boise Cascade ever log the crap out of the place. Yes, they exercised their "right" of ownership. Basically, they clearcut wherever possible before they sold what was left of the land to the next economic entity. I remember that they had pump trucks pulling water directly out of the river. I inspected one of the pumps. It had a wire mesh bolted around the intake, with about 5 small trout sucked up against it, dead of course. They left wood slag piles everywhere after they left. One giant pile of wastewood was left 100 yards north of my property. It's still there, to the best of my knowledge. As I mentioned in a prior posting, ultimately the trucks drove me out. I don't mind responsible logging but Boise raped the Teanaway before they discarded it. Sucked it dry. The slag piles they left are not only unsightly but remain a fire hazard.

But nature corrects itself eventually. Trees grow back. Round two of the rape of the Teanaway could begin again, if the commissioners and others let it happen. This time there may not be any regeneration. I'm willing to go with the consensus on this. Not that I have much choice. But I don't think that I'll go down this time without a fight.
RE: The Rape of theTeanaway byAureliux9 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse)
I lived in Germany for quite a while, actually I grew up there. They really do have an incredible system of land management. I got to meet a few, "Herr Oberst" individuals. If I can remember correctly THAT is the same term used over there for a general in their military. But the Oberst and the other term that I can't remember anymore were REALLY high up there like a feudal baron and they OWNED and maintained that land with a tense religious fervor.

Oh, while I was there? Wasn't much of a crime problem. Seems it was legal and honorable to shoot thieves and burglars...

The culture there is quite different. A lot of people know about the lack of speed limits on the autobahn, legalized houses of ill repute, and no drinking age, too.

Somewhere we found a list with locations and directions of old castles. Spent almost a year visiting one every weekend. Fantastic hikes in preserved forests that are clean and well managed. There are REALLY large tracts of land which are supervised by one individual which includes all game laws and hunting regulations that pertain to what is in season. And there was no room for mistakes or accidents.

How would we apply their version of decent land preservation and management to our situation?

If I had enough $ in my check book, I'd buy up all the available land and keep it in it's natural state.

Does anyone know the process to petition the Federal Government to turn a piece like Teanaway into a National Park? I have never seen such a thing proposed, and I wonder if anyone knows how to get that started? I'd get on board with it.

And I'm not a demuplican or a reprocrat. I don't listen to Rush Limbaugh, either.

So let's quit banging the gong of politics, suspend indefinitely the name calling, and let us please put our heads together to come up with a decent solution?

I think we can do it.

A.
Various and Sundry Comments bylordoflys9 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I like Aureliux's comment above "that if I had enough money....I'd buy land and preserve it". Sure, it's impractical and whimsical...but actually taxpayer's are not required to spend their money to protect the Teanaway; just enforcing the laws that were put into place to protect it. Everything is cyclic, and timberland will once again be valued for what it is, a resource for raw material and recreation...and not for what it isn't.

And others have pointed out, correctly, that bold plans for development in many places in the upper county, including the Teanaway, will be challenged by water entities and probably DOE. It will take more intelligence and foresight among elected representation in Kittitas County to deal with the complexity of current and future water-related issues than we currently have. And, really, I mean no disrespect. But the level of sophistication to effectively resolve these questions is more than our current crop of politicians can offer. Party line politics is not a viable option. And because of the stigma of political affiliation, I would welcome an independent-minded person to come forth and make a run for it. Ahhhh. Politics. Maybe I'm not mainstream enough. I'd like the Daily Record to interview the good citizens and ask them where THEY would like to see this county at in 10 years.

As for myself, I'm ecstatic about sockeye back in the Yak after 100 years! And I spotted my first spent hatchery king right under the place we call Castle Rock, just a mile above the Thorp bridge. This is the same rock that was featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on May 8, 1958 (15 cents). Not only did I think I would not ever see salmon in the river...now I'm thinking that I might even catch one someday! Life is good and gettin' better. If the Thorp T&E Tavern was rebuilt then it might even get perfect.
Steelhead In Taneum Creek byClem9 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I have noticed for the past 3-4 months work slowly progressing on a fish ladder on Taneum Creek west of Thorp. I am guessing the State is paying for the ladder and looking at revitalizing the steelhead run.

I am willing to wait and see on the Teanaway Village. I have seen from the south side of Cle Elum ridge how its been parceled off and the public has slowly gotten squeezed out. Since Plum Creek sold off their holding more gates have gone up slowly squeezing out recreational opportunities. Two more gates recently including one locked gate closing off the main ridge road. Thats a first.

There is already a pretty decent dirt road in place from Cle Elum to the Bible Rock-campground area of the Teanaway making it a 10 mile trip to the Teanaway area rather than 17 miles on the hiway from Cle Elum. A small village in the area of the current campground would that be so bad? I am thinking it would be pretty small, more like Roslyn if not more compact. Right now though there is simply no demand. Plus if the City Heights project in Cle Elum is viable it wouldnt make sense to "leap frog" 10 miles from one development to another. AFLC is at least looking at other ideas like pellets and I assume the ever popular pulp chipping for the future.

Teanaway Solar and the coming wind generators I think are something positive for the area. If someone comes up with a decent idea for a sustainable village then I think its worth listening to.

My guess is that something will happen with property trades, etc in the Teanaway. I am sure organizations like the Cascade Land Consevancy is looking at the area. It was I think the Audubon Society which first put a crimp in logging in the area in the early 90's.
RE: Steelhead In Taneum Creek bylordoflys9 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
Ill have to check out that new ladder on Taneum..been looking for fish at the old one for years and never have spotted any. I also enjoyed your reference to Bible Rock Camp. I spent many summers there.
Bible Rock and Casland byClem9 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I have an old Metzsker Map that I bought maybe 25 years ago that shows some old names. Its not a "historic" map but it shows Carlson Canyon and Canyon 17 along with "Illahee Camp and Bible Rock Childrens Camp. The whole area is called Casland which is a town that existed there from 1903-1936. It also shows a Campfire Girls Camp in the Esmerelda Peaks area.

Heres a link I found that has some information posted on Casland and the AFLC proposed development for the area. Casland of course was supported by logging. A sustained community in the Casland area I think would partly have to rely on retirees and second homes. If you havent seen this stuff the picture of bikers and recreation in the area is interesting including a nice picture taken from the top of Bible Rock.

http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/cds/teanaway/comments/20090929-
RE: Bible Rock and Casland bylordoflys8 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse)
The information on Casland is remarkable in that all the years I spent there I had never heard of that name. The link is a great resource. The bunkhouse and cabin pictured in page 25 of Casland look exactly like the bunkhouse and main kitchen cabin at Bible Rock Camp. I've got to dig up some shots of the camp to make sure. I believe that Bible Rock Camp was started right about the time this settlement seemed to fade into oblivion...in the mid '30s. I was also told that one of the old Bible Rock cabins was moved over to the Teanaway General Store years ago, before they flattened out the old camp.

Here's another great recreational map from the '30s courtesy of the Forest Service.
I gave a copy of this to the USFS folks in Cle Elum a few years ago.

http://www.bentler.us/eastern-washington/cle-elum-recreation
Sharp Sticks and Liberty bylordoflys8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
This is a departure from our water wars norm but this poem has been published on the web prior and it's from a Kittitas Valley native and a good friend of mine. Fair and balanced? Take it or leave it, your choice.



Sharp Sticks and Liberty
By Mike Thorpe

Worry is the normal action
Be a citizen not a dupe
What will cause their satisfaction?
Government wants us all to stoop

CEO’s are paid to fail
This is no joke, portly sow
Taxpayers are forced to bail
Give us back the money now

Fools believe it’s but a token
Amendments were made to keep
Will this Union now be broken
Tyranny at bay – Don’t sleep

Jefferson said it best and first that
Bearing arms is for protection
The real reason is the worst
From governmental intercession

Teach your children what it means
Liberty isn’t happenstance
Schools aren’t doing that it seems
By us, for us, a snowballs chance

We must step up with a clue
Our Patriotic duty
Term limits are surely due
Congress is too snooty

Will the donkey cease to function People who employ you pricks Priests perform extreme unction are carrying all these sharpened sticks

It isn’t the least bit funny
Stop spending all our money!
Troubled Water bylordoflys8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
This is actually the title of a water conference our neighbors in Idaho conducted in 2005 at Boise State. Idaho has a checkered history of allowing the mining industry and other natural resource extraction entities of severely polluting their water resources. Colorado, rabid cheerleaders of the "Dig Baby, Dig" idiom, has been happily digging the heck out of their state mining natural gas and anything else worth a buck. Wyoming, not to be left behind, has the largest uranium extraction industry in the US.

Idaho called the conference to discuss the western water crisis. In Colorado, water wells have began blowing up. Much of the natural gas drilling in the state has been suspended until officials find out why methane has begun saturating the water table. Wyoming has similar problems. Idaho just wanted to know why big mining interests left the water tables it operated over severely polluted. It wasn't supposed to happen that way. Ecology, who is empowered to enforce the Clean Water Act, can be severely restricted when politics and money hold them back.

Cecil Andrus chaired this conference. Andrus served as governor of Idaho as well as Secretary of the Interior. He was a proponent of education and the environment and the good people of Idaho owe him much, as do we all. Here is the summary of this meeting of western minds...

1. We need to find a way to reduce the starkness of the 'water as right' vs 'water as marketable commodity' argument... Sound familiar?

2. Our water future is increasingly dependent on the collaborative processes... In other words, Kittitas County may not be the sole decision-maker regarding their own water resources. I think that we may have found that out already.

3. The American West continues to undergo rapid demographic change... To me, this is the most important issue. As water resources dwindle, there will be, in fact, a migration towards those areas with water. This was the premise of the first water blog.

4. The West is innovative. We need to continue to explore creative ways, such as water banking, to provide for more certainty in times of drought... Thanks to the creative minds at the DOE for doing just this. Ecology has a purpose, and they are trained to help, not to hinder. No, they are not perfect, but in hindsight they are far more perfect than local decision makers, who, in the future, need to use the Dept of Ecology as a resource and not to regard them as an opponent.

5. New storage is part of the solution, but it is place-dependent. And the funding for storage will not rest with the federal govt exclusively. THERE ALSO IS A NEED FOR LOCAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT THAT STORAGE IS NEEDED...We have had a grass roots movement that has pushed the storage issue (picnic at Black Rock). You know where I stand on the subject. We continue living with a sword over our heads right now. Our economy, based on agriculture and recreation, is in severe jeopardy with no additional storage, period. And where are our local leaders on this subject? Busy sparring with DOE? Our local politicians seem more interested in additional usage for short-term economic benefit than for long range economic soundness.

6. Much of the West is arid or semiarid. As the West grows, newcomers as well as natives must understand this reality of Western living. It can be a limiting factor...Hmmmm. I guess that when we let the rich guy from New York begin building his cluster communities for the rich and almost-rich in the Teanaway, maybe they should just be restricted to drought-resistant lawns and limited to once-weekly car washings. Could this be what the conference had in mind?
Taneum Creek Revisited byClem8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
They tore out the fish ladder at I-90 and Taneum Road. I thought they were rebuilding it. Yesterday when I went by the ladder was gone and a Caterpillar excavator was in the middle of the creek bed digging a new creek bed and putting rocks alon the bank. It was very cool to be able to see the creek running under I-90. With the ladder there you couldnt see much. They rerouted the creek for a couple of days I guess through a pipe. Today water was running down the new creek bed. It remined me of the Weyerhauser commercial where they take a narrow culvert and put a huge fish friendly pipe in. It would be interesting to see the fish run in a few years.
RE: Taneum Creek Revisited bylordoflys8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
Thanks for the update. If you see an old jeep parked there it's me checking it out.
RE: Taneum Creek Revisited bylordoflys8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
Clem: By now you've seen the article regarding the dam/fish ladder on Taneum Road. The Taneum is really one of the most beautiful and idyllic streams in the watershed. I think it's fantastic that coho are being re-introduced. I wish I could be on-hand during the release and dedication but can't. I'm also really anxious to see this new "roughened channel" developed by our state Fish & Wildlife people. It has to work better than the old vertical fish ladder there which seemed impossible for fish to climb.
Emergency Drought Declaration bylordoflys8 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Earlier I mentioned the years 1977 and 2001 as being nasty, job killing droughts in this county. Gov. Gregoire, however, declared a statewide emergency as little as three years ago, 2005, when anemic snow pack and reservoir levels made 2005 look like it was going to be the worst drought in 28 years. The National Guard prepared for wildland fires, hydroelectric production looked grim, fish were threatened, and jr. water rights holders looked at just an 18% water allotment. Late precipitation saved our posteriors that year.

An early winter storm is dropping two feet of snow on the Cascades as I write this. I hope it keeps up. It's too bad, though, that we have to go through this boom or bust cycle constantly. For most of you reading this it won't make too much difference, I guess. Personally, that is. But if you're one of the thousands in the Kittitas Valley with family members that depend on the cycle of irrigation each year you know exactly what I mean.

Charlie de la Chapelle is an apple grower in Sunnyside. Charlie and Sid Morrison co-chair the Yakima Basin Storage Alliance, a force behind the Black Rock Dam initiative. Is it dead? Well, their web page isn't being updated which is something of an indication. In any case, alternative storage possibilities may be a better choice at this stage in the game.

There just aren't enough people living over here to make up a meaningful voting bloc, which is certainly why it's also a great place to live. Agriculture does have clout but in light of our current pariah status with Olympia we may not be getting the attention needed to advance our agenda, one of which is certainly storage.

Well, since I have a beer in my hand at this very moment, I offer a toast to ample snow pack and water storage this season. For preservation of our fire-susceptible Ponderosa forests, for ample hydroelectic power, for safe passage to our river basin wildlife, and most of all, to the bedrock of our existence, area farmers. (GULP)
RE: Emergency Drought Declaration byAureliux8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
What other possible plans could be made for more storage? I've thought about that too. When I was up at Tuquollah, or what was once known as Fish Lake, it looked like there might be a possibility to raise the permanent level of that lake almost a foot without any serious negative impact. Don't know about the rest of the high Alpine Wilderness Lakes, but that COULD be one thing to look at.

I'm STILL mad that someone wanted to go in and poison out all the fish from the lakes up there because they were classified as non-native. That was just plain ridiculous. But what do I know?

What would happen if, in the dry months, someone found a way to excavate some of the shallow areas in the huge storage lakes we already have? Would need a place to put it. Build up along the south edge of I-90 along Kacheless with it, so it could be widened someday? Would cost a fortune to do, but it's probably going to have to happen some day anyway.

Looks like there's plenty of area at the north end of Lake Cle Elum that could be made a lot deeper. Just doesn't seem to be a decent close place to unload all the fill that is going to have to come out of there to make space for water and that lake really can't have it's level raised from it's regular high tide mark.

Don't see what else could be done with the other two, Easton and Kachess.

So what else could there be? Find an unused canyon up in the north end somewhere that can be dammed and filled up? I've seen that old earthen dam right above Enumclaw that is causing all the concern for bursting and flooding out the Kent/Auburn Valley. There are places where something like that COULD be built just north of Ellensburg but it's all private property now.

AND on the solar situation? Has anyone wondered why it HAS to be up in the Teanaway? Is there NO reason why it couldn't fit in and dovetail real nice with the wind gen real estate? LOT of room in between the windmills, don't see that the property is really being used for anything anyway and the grid is already there. So what is up with that?

AND I have NO problem with the little solar farm alongside I-90 in E-burg. Seems to do real good there. TONS of unused space along side the freeway. Looks smart and efficient to me, so why not propose better use of the freeway buffer areas?

Hope someone else might have some good thoughts along those lines. We CAN cooperate with these issues, things CAN be done better, and there MUST be solutions that we can live with IF we put our good collective heads together with some positive energy.

Was up working around the pass yesterday, got to play around in 4" of "recharge". Didn't have to chain up but it was close... :-)

Did not have a beer last night. No margarita, either. But the eggnog with 4 shots of good imported Virgin Islands golden rum was not bad...

A.
Alternate Storage ...or, Studied to Death by the Feds bylordoflys8 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Aureliux...a great subject, and one, I might add, that taxpayers have spent millions of dollars in studies on, going back to the '60s.
A lot of options have been put on the table by Reclamation and others. Some of them are quite interesting...

1. a dam on Satus Creek on the Yakama Reservation
2. a water diversion from the Snoqualmie watershed to Lake Keechelus
3. new reservoir at Horsetail on the Little Naches
4. a dam on Rattlesnake Creek
5. a dam on the Ahtaneum at Tampico (Kamiakin's Garden Lake)
6. a diversion from the Cowlitz River to the Tieton River using burros to carry water casks over Chinook Pass.

The alternatives above did not make it for one reason or another. Currently, there are the BIG THREE left (not including Black Rock).

1. The K-K pipeline (Keechelus to Kachess). Basically, it would transfer water from Keechelus after it fills to a space-available Lake Kachess - This would cost $22m and hardly make a dent in additional proratable water. Conventional wisdom says NO.

2. Bumping Lake Enlargement. A good idea and feasibly sound. Basically, moving the dam a bit and chopping some trees down. This alternative really attracted all of the outraged armchair environmentalists from Maine to Virgina. They all read the same magazine and sent in one of those pre-written objections to the BOR during public scrutiny. The objection basically stated that any additional storage in the Yakima Basin was too costly and unneeded and instead wanted the William O Douglas Wilderness Area (which is nearby) increased in size.
Remarkably, the specific objection to the BLE by these people was that the enlarged reservoir would be "visible from certain vantage points in the wilderness area" and thus detract from it's beauty. Or, in other words, people on the east coast were against more storage at Bumping because they were afraid of being able to see a beautiful mountain lake from a place where there was a very high probability they would never visit. At no time was there any plans proposed that would actually touch the wilderness boundary itself.

Conventional wisdom says quite possible, especially with the Yakama's thinking they might get more water than anyone else out of this particular project. More on that later.

3. Wymer Reservoir. THIS is the project that we all want but don't know it yet. This project would create a reservoir (lake) just past the Umptanum near Hwy 82. Specifically, it would be on Lmuna Creek which my father and grandfather used to call Squaw Creek before someone in Olympia made us change the name. The creek won't fill it so river water will have to be pumped up during high water.

Conventional wisdom says this will be created someday, as will the Bumping enlargement. All three projects are technically feasible but only the two make any sense. The projects have to satisfy irrigation needs, fish recovery plans and protection, property concerns, budgets, and certain groups of people, including the BOR, that feel that the preferred alternative is....No Action (just more studies). Reclamation, I love you guys, but get your head out of the clouds. Why put us through another crippling drought or two?
Teanaway solar bycountrygirl118 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
The reason the solar array is planned for the Teanaway is so the new town AFLC wants to create will be 'green'. The electricity is not intended to be put into the grid. I'm not real familar with the land AFLC owns, anyone know if there are canyons within their property that could be dammed and filled for more storage? That might almost, sort of, be an equitable trade for their developement. Seriously, if we see the population increases that are projected throughout the Yakima Basin more storage is a must do. Bumping Lake and Wymer appear to be the front runners.
RE: Teanaway solar bylordoflys8 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse)
There is a baaaad smell coming from AFLC and their "plans". Impartial oversight by responsible County Commissioners might have chased a rat or two out of the company's hole by now. The impractical placement of this solar farm, disappearing public documents, revolving door employment by Kittitas County officials into important-sounding executive positions within this company, and the planned community itself nestled within the Teanaway watershed which has been zoned timberland since day one. This company, of course, plans to sell off the rezoned forest to anyone with cash. As many of you have pointed out, this is the only solution for making a poor decision to buy this property to begin with.

I doubt, Countrygirl, that the Teanaway basin will ever hold a reservoir given the alternatives. However, if AFLC fails to convince officials to rezone the Teanaway into Big Apple Acres they may try to sell the concept to Reclamation as a package. But first they need to hire away a few of the senior managers.
RE: Teanaway solar bywhatatrip8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
The best solution to the water problems lie with conservation and management of what we have now. As far as I know, there really are no economically feasible projects that could increase storage capacity in a basin that has a limited water supply and an over allocation of that water. I suspect there is a lot of "wasted" water in the lower valley but they own the water and use it as they see fit. Growth in eastern washington is limited as long as water is used for agriculture and I see no reason why that should change.

Someone mentioned digging existing reservoirs deeper. I have often thought that Kecheless could very easily be dug deeper beginning near the deep end. Where to put all the removed dirt....I would put it at the shallow end or as far uphill as possible and create a mountain where most of the dirt is above water level. I don't know how much more capacity could be gotten or how much it would cost per acre foot of water. Maybe that has already been thought of. The easy pickins have already been picked long ago.

As for AFLC, they are, like much of American business, desparate to survive. The "greed is good" mantra and very liberal tax cuts beginning in the Reagan era have not produced the intended tax surpluses as promised let alone a balanced budget. All that was created was greed in the extreme where the middle class is funding the greed of the upper income class. "Trickle down economics" was a great failure. AFLC's solar farm is an attention getting ploy. Yes, solar panel prices have come down but mainly because the bottom dropped out of the market and the Chinese are so competitive that they will sell for the cost of material just to keep busines (which is smart business sense and something American's seem to have abandoned). Still solar panels are still relatively expensive.

A big questions about the solar farm is why put it in the Teanaway rather than on existing "treeless" wind farms farther east where there is less snow and infrastructure is already in place. Another big question is why build an assembly plant on a 90 acre site that the owner has been trying to get put into the Cle Elum UGA but has been unsucessful so far. An on site assembly plant near the wind farms or close to Ellensburg would take advantage of existing infrastructure. Even the City of Kittitas could be a better place to site the plant.

We all know the answers. There are a number of sleazy players making plans and promises at our expense. Bernie Madolf may have his hand in business venture.
Something byJeremy8 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Eventually something will have to happen to address the storage issue. The days of the anti-everything groups will go by and people that actually live with the issues at hand will have to bring a solution.

The whole idea of a state agency having the ability to shut down domestic water supplies for people is rediculous. Domestic water needs to be safe, and not be allowed to be used for political agendas.
The countys' solution bycountrygirl118 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
to the permit excempt well issue? A proposed amendment to the 2009 comp plan that would not allow a new lawn or garden for newly created parcels not served by an irrigation district. The good part of the amendment addresses the use of irrigation district water, sprinkler systems and making sure large parcels with irrigation water provide a deleivery system if the land is broken down into smaller parcels. Brent Bottoms the county attorney admitted he does not expect the planning commish or the BOCC to approved such a measure. The idea is to show the DOE the county is trying to deal with the issue so DOE will come back to the table and talk with BOCC.
The solution is to put forth a land use plan that
1. Completes a critcal areas study and identifies and preserves resource land (ag, forest, mineral) before any more land use applications are accepted.
2. Stops parcels smaller than 20 acres from being created in rural lands.
3. Limits cluster plats to areas within one mile of a UGA. Lamirids don't count.
There are local residents that have put forth good solutions that would solve the invalidity and non-compliance with the EWGMHB - FREE, good advice.
Instead, the BOCC has spent hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars to hire attorneys, planning consultants (most recently to tell the BOCC they are wrong and this is how you do it right-well sort of right) fighting tooth and nail against any restrictions to the real estate and building trades interests.
Can't wait to see what happens on the 27th.
one small step in right direction byMaxtodon8 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1154/story/790175.html
salmon back in kit creek? this has to be good news all the way round
Here or the Teanaway discussion? Both! bytnway8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I thought that the planning process was suspended but maybe not. Please note the following water rights document that was posted today on the county web site:
http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/cds/teanaway/comments/20091029-
The old irrigation ditches and fish and wildlife screens in this area were abandoned more than 20 years ago. It was five, maybe seven years ago that AFLC started to dump the water on the ground and the number of white pipes and flow increased dramatically about three years ago. They started experimenting with some grasses and fenced in areas just this year. I really doubt that anyone without some sort of prejudice would find this past behavior to be a “beneficial” use of water.

The document states, “The seven rights also authorize lesser amounts of water use for road watering, stock, fire suppression, and domestic supply.” It’s good that the analysis indicates the real use of the water (road watering/dust control) in the last 20+ years made use of “lesser amounts” than the 575 ac-ft/yr right recognized by DOE. I’m not sure that the stock use is real as there are no fences keeping the cattle out of the river and sucking on the ends of these pipes. Fire suppression is real as they hooked a dipping tank up to the irrigation line to fight the Lick Creek fire in 2005. I’m totally puzzled by the domestic use as there isn’t a single residence in this area – no less one hooked up to their diversion pumps.

Beneficial use -- public interest -- impairment. I can’t imagine any one of these passing muster if they actually request a change of use for the water.
Change in Dynamics bylordoflys8 months ago (7 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
The traditional battle of irrigation vs fish does not seem pertinent anymore. I think a lot of it had a lot to do with policy changes based on education. Non-agricultural water users, including recreationalists, have, over the past twenty years or so been working very closely with irrigation groups...and over time the lines separating them have faded. It turns out that everyone wants the same thing...only served up in different courses.

I took my inflatable kayak down the upper canyon a few days ago. There are still fishermen out there. The water was shallow and clear and 5 or 6 schooled salmon passed directly under my kayak headed upriver. And then yesterday I stopped at the Thorp diversion dam with my son. A large salmon was trying to jump up the dam on the Hwy 10 side, opposite of the fish ladder. This much salmon activity is unprededented, at least from my view. The river dynamics have really changed.

I checked out the new Taneum facility. Funny, how everything is cyclic. Taneum Creek now looks like it did before the dam was built. The F&W people designed a channel that looks, well, natural. And as soon as the next flood comes along and scours it out it will be just as good or better than the old creek was back in 1900, which is about the last date wild coho spawned there. Its pretty exciting to think about standing on the bridge at the campground watching those big fish swimming upstream.

I can't leave without mentioning the Teanaway. Many of us owe a debt of gratitude to Catherine Clerf, who remains vigilant against those who would take that which does not yet belong to them. This is not Catherine's first rodeo. I've read her letters to state agencies, which weigh in on other issues that are important to us all. She is, as Edward Abbey would say, a voice in the wilderness.
Edward Abbey and Kurt Vonnegut byClem8 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
I was reminded of Kurt Vonneguts saying that he thought should have been written on the Grand Canyon for future aliens. "We probably could have save ourselves but we were too damned lazy to try very hard... and too damned cheap."
My Debt of Gratitude For Vigilance byCleElum18 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
A most sincere,"Thank you Catherine Clerf!"
C. Clerf.... byMC8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
THANK YOU.
and another thank you! thank you catherine! bytnway8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
i received word that the binders are going to be scanned and posted to the web once they are returned from the prosecutors office so that we don't stumble over each other in the planners office. it probably wouldn't hurt to send some more e-mail to kurt and your commissioners to get it speeded up. maybe the prosecutors would be willing for the scanning to happen under their watchful eyes if they need to hold on to them for any length of time.
Umptaneum and Oscar Mayer bylordoflys8 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
A few days ago Alex and I stopped at the Umptaneum Campground on the way back from a Yaki-Vegas shopping trip. We came back across the footbridge to our truck and noticed a small, tan, mixed breed dog coming out of the brush near the river. He was collar-less and he wouldn't get any closer to us than about 20 feet...obviously an abandoned pet. On the drive back to Thorp all I could think about was how anyone could be heartless enough to abandon a dog to the coyotes in the canyon.

Today, we went back there to hike up Umptaneum Creek canyon. We met a westside couple on the trail who had seen the dog and asked if there was a shelter they could take it to. I mentioned the Eburg animal shelter and wished them luck in capturing the dog. When we finally hiked back to the campground there was an elderly gentleman parked there who asked us if we'd seen the dog. He then explained that people from the animal shelter had learned about the dog and had been trying to capture it for two months! Fishermen and hikers had been feeding it for this long. One guy had made it a habit to come out and feed it Oscar Mayer hot dogs from time to time and so a few of the people attempting to capture it had nicknamed it Oscar Mayer. While we were talking out came the dog from the brush, looked us over closely, ignored our whistles and false promises, and eased off back down to the river. No food, no masse.

I learned something from this gentleman, a Mr. Watkins, who told me he was a longtime Ellensburg resident. He cared enough for this down and out mongrel to drive out to the canyon to see if he could capture or assist it before winter sets in. And other people as well, a retired couple from Bellevue and some local college hikers... all attempting to assist an animal out of his element through no fault of his own...all of them restoring my faith in people once again.
RE: Umptaneum and Oscar Mayer bymoonlightmile8 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
There are angels on Earth and Mr Watkins and the other concerned parties trying to help this poor, frightened dog are among them. Thanks for sharing this story.
Water and the role of the BOR bylordoflys7 months ago (3 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
The Writers on the Range series in the DR usually keys in on western life in general so that the content is usually relevant. Today's article concerned the role climate change will have on water availability and the traditional role of the Bureau of Reclamation. I made my first visit to the Yakima Field Office of the BOR last week. I expected a small office situation on an irrigation canal with a few pickups parked outside. Instead, it turned out to be an imposing fenced-in complex, complete with guardshack. Sort of what federal buildings have become in post 9/11. They even manufacture fish screens there. Anyway, I checked in the reception, picked up my badge, and visited with the nice people there until I wore out my welcome (10 minutes later).

Western Colorado is a lot like the Yakima Valley in that is owes its economic base to irrigation. And, like here, it is dependent on precipitation as well as the infrastructure built by the BOR 100 years ago. The level of precipitation is falling. The weather is warming despite the pleadings of late night am radio hosts that the earth is actually cooling. The great glaciers of the world are shrinking rapidly and snow pack is diminishing. Of this we are certain. Really, folks, it is NOT a hoax. It is reality. What comes next, though, is not so well understood.

The BOR controls the water flow from our mountain reservoirs. They are also tasked with maintaining this available water resource for irrigation and other uses. At this, they are failing. Though millions of tax dollars have been spent on studies, one after another, really nothing has been done to ensure that Central Washington agriculture keeps getting it's water despite the overwhelming evidence that this supply is in danger. Water is still over-subscribed and we barely get enough water even in good years.

A hundred years ago the BOR built the canals, the dams...entire water systems which at the time were the wonder of the world, enabling agriculture to flourish and area populations to double and double again. Since then, the BOR have merely become operators. The only significant construction of anything has been their huge field office in Yakima. It is a diminished agency. Where are the engineers who envisioned networks of canals in the sage brush? Systems so advanced for their time that, 100 years later, they are still basically sound.

The call for the Black Rock Dam, or a similar reservoir is here. It is needed now. Not so much for expansion. It is needed to meet a changing climate. It is needed now to stopgap the crippling droughts that we have recently experienced. A water reservoir in the Yakima Basin is needed NOW.

At the BOR field office in Yakima, the engineers wear shop jackets that have been embroidered with a little phrase. "2001" Never Again.
2001 was the time of our last bad drought. I wish that they would take this a little more to heart.
water needs...An Opportunity! bylordoflys7 months ago (5 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
This will be VERY interesting....whether you're for or against wind turbine farms...this amendment could alter the way we view agriculture in this valley. Hopefully, small operations will benefit as well.



RE: Farmers/Ranchers and their water needs bybuffalo chip3 hours ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
The County Commissioners have a chance on Tuesday, December 15th, to help our large ranch and farm operations pay for the electricity to operate these sprinkler systems. Amendment CP-09-01 will allow the large land owner to place multiple wind turbines on their property for personal use of the generated electricity. Let's hope they are forward thinking enough to pass this forward.
RE: water needs...An Opportunity! byPhoenix Rising7 months ago (4 votes) (report abuse)
Opportunity? Could be a total and complete WIN/WIN/WIN for everyone involved. Please keep us all posted as this evolves?
RE: water needs...An Opportunity! bycountrygirl117 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
Glad to see you're on board with CP-09-01. The biggest road block is the BOCC. Mark McClain is on record to the legislators as claiming the moratorium is all about 2 angry residents who want to stop growth. Over a year a ago he stated ag is dead in Kittitas County. CP-09-01 is a WIN/WIN for all the residents of this county. The BOCC want to 'study' cP-09-01 for a year and then decide if they want to enact something by 2011. There are government funds on the table that may dry up by 2010. The time is now. I hope they do the right thing this time.
RE: water needs...An Opportunity! byAureliux7 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse)
So far everyone seems to have a positive view on this issue. Besides what appears to be resistance from a county administrative level, can anyone who is in favor of this play opposing advocate and come up with any real imagined reasons why it won't work?

I have read the far out left field unreasoning lists of why wind farms are dangerous demonic bird killing machines that create a low level hum that is destructive to human beings if you live within a mile of them... It's pretty incredible. And I'm not buying that line of reasoning BECAUSE it's brought out by the property owners that don't want their pristine view spoiled by a wind mill on the next ridge over.

OH. And don't forget the threat large banks of solar panels have on cooling the earth's crust in irregular patches which cause undue stress, create different patterns of surface water evaporation, which can cause mini quakes which might cause the trees to grow upside down on the other side of the planet, or something...

SO what could possibly go wrong with this proposal? The idea of it being a complete and total WINNING situation for everyone involved sounds fairly solid.

Please let us continue to discuss this situation in a nice decent series of exchanges, shall we?

Clem? L' of Flies? MC? C'mon you guys, and everyone else, throw in your contribution and let's get this ball rolling.

A.
A Heads Up bycountrygirl117 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
The BOCC is at it again! Contrary to what they stated publicly the BOCC at their 1:30pm study session on Monday, December 14th (tomorrow) in the commish auditorium they will be going ahead and discussing the Teanaway Subarea Plan instead of waiting for the conclusion of Bindergate. Come one come all. The public needs to keep an eye on these 3 administrators.
CP-09-01 bylordoflys7 months ago (1 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Farmer Gregerich has the need and the resource (land/wind). I take it that his site(s) will be somewhere along the S. Thorp Hwy. His project description reads "Community Wind Energy Systems". I'd really like to know more about this. Gregerich has been busy, also redesignating 80 acres of rural land near the Thorp Prairie Road to a mineral commercial designation recently. 80 acres? The planning commission overwhelmingly recommended DENIAL. Of course, the County Commissioners paid scant attention to them and approved it, to a man.

Amazingly, Kittitas County is taking a lead position in alternative energy. Ellensburg's community solar farm has attracted much attention nationwide. The current commercial wind farms have been successful. I've heard very little from residents so far, but when you begin to build these next to homes expect some repercussion. I'm digging. Let's hear from others who are more experienced in this field.
Fish, The Ridge, Water, Bad Leadership, and other stuff bylordoflys7 months ago (2 votes) (report abuse) (reply)
Early Yakima Basin farmers used to irrigate their fruit trees with salmon smolts and bull trout before fish screens were used. The big salmon runs were wiped out at the turn of the century. Even the river itself was diverted to extinction in 1905. Not anymore. The endless tug-of-war of fish vs. irrigation seems to be officially over. These days Kittitas farmers are some of the most ardent conservationists around. Everyone prospers when abundant, clean water is available to crops, domestic animals and wildlife...and, oh yeah, thirsty people.
These are better days, seemingly. When I see old diversion dams torn down and large fish running upriver it marks a special time in modern history. I think everyone is happy that fish are migrating up the river system again, in numbers that make it possible to watch their progress (and possibly catch).

The Ridge vs Suncadia business is disturbing. Suncadia, for all their gentrification efforts, have been good neighbors and deserve to make a profit. Water and money and egos are at stake. Just what is going on here?

Two local residents, Judy Lambe and Joseph Lowatchie, Sr. have both written in to local papers to plead their case for the Black Rock Dam. We have let the land barons clearcut timber and decimate the watershed. Fish recovery may be short-lived and the livelihood of jr. water rights irrigators in Kittitas County are in jeopardy. We are running out of time. Too bad this project is not in Iraq or Afghanistan, where cost is no object. The paper reports that Federal Employees owe 3 billion in back taxes. That would jumpstart this project....or fund the next 150 studies by government agencies on why another reservoir is needed.

Why don't we hear from our erstwhile elected leaders on this? Let's examine a few. Sen. Janea Holmquist, in her Nov 26th press report, is the ranking Republican on several committees. She called the new energy efficiency mandates "outrageous" and lays sole blame on the loss of jobs and current economic morass on the present administration. Obviously, she forgets under whose administration the economy actually fell under, and at a time when spending was at an all-time high.

Doc Hastings wants to grow Central Washington's economy by lowering trade barriers with Columbia (?). Yes, Doc, I'm sure that will do the trick. Free trade has meant just that...the US allowing other countries to trade freely while we enjoy an immense trade deficit...and have been for decades. Ever wonder why China went from starvation to owning most of the Treasury Bonds (debt) of the US? We OWE China HUGE amounts of money. Free trade? As long as the US cares more for geopolitical maneuvering rather than economic well-being for it's citizens we will continue to lose our economic strength relative to other countries. Note to Doc: Get examined.

What can I say about the County Commissioners and Mr. Hinkle? Hinkle believes that our water moratorium was caused by outside agitators and the CC's are out of touch with anything except the latest subdivision. Economic expansion for this County lies with an investment in production. Production in agriculture or in goods and services. Not in irresponsible zoning gifts to land speculators.

Other than that life is good and getting better.
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