Friends,
Today I want to highlight a few aspects of the Yakima Integrated Water Plan to bring everyone up-to-speed as I have promised.
The Problem
As you know, intermittent droughts have kept central Washington facing economic disasters time and time again. When water is short it hurts our economy and residents, costing millions of dollars to the area. The idea for a plan is to invest in a solution now to prevent further disasters in the future.
The Basics
In June the Legislature approved the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan. The plan includes the purchase of 50,272 acres of land in the Teanaway River Valley, a pipeline from the Keechelus to Kachess reservoir, and other improvements to the water supply and fish habitats.
Along with the plan came about $132 million in initial funding. This funding and the legislation that passed this last session are only the beginning of what is likely a 30 year project. The real work still lies ahead.
A Unified Plan
The Yakima Integrated Water Plan is the next step to ensuring that we continue to have an adequate supply of water for our region’s future. But no plan can be a success if there is no consensus. So far, the coalition in favor of the Yakima Integrated Water Plan is strong and united, with “widespread support on the local and state levels, as well as from a diverse network of agricultural and environmental interests.”
The Plan is the result of years of difficult negotiation. Each person on the planning group (28 people representing every interest & constituency in the basin) actively supported the Plan before the Legislature & state officials. They were all stalwart in defending each others’ priorities.
My Thoughts on the Plan
I personally have had reservations with certain components of the Plan, but I could not ignore the strength of such a broad consensus among traditional adversaries. It really is unique in the politics of water management. The plan itself will provide about 60% of our known future water needs, providing a future of certainty to Central Washington.
No, the Plan is not perfect, nor does it resolve all of our future water needs. But it is a positive step forward. We cannot afford to do nothing and endure another generation of uncertainty.
Your Thoughts on the Plan
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