[Vision2020] Palouse Water

Bruce and Jean Livingston jeanlivingston@turbonet.com
Sun, 20 Jul 2003 21:07:24 -0700


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MessageDale said:  "if the overall amount of water available to us is =
relatively constant, then the draconian measures that the MCA is calling =
for are unnecessary."  This statement suffers from several obvious flaws =
that are not typical of Dale's usual arguments. =20

First, it grossly exaggerates the "draconian" measures being requested =
by numerous groups, not only the Moscow Civic Association, when in fact, =
all that is being requested is that the City of Moscow live up to its =
prior agreement about reasonably limiting its water usage along with the =
other governmental entities and citizens of the Palouse, those who use =
the water at both universities and in Moscow and Pullman.  The Moscow =
Civic Association and various interested parties who live here on the =
Palouse requested that the City stick to its prior agreement and limit =
pumping from the aquifer to previously agreed amounts (that included =
INCREASES over time, as I understand it).  We are asking people to =
conserve water as a precious scarce resource while we study and try to =
understand the extent of the water resource that we are undeniably =
MINING.  The "draconian" measures that were being advocated by various =
groups were to seek voluntary cooperation by the City -- to live up to =
its prior commitments, rather than enforce state law and bring in state =
agencies to monitor and possibly control water usage.  What was asked by =
the citizens concerned about Palouse water was that the City stop =
wasting water and encourage conservation of an undeniably scarce =
resource.

That leads me to my second beef with Dale's recent posting.  He is a =
bright man and not one to argue from a false premise.  He knows better =
than that, but his latest post, despite the opportunity to review the =
PBAC site, still suffers from the same flaw as his original question.

Dale, you state that "the overall amount of water available to us is =
relatively constant," when the water site that you checked (and rely =
upon in your post) clearly indicates otherwise.  The upper aquifer, =
aside from its issues regarding poor quality water (i.e., minerals, =
pesticides and hebicides), is not offsetting the losses from the deep, =
purer, cleaner aquifer water.  You acknowledge that PBAC data shows the =
upper aquifer is the same as it was in 1977.  The same.  The lower =
aquifer is dropping 1-2 feet per year.  Thus, the "overall amount of =
water available to us" (not to mention water of high quality) is NOT =
constant.  It is dropping 1-2 feet per year. =20

Study of the available water sources and conservation efforts during the =
study period is a reasonable and prudent effort.  I applaud your =
conservation efforts, Dale.  I encourage all Palouse residnets to do the =
same while we study the water situation and attempt to stem the loss of =
a precious resource whose quantity is unknown. =20

Bruce Livingston

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Dale Courtney=20
  To: vision2020@moscow.com=20
  Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 8:43 AM
  Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Palouse Water


  Dianne,

  Thanks again for the link to the report.=20

  For those who would like to find the 2000 annual report directly =
without reading thru the entire site, it's at =
http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/pbac/pubs/00report.pdf.=20

  The page of interest is page 15. FWIW, the upper (Wanapum) aquifer (as =
per measurements from Well #2) is at the exact same level as it was in =
1977. It has had some significant increases and decreases, but overall =
the level is what it was at 26 years ago. It would be interesting to see =
what the data for 2000-2003 would show for Well #2.=20

  From page 14 of the same report, there can be little doubt that the =
Grande Ronde aquifer has been falling 1-1.5 feet per year. No one =
disputes that.=20

  My question remains, however -- if the overall amount of water =
available to us is relatively constant, then the draconian measures that =
the MCA is calling for are unnecessary.=20
  Best,
  Dale
    -----Original Message-----
    From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com =
[mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] On Behalf Of French
    Sent: Saturday, 19 July, 2003 18:49
    To: vision2020@moscow.com
    Cc: dale@courtneys.us; london@moscow.com
    Subject: [Vision2020] Palouse Water


    For those wishing to review water levels in the shallower Wanapum =
aquifer (no they haven't increased steadily over the past 42 years) and =
any other facts about our current water supply, may I direct you to the =
Palouse Basin Water Committee (PBAC) web site at www.uidaho.edu/pbac  If =
a concerned citizen were to open and review the 2000 Annual Report, that =
citizen would find a wealth of information including a graph of water =
levels in the Wanapum aquifer.  The 2001 Annual Report is also =
available, but was largely based on the 2000 report and contains fewer =
charts and graphs.  Some of us are anxiously awaiting the 2002 Annual =
report and the return to timely updates on the PBAC web site, both of =
which are on the foreseeable horizon.

    Dianne French=20
    Palouse Water Conservation Network

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<DIV>Dale said:&nbsp; "<FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2>if =
the overall=20
amount of water available to us is relatively constant, then the =
draconian=20
measures that the MCA is calling for are unnecessary."&nbsp;<FONT=20
face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D3>&nbsp;<FONT color=3D#000000>This =
statement=20
suffers&nbsp;from several obvious flaws that are not typical =
of&nbsp;Dale's=20
usual arguments.&nbsp; </FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000000>First, it grossly exaggerates the =
"draconian"=20
measures being requested by numerous groups, not only the Moscow Civic=20
Association, when in fact, all that is being&nbsp;requested&nbsp;is that =
the=20
City of Moscow&nbsp;live up to its prior agreement about=20
reasonably&nbsp;limiting&nbsp;its water usage along with the other =
governmental=20
entities and citizens of the Palouse, those who use the water at both=20
universities and in Moscow and Pullman.&nbsp; The Moscow Civic =
Association and=20
various interested parties who live here on the Palouse requested that =
the City=20
stick to its prior agreement and limit pumping from the aquifer to =
previously=20
agreed amounts (that included&nbsp;INCREASES over time, as I understand=20
it).&nbsp; We are asking people to conserve water as a precious scarce =
resource=20
while we study and try to understand the extent of the water resource =
that we=20
are undeniably MINING.&nbsp; The "draconian" measures that were being =
advocated=20
by various groups were to seek voluntary cooperation by the City -- to =
live up=20
to its prior commitments, rather than enforce state law and&nbsp;bring =
in state=20
agencies to monitor&nbsp;and possibly control water usage.&nbsp; What =
was asked=20
by the citizens concerned about Palouse water was that the City stop =
wasting=20
water and encourage conservation of an undeniably scarce=20
resource.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000000>That leads me to my second beef with =
Dale's recent=20
posting.&nbsp; He is a bright man and not one to&nbsp;argue from a false =

premise.&nbsp; He knows better than that, but his latest post, despite =
the=20
opportunity to review the PBAC site, still suffers from the same flaw as =
his=20
original question.</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000000></FONT></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><FONT color=3D#000000>Dale, you state that "</FONT><FONT =
face=3DArial=20
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>the overall amount of water available to us is =
relatively=20
constant,"<FONT face=3D"Times New Roman" color=3D#000000 size=3D3> when =
the water site=20
that you checked (and rely upon in your post) clearly indicates =
otherwise.&nbsp;=20
The upper aquifer, aside from its issues regarding poor quality water =
(i.e.,=20
minerals, pesticides and hebicides), is not offsetting the losses from =
the deep,=20
purer, cleaner&nbsp;aquifer water.&nbsp; You acknowledge that PBAC data =
shows=20
the upper aquifer is the same as it was in 1977.&nbsp; The same.&nbsp; =
The lower=20
aquifer is dropping 1-2 feet per year.&nbsp; Thus, the "overall amount =
of water=20
available to us" (not to mention water of high quality) is&nbsp;NOT=20
constant.&nbsp; It is dropping 1-2 feet per year.&nbsp;=20
</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
color=3D#000000 size=3D3></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times New =
Roman"=20
size=3D3><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
color=3D#000000 size=3D3>Study of the available water sources and =
conservation=20
efforts during the study period is a reasonable and prudent =
effort.&nbsp; I=20
applaud your conservation efforts, Dale.&nbsp; I encourage all Palouse =
residnets=20
to do the same while we study the water situation and attempt to stem =
the loss=20
of a precious resource whose quantity is unknown.&nbsp;=20
</FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Bruce Livingston</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Ddale@courtneys.us href=3D"mailto:dale@courtneys.us">Dale =
Courtney</A>=20
  </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dvision2020@moscow.com=20
  href=3D"mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">vision2020@moscow.com</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, July 20, 2003 =
8:43 AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: [Vision2020] =
Palouse=20
  Water</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
  size=3D2>Dianne,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
  size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
  size=3D2>Thanks again for the link to the report. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
  size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>For=20
  those who would like to find the 2000 annual report directly without =
reading=20
  thru the entire site, it's at <A=20
  =
href=3D"http://www.webs.uidaho.edu/pbac/pubs/00report.pdf">http://www.web=
s.uidaho.edu/pbac/pubs/00report.pdf</A>.=20
  </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
  size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>The=20
  page of interest is page 15. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN=20
  class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 =
size=3D2>FWIW, the upper=20
  (Wanapum) aquifer (as per measurements from Well #2) is at the =
<U>exact</U>=20
  same level as it was in 1977. It has had some significant increases =
and=20
  decreases, but overall the level is what it was at 26 years ago. It =
would be=20
  interesting to see what the data for 2000-2003 would show for Well #2. =

  </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#800000 size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>From=20
  page 14 of the same report, there can be little doubt that the Grande =
Ronde=20
  aquifer has been falling 1-1.5 feet per year. No one disputes that.=20
  </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000=20
  size=3D2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><SPAN class=3D604303515-20072003><FONT face=3DArial =
color=3D#800000 size=3D2>My=20
  question remains, however -- if the overall amount of water available =
to us is=20
  relatively constant, then the draconian measures that the MCA is =
calling for=20
  are unnecessary. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
  <DIV align=3Dleft><FONT color=3D#800000><FONT size=3D2><FONT=20
  face=3DArial>Best,</FONT><BR></FONT><FONT face=3D"Vladimir Script"=20
  size=3D5>Dale</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
  style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #800000 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
    <DIV></DIV>
    <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr =
align=3Dleft><FONT=20
    face=3DTahoma size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
    vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] =
<B>On=20
    Behalf Of </B>French<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, 19 July, 2003=20
    18:49<BR><B>To:</B> vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B>Cc:</B> =
dale@courtneys.us;=20
    london@moscow.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] Palouse=20
    Water<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>For those wishing to review water =
levels in the=20
    shallower Wanapum aquifer (no they haven't increased steadily over =
the past=20
    42 years) and any other facts about our current water supply, may I =
direct=20
    you to the Palouse Basin Water Committee (PBAC) web site at <A=20
    href=3D"http://www.uidaho.edu/pbac">www.uidaho.edu/pbac</A>&nbsp; If =
a=20
    concerned citizen were to open and&nbsp;review the 2000 Annual =
Report, that=20
    citizen would find a wealth of information including a graph of =
water levels=20
    in the Wanapum aquifer.&nbsp; The 2001 Annual Report is also =
available, but=20
    was largely based on the 2000 report and contains&nbsp;fewer charts =
and=20
    graphs.&nbsp; Some of us are anxiously awaiting the 2002 Annual =
report and=20
    the return to timely updates on the PBAC web site, both of which are =
on the=20
    foreseeable horizon.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Dianne French</FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Palouse Water Conservation=20
  Network</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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