[Vision2020] water and development

[Mark Solomon]

To add another piece to the water thread, there is the issue of how 
we support growth and development in Moscow when we are at or beyond 
the ability of our aquifers to supply water to the city.

Fact: the deep Grande Ronde aquifer has no identified recharge 
mechanism and continues to fall 1-2'/year.

Fact: the upper Wanapum aquifer recharges seasonally (winter runoff) 
through mechanisms not quite identified (the ongoing Latah County 
Hydrogeological Characterization Project is designed to answer that 
question) but the current rate of withdrawal from the Wanapum exceeds 
the recharge. Historical pumping records indicate that  Wanapum well 
levels may drop precipitously within 15 years.

Fact: the City of Moscow is signatory to the regional Palouse Basin 
Aquifer Agreement which requires each pumping entity (Moscow, 
Pullman, UI, WSU) to limit increases in pumping to 1% annually and to 
not exceed a total cap of 125% of the total volume pumped as an 
average of the years 1982-1987 for a cap of 875 million gallons/year 
(MGY). It was hoped that limiting pumping increases would allow the 
aquifer levels to stabilize. They were wrong.

Fact: From 1994 to 2003, Moscow exceeded its 1% annual growth limit 
and from 1998-2003 its 875 mgy cap.

Fact: After Moscow area conservation and civic groups filed a 
petition with the State asking for designation of Moscow area 
aquifers as Critical Groundwater Management Areas and Groundwater 
Management Areas the City implemented mandatory landscape irrigation 
measures that reduced the amount of water pumped by the City from 919 
MGY in 2003 to 819 MGY in 2005. (Bravo!) 2005 was the first year 
since the city signed the PBAC agreement that it was in compliance 
with the agreement.

Fact: Moscow City wells (with the exception of Wells 6&8 which have 
had their pumping significantly decreased due to internal piping 
issues) continue to have declining water levels despite the 
conservation efforts of people and businesses across the city.

Fact: the SuperWalmart developer, on page 6 of his application for a 
rezone of the Thompson property across from the cemetery, forecasts 
full build out at 1.5 million square foot of commercial space. The 
applicant predicts water useage based on full build out at over 62 
MGY.  Full build out would increase water pumped by 7.6% above 
current levels violating the 1% annual increase. Full build out will 
also cause the City to exceed its absolute cap of 875 mgy.

Question: Is this how we want to use the water we have conserved? Do 
we want to give all our water to Walmart?

Answer: The City Council is holding a public hearing on Walmart's 
proposed rezone 5/1, 7:00 pm , Council Chambers (unless they move it 
to someplace where all the people who are likely to attend can 
actually fit in the room...)

Mark Solomon
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