[Vision2020] Is Moscow Ready for Reservoir?

[Joe Campbell]

Dear Donovan,

Let me preface this by saying that I know very little about water; I know more since last night -- thanks to our wonderful panel! -- but that is still very little compared to other folks. Here are some brief thoughts, though.

1/ The kind of area needed for a reservoir is one thing; the kind of area needed for a mine is another. Why think that they would coincide? Others can speak to this issue with more authority, but I remain skeptical that a mine can be easily transformed into a reservoir.

2/ What I especially liked about last night's meeting is that we discussed an issue that was not "in our face." Yet it is an issue that needs to be dealt with soon. The fact is that we use more water than is being replaced. As long as the water supply is not endless, it will eventually end. What to do?

A reservoir is one possible solution. Water conservation is another one. But CAN we conserve enough water to solve the problem? Shouldn't we also look at other solutions? We're just beginning this dialogue, I think. (We're just beginning it as a COMMUNITY. It was clear last night that there are quite a few folks who have been thinking about these issues for a while.)

3/ One thing that came across last night is that we are in a rather unique situation, water-wise. It is possible that there is a large -- though limited -- body of water that is currently available to Moscow. We need to think about how we are going to use it and -- until we can provide a way of increasing that amount -- we should plan to use it wisely.

Naylor farms has plans to use a great deal of our current supply. Forgetting about the other costs of their enterprise, it is questionable whether -- short of some long term solution to our current water problem -- we should invest our water capital to meet their ends.

4/ I wish Naylor farms would hold a public forum similar to the one held last night. Which is just to say, I wish that Naylor farms would give me the feeling that they gave a rat's -ss about how I and others think about these issues.

I challenge Naylor farms to approach this problem in a way that illustrates their concern for the overall community. It is our water and the supply is limited. If Naylor farms wants to use some of that supply, then they need to tell us how we might benefit from their use. So far I have not seen the benefit. Nor have I seen any recognition on their part that there is a genuine problem here. Currently, there is just a limited supply of water. We might debate on the amount but that the supply is limited is not an issue for debate.

Until we can figure out a way to increase our current supply of water -- through a reservoir, conservation, or some other means -- it seems irresponsible to allow Naylor farms access to it for their own personal needs.

Note that these comments are reflective of my own thoughts, and not those of any other organization with which I might be affiliated (the members of which likely know more about these issues than I do).

Best, Joe

---- Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com> wrote: 

=============
Joe and Bruce,
  
 I would love to attend your meeting, however,  I cannot. You guys really need to check with me before you schedule  these meetings to make sure I am free, cause you know, I work and go to  school and right now I  am also sick. ; )
  
 But my advice  is that you work with Naylor Farms to meet both your goals. Maybe the  money raised from mining can be used to pay for the reservoir. Working  with people you have disagreements with rather than shutting them down  all the time might work better to meet some of your long term goals. 
  
  Is there any reason why the water used by Naylor Farms cannot be used  to fill the reservoir? Is there any reason why the hole they dig cannot  be the reservoir? Is there any reason why the taxes and fines they pay  the county to mine cannot be used to pay for the project? I think a  reservoir on top of a hill just a mile or town out of town is a perfect  place to have one. 
  
  Those are the questions I would ask if I could attend this meeting. 
  
  Best,
  
  _DJA
  

Joe Campbell <joekc at adelphia.net> wrote:Come  to the meeting, Donovan! Note that the title of the meeting is a  question, not a statement. We're going to discuss the plusses and  minuses and try to help folks reach an informed decision on the matter.

--
Joe Campbell

---- Donovan Arnold  wrote: 

=============
Won't  digging a reservoir cause health problems with dust being less then 1.5  miles away from Moscow? And won't it use a lot of water?
  
  Why don't we just have Naylor Farms dig us a hole, take the clay and dirt away, and use the water to fill the reservoir?
  
Curious minds want to know. 
  
  Best,
  
  _DJA

Bruce and Jean Livingston  wrote:              Reminder: MCA meeting on whether Moscow should   consider building a water reservoir.
   
  MCA General Public Meeting on Monday Oct. 9 at 1912   Building @ 7p.m.
  Water   Solutions – Is Moscow   Ready for a Reservoir?
  Panelists:  
  Jerry Fairley, Professor of Hydrogeology, U of Idaho
  Dianne French, founder of Palouse Water Conservation   Network
  Gary Riedner, Moscow City Supervisor
  Steve Robischon, Exec. Mgr. of Palouse Basin Aquifer   Committee
  Mark Solomon, Palouse Water Conservation Network
   
   
   
   
   
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 List services made available by First Step Internet, 
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          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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=======================================================
 List services made available by First Step Internet, 
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================

 		
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