[Vision2020] Water Sale Legislation Gains Momentum in Boise

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (February 5, 2009) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

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MOSCOW: Water-sale legislation picks up steam
Bill introduced by Schroeder could clear way for Moscow to provide water 
to Hawkins development
By Mark Williams, Daily News staff writer
 
The city of Moscow's quest to provide water to the Hawkins Companies 
development west of the state line is gaining traction in Boise.

Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, said the Senate Resources and Environment 
Committee unanimously approved legislation that would amend state code to 
make it clear Idaho cities can expand water service areas to adjacent, out-
of-state areas without any special agreements. 

Moscow has been trying since February 2008 to find a way to sell water to 
Hawkins for use at its planned 700,000-square-foot shopping center in 
Whitman County, just across the state line from Moscow.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources previously indicated Moscow 
couldn't sell water directly to Hawkins and had to form an 
intergovernmental agreement with Whitman County to complete a sale.

Moscow's attempts to form an agreement with the county fell through in 
October, when a sale price could not be agreed upon.

Schroeder, who introduced the bill and is chairman of the Resources and 
Environment Committee, said the bill will now move to the Senate floor, 
where it could be scheduled for a vote as early as Monday.

If passed, the bill would then move to the House Resources and Finance 
Committee. Schroeder said he has been assured by that committee's 
chairperson that a hearing on the bill would take place soon thereafter.

Schroeder said regardless of the legislation, the Idaho Department of 
Water Resources still would have to approve any water sale.

"I want to re-emphasize that this still has to go through the IDWR. People 
will have an opportunity to voice their opinions at a public hearing," he 
said. "All this does is change the language to allow for a public 
decision."

Moscow City Councilman Walter Steed has been the driving force in getting 
the legislation introduced. He said the goal of the bill is to allow 
Moscow greater control of how much water is being taken out of the 
regional aquifer.

Hawkins already drilled two commercial wells this fall, but if the 
legislation passes those wells would be capped and the water rights would 
be returned to the state of Washington, as per the original agreement with 
the city.

Steed said the legislation essentially would ensure that any water sold 
would only serve the Hawkins development.

Whitman County Commissioner Michael Largent approved of the move, saying 
the county felt it was preferable that Moscow and Hawkins work a deal out 
among themselves.

Largent said if the bill passes it likely would eliminate the need for 
further discussions with the Port of Whitman County for forming a water 
district.

"I think it's a reasonable approach and I'll be interested to see what 
happens as (the bill) works its way through," Largent said. "We've always 
felt from Whitman County that it would be good if Moscow could find a way 
to benefit from the development."

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"For a lapsed Lutheran born-again Buddhist pan-Humanist Universalist 
Unitarian Wiccan Agnostic like myself there's really no reason ever to go 
to work."

- Roy Zimmerman


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