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Thanks for the post. It opens the door to correct some
misconceptions that you have.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">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?</blockquote><br>
Well, it has been in our faces - especially if you owned property in the
previously designated Emergency Water Management Overlay Zone.
Private property rights were immediately co-opted without adequate
discussion or proposed compensation. <br><br>
Further, we do NOT KNOW that the water issue must be dealt with
<b>soon</b>. No long-term validated studies by hydrologists have
been done. The conclusions that have been thrown out for public
consumption have been the result of pure speculation. The fact is -
we don't know if we have a water problem or not!<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">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.)<br><br>
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.</blockquote><br>
The most immediate volume of water available to us is, of course,
rainfall - but that requires collection. Another available source
is the Clearwater system - we can address the question of access at some
point, but the water is there - and technology can be utilized to pump it
up here.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">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.</blockquote><br>
Well, don't use hyperbole to describe their use. Their initial
application was for approx. 200 million gallons per year - about 10% of
Moscow-Pullman consumption. The IDWR advised them that their right
was for approximately 2 billion gallons per year. They, quite
rationally, reapplied for their full right.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">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.<br><br>
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.</blockquote><br>
One part of your comment above does warrant specific acknowledgement -
the water supply for the world is fixed - you can change its form
(liguid, gas or solid) but you can't change the supply. BUT you can
change its location - and that is the challenge we must address - if our
current water flows are not sufficient to meet our needs, how can we
enhance our allocation. That is an important issue for us to
address.<br><br>
Sorry, it is not YOUR or OUR water supply. Idaho has a first in
time, first in right allocation system. Until that is changed, it
is not YOUR water or OUR water. As I understand it, Naylor has a
senior or ancestral water right - and that right is recognized by the
state. At the last water summit I was surprised to learn that
municipalities (Moscow) have no water rights - they have simply drilled
for water and started selling it. And as a result of use, have a
"claim" to water.<br><br>
But again, from a science point of view, we DO NOT KNOW what the limits
are to our water flows. Estimates of 10-25 years of water remaining
are pure and simple speculation - not unlike tea leaf reading. Want
to know the water supply limits? Spend the money on a study - who
knows - we might find out that all our water comes from Canada and
Montana as a result of the prehistoric Columbia Lake system. If
that is the case, then we have NO water rights.<br><br>
I appreciate your point about wanting Naylor to "illustrate their
concern for the overall community". But what concern have the
water zealots shown for Naylor's rights? Think of the things that
have been said about them - and done to them. The fact that their
position was vindicated in court should be of some merit in having the
Naylor's treated with respect.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">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.</blockquote><br>
I am encouraged by one outcome of all of this. Just a few months
ago, I was publicly harangued and scoffed by the likes of Jim Mital,
French and members of the Protect Our Water group for my suggestion that
we explore the possibility of a collection system for the approximately
200 billion gallons of water that fall on Latah County each year.
The simple premise was that we have an adequate water supply, but our
management of the supply is the question - not a shortage of water.
At least that concept is now in the public discussion arena and for that,
I am pleased. But a simple mantra will suffice - it is difficult to
solve a problem until you understand what the problem is.<br><br>
As an aside, while I have some questions and concerns about Prop 2 -
there is one element that is appealing. I recognize that one of the
redeeming qualities of Prop 2 is that it would provide property owners
with a clear legal recourse should another initiative similar to the
Emergency Water Management Zone be adopted. Property owners do have
rights and it would appear that Prop 2 would help to protect those rights
from the tyranny of the vocal minority as well as the majority.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Best, Joe<br><br>
---- Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com> wrote: <br><br>
=============<br>
Joe and Bruce,<br>
<br>
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. ; )<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
Those are the questions I would ask if I could attend this
meeting. <br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
_DJA<br>
<br><br>
Joe Campbell <joekc@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.<br><br>
--<br>
Joe Campbell<br><br>
---- Donovan Arnold wrote: <br><br>
=============<br>
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?<br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
Curious minds want to know. <br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
_DJA<br><br>
Bruce and Jean Livingston
wrote:
Reminder: MCA meeting on whether Moscow should consider
building a water reservoir.<br>
<br>
MCA General Public Meeting on Monday Oct. 9 at 1912
Building @ 7p.m.<br>
Water Solutions â€â€œ Is Moscow Ready for
a Reservoir?<br>
Panelists: <br>
Jerry Fairley, Professor of Hydrogeology, U of Idaho<br>
Dianne French, founder of Palouse Water Conservation
Network<br>
Gary Riedner, Moscow City Supervisor<br>
Steve Robischon, Exec. Mgr. of Palouse Basin Aquifer
Committee<br>
Mark Solomon, Palouse Water Conservation Network<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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