NEWSHOMEOPINIONLOCAL INTERESTRECENT ISSUESLETTERSCLASSIFIEDSLINKS |
Methow Valley News August 5, 1999 Endangered Species Coverage Crop losses on just a few ditches reach six figures By Lee Hicks As an indication of potential crop losses from this year’s endangered species related irrigation shutoffs, several alfalfa growers expect to write off up to 60 percent of their potential crops. Alfalfa, a five to six year perennial, generally yields two to three cuttings and sometimes four in the lower Valley, growers say. This year, however, such growers as Moccasin Lake Ranch, managed by Nim Titcomb, and the Sunny M and Hover ranches, both managed by Bud Hover, will get only two cuttings instead of three. And the second cutting may yield much less than usual. Titcomb estimates that Wolf Creek Reclamation Ditch growers will lose about 60 percent of their potential crop this season. Wolf Creek was able to run the diversion, which fills Patterson Lake, for less than a week after installing a flat fish screen with Forest Service permission. Steve Devin, president of the Early Winters ditch, says he decided not to risk starting a new seeding of alfalfa on 50 acres in the Mazama area. Early Winters was not able to divert until a new fish screen was installed, and then at a greatly reduced flow under threat of being shut off in mid-July. The price of alfalfa hay can range from $80 to $100 per ton, growers say. The average acre will yield two tons per cutting for the first two cuttings, then about one ton for the third. Devin said the lost revenue is important, but he is more worried about the long-term impacts. "The economic impacts are yet to be fully disclosed at this point because they (the Forest Service under direction of National Marine Fisheries Service) keep threatening to shut the water off." And there is also the, "disruption of the community. How do you put a dollar figure on that?" Devin concluded. Opinion | Sports |
Local Interest |