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Methow Valley News August 5, 1999 Endangered Species Coverage Twisp looking west for water solution Town sees possible model for salvation in La Conner By Craig Northrup Twisp may find a resolution to its water woes in the most unexpected of places: on the edge of Skagit County. The town’s water supply--cut by two-thirds by a 1997 state Supreme Court ruling that declared Twisp never had the rights to more than 500 acre feet of water--has been a topic of particular interest to the town council over the past two years. More recently, Twisp and the Methow Valley Irrigation District, along with the Department of Ecology, have met in an effort to explore options for the town’s problems. In June, the council met with Bob Barwin, Ecology’s section manager of water resources and water quality to discuss the town’s options. Since then, Barwin has continued to advise the council of its options, including long-term leasing of rights and even annexing right-holding land into the town limits. In May, the town council rescinded an ordinance prohibiting the use of wells in the community in an effort to relieve residents from some of their water burdens. But at a July 27 town council meeting, Twisp was officially delivered another possibility, an intriguing option inspired from the other side of the state. The idea rests in the town of La Conner, a community on the coast of Skagit County. Since 1930, La Conner has not had a serious water shortage. Fifteen miles northwest of La Conner lies the city of Anacortes. Anacortes produces roughly 19 million gallons of water every day. The only major water station in the region, the west side community sells water to La Conner, as well as Oak Harbor, the Skagit County Public Utility District, the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and a list of other communities in the area. Through an extensive pipeline system, the town of La Conner receives enough water to supply its needs. The process is called inter-tying, and local authorities consider it a success. "So far, it’s been very successful," according to Gordon Bell, director of Public Works in La Conner. "We’ve never had a serious shortage of water. Not here, not ever." "I would say this has been a success," Anacortes Mayor H. Dean Maxwell said. "It makes sense, so you don’t duplicate your water generation, and everybody gets what they need." While getting a feel of the different water rates around the state, Mayor Jim Doran stumbled upon the inter-tying deal in La Conner, a process that has been in Skagit County since 1930. Neither Doran nor the town recommended piping in water. Instead, Twisp would buy the water from the MVID. He delivered the information to the council at the July 27 meeting. The council met in executive session to establish specifics of the proposal. The town would essentially file a point of diversion transfer in order for the plan to work. Twisp and the MVID will meet later this month to discuss and possibly finalize the deal. Doran said the MVID was very responsive when he presented this possibility to the MVID. "The MVID meeting was very positive," Doran said at the meeting. "The conversation was very productive and positive. I think this could be a very successful scenario for Twisp. This could be just what we need." After the meeting, Doran said the solution rested merely in what he called "a paper change," adding that Twisp’s plan is landscaped by the theme of increasing efficiency without wasting water. Joye Redfield-Wilder, director of public information at the Department of Ecology’s Yakima office, said the plan appeared reasonable to the DOE. Opinion | Sports |
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