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Methow Valley
News July 15, 1999 Endangered Species Coverage Senator's staff tours valley Top aides of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray have heard valley irrigators tell a "powerful" story that included unreasonable deadlines, lack of funding and potential loss of water rights arising from endangered fish issues. The senator’s chief of staff, Rick Desimone, and state director, John Engber, toured the Valley Saturday (July 10), to talk with local irrigators, county, state and Forest Service officials about the increasing demands on the Methow Valley of the ESA recovery efforts. Okanogan County Commissioner Dave Schulz told Murray's aides that the Methow Valley needs funding for ESA efforts. "This is not new. We’ve been in this a long time attempting to get help, and we’ve been ignored a lot," Schulz said. He said the ESA effort will require substantial funding that the county lacks. "Once again this (ESA programs) is an unfunded mandate...we (the county) simply don’t have the money." Desimone concluded, "We’ve heard a very powerful story here today. And will continue to hear it." The chief of staff later told Schulz "You’ve got her attention." Opinion | Sports |
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