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Methow Valley News July 13, 2000 Endangered Species Coverage Voluntary water plan ideas on agenda by Lee Hicks The Methow Basin watershed planning unit begins a round of meetings this week to gauge public opinion on a proposed fish and water agreement and hopes to head off a repeat of the angry reaction that greeted a similar effort last year. The meetings in Mazama, Winthrop, Twisp and Methow follow negotiations last Thursday (July 6) with National Marine Fisheries Service and federal and state agencies. Going into the meetings an important undecided issue is what form of a "voluntary" water conservation plan can gain public support, as well as meet demands of NMFS to provide water for endangered and threatened fish. At last Thursday’s negotiations, the planning unit presented the outline of a voluntary water conservation plan based on "best management practices" for irrigation recommended by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. However, planning unit officials acknowledge that there is no consensus on the plan within the unit, and that a vote has not been taken. Planning unit guidelines require a 75 percent majority when consensus is not reached. Some planning unit representatives and local officials also say the BMP guidelines are not always clear. The elements in the planning unit outline include such measures as irrigation equipment maintenance, better fish screens, changes in method of water application and reduction of transportation loss. NMFS state director Bob Turner said his agency supports the voluntary plan, but there needs to be evidence that the program will benefit stream flows. "It’s my focus to know what the conservation program is so they’ll (volunteers) know what they’re signing up for, and it can’t be fuzzy." Turner said the number of volunteers would not be as important to NMFS as "the outcome." "The one thing they are being asked to participate in is the voluntary conservation plan if they are to get the benefits." In exchange for steps to meeting "biological needs of fish," the term that generally replaced target flows in negotiations, NMFS has said it could offer "prosecutorial discretion" against federal legal action to enforce the Endangered Species Act. NMFS listed both steelhead trout and spring Chinook salmon as endangered in the basin, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service put bull trout in the threatened category. Among the other major discussion points at last week’s negotiations: —Under the planning unit’s proposed work plan, activities during 2001 would involve primarily hydrological studies, water use assessments and stream monitoring as well as certain specific ditch repairs such as new fish screens and headgate repairs. Turner said last week that NMFS would provide assurances against prosecution this year if an agreement is completed. But the same would not be true of 2001 as studies proceed unless there is also progress toward water conservation, Turner said. Neither would Turner commit NMFS to recognizing conservation measures through past irrigation practices unless irrigators become part of the voluntary plan. —The Department of Ecology would be responsible for assessment of basin water use through investigation of water claims, certificates and rights and field investigation. The state water agency would provide information for review by the planning unit and has agreed to commit two fulltime employees to the job. The agency has also named a fulltime watershed lead, John Dorman, for the basin. DOE official Joe Williams acknowledged his agency’s past efforts to determine basin water use have fallen short. "I recognize that the work that has been done here has not been as accurate (as it should be)." Williams said. Some planning unit members were apprehensive at having DOE work independently of the planning unit—noting past communication problems. "If you’re asking for veto power (over water assessment issues) I would say ‘no.’ If you’re asking for cooperation and collaboration, ‘yes,’" Williams said. —Bob Bugert, eastern coordinator for the Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office and state Rep. Linda Evans Parlette, R-12th, both said the fulltime employee committed by DOE shows the importance of the issue. Parlette said the Valley might not be as fortunate as this year in getting additional funding with more competition coming from western Washington. Parlette opened the meeting by saying, "I want to thank all the local folks for staying at the table." She noted that issues related to whether or not fish should be listed as endangered in the basin is "another battle to fight" apart from the negotiations. Turner said he was optimistic that federal funding would be available, although Parlette and others countered that delays in federal dollars are critical concerns. —The negotiators continue to discuss how to bring irrigators diverting in part from federal land, the so-called Section 7 ditches, into an agreement intended to result in a basin-wide draft "habitation conservation plan." HCPs, which can cost several hundred thousand dollars, generally provide protection against litigation related to the ESA. NMFS has said it can issue an "incidental take permit" for listed species if an HCP is in place. Summarizing the purpose of this week’s public meetings, planning unit chairman Dick Ewing said the group wanted to get public comment prior to presenting a final draft in a large Valley-wide meeting. Last November an earlier proposed agreement met overwhelming public opposition at a Twisp meeting that drew more than 400 people. "We’re not trying to get them to accept it as is," Ewing said. "But we’re trying to get them to buy off on the ideas." Gregg Knott, the Forest Service member of the negotiating team, added, "We’ve put a lot of taxpayers’ time and money in this and if it’s a dead dog we need to know that now." The first public meeting was set for 7 p.m. Tuesday (July 11) at the Winthrop Barn. Sessions were scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday (July 12) at the Mazama Community Center and Thursday (July 13) at the Twisp Grange. A final meeting will be next Tuesday (July 18) at 7 p.m. at the Methow Community Center. Opinion | Sports |
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