By: Jed Crowther, Development Coordinator, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Have you ever wondered how the great pyramids were built? Or the Columbia Basin Project? For the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program (OGWRP), my role is to: Sync the Groundwater Replacement Goal. Work the Water Delivery Plan. Lead...
By: Jennifer Hickenbottom, Project Manager, Bureau of Reclamation Reclamation, working with project partners, has invested over $40 million in federal funding into the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program (OGWRP) and supporting activities since 2005. Prior to the completion of the Odessa Subarea Special Study EIS from...
By: Andy Dunau, Executive Director, Lake Roosevelt Forum Since implementation of Washington’s water code in 1917, adjudication is the statutory tool used to quantify and prioritize state water right claims. The Washington Department of Ecology’s 2020 “Water Resources Adjudication Assessment Legislative Report” identified Lake Roosevelt as...
Senate Bill 5230 surfaced in the 2021 Legislative session to provide authority for Ecology to enter into agreements with the Bureau of Reclamation to create a ground water permitting program like that which currently exists in the Quincy Basin ground water management area. The League...
By Kate Walker, Legislative Assistant, Water Strategies The Columbia Basin Development League’s (League) continued advocacy efforts, and the hard work of members of the Washington congressional delegation, have once again benefited Columbia Basin Project stakeholders. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) announced the distribution of additional funds...
By Kate Walker, Legislative Assistant, Water Strategies The 117th Congress not only began with a new administration, but with Democrats holding a majority in both the House of Representatives and Senate. While President Biden has announced a number of appointments to form his administration, the...
The Columbia Basin Development League welcomed three new faces to its Board of Trustees: Jon Erickson (Othello), Russ Kehl (Quincy), and Terry Thompson (Othello). Erickson was board appointed in November – which became effective immediately – to fulfill the term by outgoing trustee Stephen McFadden which...
By: Roger Sonnichsen, Secretary-Manager, Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District In the fall of 2019 Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District (QCBID) contracted with RH2 Engineering, Inc., (RH2) to assist with the evaluation of Pump units No. 1 and No. 2 in the Frenchman Hills Pumping Plant and assist with...
In September 2020, South Columbia Basin Irrigation District (SCBID) introduced a new website and water ordering and information web portal. Water users can order water online through a secure web portal from their smart phone, tablet, or computer. SCBID worked closely with the developer, Central Valley...
This fall, League representatives were honored to accept invitations to patriciate in several community events and meetings informing Project stakeholders of the latest Project updates and League accomplishments. Board member Stephen McFadden presented the outcomes of the League’s recently completed Stakeholder Voices Survey at the Lake...