8 CapitalPress.com November 6, 2015 Washington Judge to decide on motion to dismiss Bureau of Reclamation lawsuit By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press A U.S. District Court judge will decide in the next two months whether to dis- PLVVDODZVXLW¿OHGE\JURXSRI Eastern Washington irrigators DJDLQVWWKH86%XUHDXRI5HF- lamation. $WWRUQH\V IRU WKH &ROXP- ELD6QDNH 5LYHU ,UULJDWRUV $VVRFLDWLRQ DQG WKH DJHQF\ PDGH WKHLU DUJXPHQWV EHIRUH &KLHI -XGJH 5RVDQQD 0DORXI Peterson at a hearing Oct. 28 in 5LFKODQG:DVK The irrigators association VD\VWKHDJHQF\³DUELWUDULO\GH- OD\HGDQGEORFNHG´DQHZZDWHU VHUYLFHFRQWUDFWIRULWVSULYDWH- O\IXQGHGPLOOLRQSLSHOLQH WR GHOLYHU VXUIDFH ZDWHU IURP WKH(DVW/RZ&DQDOWRURXJKO\ DFUHVRIIDUPODQGQRUWK RI ,QWHUVWDWH LQ WKH 2GHVVD 6XEDUHD 7KH EXUHDX KDV VDLG WKDW &65,$¶V SLSHOLQH LQWHUIHUHV ZLWKH[LVWLQJSURMHFWVZLWKWKH VWDWH 'HSDUWPHQW RI (FRORJ\ and three irrigation districts in the area. -DPHV %XFKDO DQ DWWRUQH\ UHSUHVHQWLQJWKHLUULJDWRUVVDLG KH H[SHFWV D UXOLQJ ZLWKLQ WKH next one to two months. ³5HJDUGOHVVRIWKHXOWLPDWH RXWFRPH RI WRGD\¶V DUJXPHQWV DQGRIWKLVODZVXLWWKH%XUHDX RI 5HFODPDWLRQ KDV EHHQ DQG ZLOO UHPDLQ RSHQ WR ZRUNLQJ ZLWK SURSRQHQWV RI SULYDWH ¿QDQFLQJ RI JURXQGZDWHU UH- SODFHPHQW GLVWULEXWLRQ ZRUNV ZKHWKHUIURPEDQNVRUERQGV´ VDLG'DZQ:LHGPHLHU&ROXP- ELD&DVFDGHVDUHDPDQDJHUIRU WKH EXUHDX ³5HFODPDWLRQ LV ZHOO DZDUH RI WKH XUJHQF\ RI WKLV IDUPLQJ HFRQRP\ UHVFXH HIIRUW DQG LV DFWLYHO\ HQJDJHG LQ VXUPRXQWLQJ EDUULHUV WR WKH SURYLVLRQ RI VXUIDFH ZD- WHU UHOLHI WR WKH 2GHVVD DUHD LQDWLPHO\FRVWHIIHFWLYHDQG VXVWDLQDEOH PDQQHU LQ FRP- SOLDQFH ZLWK VWDWH DQG IHGHUDO ODZ´ 'DUU\OO 2OVHQ ERDUG UHS- UHVHQWDWLYH IRU WKH DVVRFLDWLRQ VDLGKHIHOW3HWHUVRQZDVUHFHS- WLYHWRWKHLUULJDWRUV¶DUJXPHQWV during the hearing. ³%DVHGRQWKHTXHVWLRQVVKH DVNHGVKHUHFRJQL]HGWKHUHZDV VXEVWDQWLDO LQMXVWLFH LQ WHOOLQJ WKHUHJLRQ¶VIDUPHUVWKH%XUHDX RI 5HFODPDWLRQ FRXOG VD\ QR IRUDQ\UHDVRQRUQRUHDVRQDQG HVVHQWLDOO\ QHYHU PDNH XS LWV PLQGWRVROYHWKHSUREOHP&RQ- JUHVV KDV WROG WKHP RYHU DQG RYHU DJDLQ WR VROYH´ %XFKDO said. 0LNH 6FKZLVRZ GLUHFWRU RIJRYHUQPHQWUHODWLRQVIRUWKH &ROXPELD %DVLQ 'HYHORSPHQW /HDJXH VDLG 3HWHUVRQ GLG QRW JRLQWRWKHPHULWVRIWKHLUULJD- WRUV¶ SURSRVDO RU WKH EXUHDX¶V FXUUHQWZRUNWRUHSODFHGHFOLQ- LQJ DTXLIHUV ZLWK ZDWHU IURP WKH&ROXPELD5LYHU7KHMXGJH IRFXVHG RQ LVVXHV UHODWHG WR FDVHODZDQGZKHWKHU5HFODPD- WLRQ ZDV DFWLQJ DSSURSULDWHO\ Schwisow said. 7KH OHDJXH VXSSRUWV WKH EXUHDX¶V HIIRUWV DQG KRSHV WKH MXGJH ZLOO DJUHH ZLWK 5HFOD- PDWLRQ¶V PRWLRQ WR GLVPLVV Schwisow said. ,IWKHMXGJHGRHVQ¶WGLVPLVV the case would go on to the next VWDJH 6FKZLVRZ VDLG 0RUH FRXUW PRWLRQV ZRXOG OLNHO\ EH LQVWRUHKHVDLG 7KHLUULJDWRUV¶ODZVXLWGRHV QRWVWDOOWKH(DVW&ROXPELD%D- VLQ,UULJDWLRQ'LVWULFW¶VZRUNRQ WKH(DVW/RZ&DQDO6FKZLVRZ said. ³, JXHVV LW FRQIXVHV WKH LV- VXH´ KH VDLG ³7KDW ZRXOG EH WKHELJJHVWFRQFHUQ7KHUHLVD FOHDU SODQ WKDW LV EHLQJ LPSOH- PHQWHGWKRXJK´ The irrigators association has also sued the East Colum- ELD %DVLQ ,UULJDWLRQ 'LVWULFW DOOHJLQJLWZLOOEUHDNVWDWHODZ LILW¿QDQFHVWKHSURMHFWZLWKD XQLIRUPIHH ,UULJDWLRQGLVWULFWGHYHORSPHQW OHDJXHFRQWLQXHZRUNVHHNIXQGLQJ By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press 7KH (DVW &ROXPELD %DVLQ ,UULJDWLRQ 'LVWULFW DQG &ROXP- ELD%DVLQ'HYHORSPHQW/HDJXH DUHFRQWLQXLQJWRVHHNIXQGLQJ WR KHOS IDUPHUV UHSODFH ZDWHU IURP D GHFOLQLQJ DTXLIHU ZLWK &ROXPELD5LYHUZDWHU ,QIUDVWUXFWXUH LPSURYH- ments will continue through DWOHDVWQH[W0D\ZLWKFXUUHQW IXQGLQJVDLG/HYL-RKQVRQGH- YHORSPHQW FRRUGLQDWRU IRU WKH LUULJDWLRQ GLVWULFW 7KRVH DFWLY- LWLHVLQFOXGHHDUWKZRUNDQGLQ- VWDOODWLRQRIUDGLDOJDWHVWRLP- SURYHH[LVWLQJFKHFNVWUXFWXUHV DQG FRQVWUXFWLRQ RI FRQFUHWH VLSKRQEDUUHOV 7KH LUULJDWLRQ GLVWULFW SODQV WR FRQVWUXFW VHYHQ V\VWHPV WR GHOLYHU ZDWHU WR ODQGRZQHUV The district is handling im- SURYHPHQWVWRLWVGHOLYHU\V\V- WHPLQFOXGLQJZRUNRQWKH(DVW Low Canal. Landowners are H[SHFWHGWRSD\IRUWKHLUSDUWRI WKHV\VWHP The irrigation district is us- LQJ D PLOOLRQ VWDWH JUDQW IRUFXUUHQWZRUNRQWKHFDQDO 2QFHWKDWIXQGLQJLVVSHQW PLOOLRQ LQ LPSURYHPHQWV ZLOO remain. 7KH V\VWHPV ZLOO GHOLYHU ZDWHU WR URXJKO\ DFUHV RIIDUPODQG7KHHQWLUHV\VWHP LV HVWLPDWHG WR FRVW PLO- OLRQ-RKQVRQVDLG ³7KH GLVWULFW LV ZRUNLQJ KDUGWRJHWWKDWQXPEHUDVORZ DVSRVVLEOH´VDLG0LNH6FKZLV- Drought unlikely to impact Columbia River irrigation 'URXJKWDQGFOLPDWHFKDQJHOLNHO\ZRQ¶WKDYHDQLPSDFW RQWKHDYDLODELOLW\RIZDWHUIRULUULJDWRUVLQWKHIHGHUDO&R- OXPELD%DVLQ3URMHFWDUHSUHVHQWDWLYHRIWKH&ROXPELD%D- VLQ'HYHORSPHQW/HDJXHVD\V 7KHULYHUEDVLQZLOOH[SHULHQFHKLJKHUWHPSHUDWXUHVDQG PRUHSUHFLSLWDWLRQLQWKHQH[WIHZGHFDGHVEXWWKHKHDGZD- WHUVLQ&DQDGDDUHVRIDUQRUWKWKDWWKHDPRXQWRIVQRZSDFN LVQ¶WOLNHO\WREHDIIHFWHGVDLG0LNH6FKZLVRZGLUHFWRURI JRYHUQPHQWUHODWLRQVIRUWKHOHDJXH +HZDVUHIHUULQJWRDSUHVHQWDWLRQE\VWDWHFOLPDWRORJLVW 1LFN%RQG 'URXJKW EULQJV HI¿FLHQW ZDWHU XVH LQWR VKDUSHU IRFXV Schwisow said. %XW³IURPDZDWHUVXSSO\VWDQGSRLQWWKHSURMHFWUHPDLQV GURXJKWUHVLVWDQW´KHVDLG 7KHOHDJXHPHW2FWLQ0RVHV/DNH:DVK — Matthew Weaver Courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation The drainage end of Cle Elum Lake on Sept. 9 is at 30,000 acre-feet of water compared to 436,900 acre-feet when full. The lake level was down 115 feet. Yakima reservoirs lowest in years By DAN WHEAT Capital Press RZGLUHFWRURIJRYHUQPHQWUH- ODWLRQVIRUWKHOHDJXH The irrigation district is ZRUNLQJ RQ D PLOOLRQ ¿- QDQFLQJSODQWRDOORZFRQWLQXHG FRQVWUXFWLRQ RI WKH ¿UVW V\VWHP DQG LPSURYHPHQWV RQ WKH (DVW Low Canal. Landowner meetings are SODQQHGLQ1RYHPEHUIRUWKHUH- PDLQLQJVL[V\VWHPVWRSURYLGH DQ XSGDWH DQG ¿QDQFLQJ LQIRU- mation. 7KH GLVWULFW KDV SURYLGHG ODQGRZQHUVZLWKGUDIWFRQWUDFWV ³$ ORW RI WKHVH IRONV KDYH QRW SXUFKDVHG RU XVHG IHGHUDO ZDWHUVXSSOLHVVRWKHUH¶VDOLWWOH ELW RI D OHDUQLQJ FXUYH WKHUH´ -RKQVRQVDLG Farmers are interested in what it will cost them. The dis- WULFW¶VERDUGRIGLUHFWRUVZDQWV WRLGHQWLI\WKHSRWHQWLDOFRVWRQ WKH ERQG PDUNHW XVLQJ ³IDLU- O\ FRQVHUYDWLYH´ HVWLPDWHV IRU FDSLWDOFRQWLQJHQFLHVLQÀDWLRQ DQGLQWHUHVWUDWHV-RKQVRQVDLG -RKQVRQ VDLG KH ZHOFRPHV IHHGEDFNIURPODQGRZQHUV 7KH ERDUG LV DOVR SXUVXLQJ DGGLWLRQDO VRXUFHV RI VWDWH RU IHGHUDOIXQGLQJKHVDLG ³7KDWZRXOGEHDKXJHEXU- GHQRIIRIRXUODQGRZQHUVEXW ULJKWQRZZHDUHWU\LQJWRSXW WRJHWKHU ¿QDQFLQJ VFHQDULRV WKDWZRXOGEHDEOHWRVXUYLYH RQWKHLURZQLQWKHHYHQWWKDW GRHVQ¶WKDSSHQ´KHVDLG Joyce Capital, Inc. In agriculture, nothing is certain. Your interest rate should be. We offer competitive interest rates for your agricultural financing needs: • Term agricultural loans (purchases & refinances) • FSA Preferred Lender • Amortizations up to 25 years CONTACT: Kevin Arrien, or Joe Lodge <$.,0$ :DVK ² 7KH ¿UVW ZLQWHU VWRUP VKRXOG VWDUW turning the corner on water VWRUDJHLQ¿YHPRXQWDLQUHVHU- YRLUVVHUYLQJWKH<DNLPD%DVLQ WKDWDUHDWWKHLUORZHVWOHYHOVLQ \HDUV 6HYHUDO LQFKHV RI UDLQ DQG VQRZ DERYH IHHW ZDV IRUHFDVW IRU WKH &DVFDGH 0RXQWDLQV DW WKH HQG RI 2F- WREHUDQGWKH¿UVWIHZGD\VRI 1RYHPEHU ³,IWKLVUDLQFRPHVLWVKRXOG VWDUWWKHUHERXQGWRNHHSJRLQJ through winter in the reser- YRLUV´ VDLG &KULV /\QFK K\- GURORJLVW IRU WKH 86 %XUHDX RI5HFODPDWLRQ¶V<DNLPD3URM- ect. 7KH EXUHDX PDQDJHV ZD- WHU VWRUDJH DQG ÀRZ WKURXJK UHVHUYRLUV VWUHDPV DQG ULYHUV WR SURYLGH LUULJDWLRQ ZDWHU WR DFUHV RI IDUP- ODQG DORQJ PLOHV RI WKH PLOHORQJ <DNLPD 5LYHU LQWKH.LWWLWDVDQG<DNLPDYDO- OH\V $W IXOO FDSDFLW\ WKH ¿YH UHVHUYRLUV VWRUH D OLWWOH PRUH WKDQPLOOLRQDFUHIHHWRIZD- WHU ,UULJDWRUV QRUPDOO\ QHHG DQRWKHUDFUHIHHWDQG XVXDOO\ PLOOLRQ DFUHIHHW is stored in mountain snow- SDFN DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH VWDWH 'HSDUWPHQW RI (FRORJ\ %XW VQRZSDFN ZDV IDU OHVV WKLV \HDU EHFDXVH RI GURXJKW DQG XVH RI UHVHUYRLU ZDWHU ZKLOH rationed to junior water right KROGHUV EHJDQ HDUOLHU WKDQ normal. $V D UHVXOW WKH ¿YH UHV- HUYRLUV KLW D VHDVRQHQGLQJ ORZ RI DFUHIHHW RI ZDWHU RQ 2FW FRPSDUHG WRODVW\HDUDQGD \HDUDYHUDJHRI /\QFK DQG KLV FROOHDJXHV DW WKH EXUHDX KDG KRSHG WR PDLQWDLQEXWKHVDLG ³ZDVQ¶WWRREDGIRUD GURXJKW\HDU´ 7KHORZZDVLQWKH ODVW GURXJKW \HDU LQ DQG WKH UHFRUG ORZ ZDV LQ KHVDLG The irrigation season ended RQ VFKHGXOH RQ 2FW ZLWK 6XQQ\VLGH ,UULJDWLRQ 'LVWULFW EHLQJ WKH ODVW WR VKXW GRZQ 8VXDOO\WKHUHVHUYRLUVWXUQWKH FRUQHU EHIRUH WKHQ IURP UDLQ 7KLV 2FWREHU KDV EHHQ GULHU WKDQQRUPDO/\QFKVDLG 7KHPRVWYLVLEOHRIWKH¿YH UHVHUYRLUV LV .HHFKHOXV /DNH DORQJ ,QWHUVWDWH HDVW RI 6QRTXDOPLH3DVV ³3HRSOH VD\ WKH\¶YH QHYHU VHHQLWWKLVORZEXWWKH\KDYH ,W¶VMXVWEHHQDZKLOH´/\QFK said. 1HDUE\ .DFKHVV DQG &OH (OXP ODNHV QRW YLVLEOH IURP WKH IUHHZD\ DOVR DUH ORZ 6R DUH WKH RWKHU WZR UHVHUYRLUV 5LPURFN DQG %XPSLQJ ODNHV QHDU:KLWH3DVV$OOWRJHWKHU WKH¿YHDUHDWDERXWSHUFHQW RIVWRUDJHFDSDFLW\ *LYHQ KRZ ORZ WKH\ DUH DQGIRUHFDVWVIRUDQRWKHUPLOG GU\ZLQWHU/\QFKLVFRQFHUQHG DERXWWKHUHVHUYRLUVDQGVQRZ- SDFN ³,¶YH KHDUG IURP GLIIHUHQW PHWHRURORJLVWV WKDW WKH IDOO PD\ EH UHDVRQDEO\ ZHW EXW PD\EHQRWVQRZDQGWKHZLQ- WHUIURPWKH¿UVWRIWKH\HDURQ ZLOOEHGULHUWKDQDYHUDJH´KH said. (O1LQR\HDUVFDQEHEHORZ DYHUDJH WR QHDU DYHUDJH SUH- FLSLWDWLRQKHVDLG ³:KHQ ZH¶UH GUDLQHG WKLV IDU GRZQ LW LV D FRQFHUQ ,W¶V KDUGHU WR ¿OO WKHP ,W PDNHV XVPRUHQHUYRXV:HQHHGWKH ULJKW EDODQFH EHWZHHQ UHVHU- YRLU VWRUDJH DQG VQRZSDFN´ KHVDLG³/DVW\HDUZHJRWWKH UHVHUYRLUV ¿OOHG EXW GLGQ¶W KDYH PXFK VQRZSDFN DIWHU $SULO´ at Joyce Capital, Inc. 'HSXWLHVIDWDOO\VKRRW,GDKRUDQFKHULQFUDVKLQYROYLQJEXOO (208) 338-1560 • Boise, ID joe@arrien.biz 45-4/#17 45-4/#5 &281&,/ ,GDKR $3 ² ,GDKR 6WDWH 3ROLFH RIIL- FLDOVVD\DUDQFKHUZDVVKRW DQG NLOOHG DIWHU H[FKDQJLQJ JXQILUH ZLWK GHSXWLHV DW WKH VFHQH RI D FUDVK EHWZHHQ D SDVVHQJHUFDUDQGWKHUDQFK- HU¶VEXOO $GDPV &RXQW\ VKHULII¶V GHSXWLHVUHVSRQGHGWRWKHUH- SRUWRID6XEDUXVWDWLRQZDJ- RQKLWWLQJDEXOOMXVWQRUWKRI &RXQFLO RQ 1RY $FFRUG- LQJ WR ,63 WKH LQMXUHG EXOO EHJDQ FKDUJLQJ HPHUJHQF\ UHVSRQGHUVDVWKH\ZRUNHGWR H[WULFDWH WKH GULYHU DQG SDV- VHQJHURIWKHFDU -DFN <DQWLV WKH EXOO¶V RZQHU DUULYHG DW WKH VFHQH FDUU\LQJ D ULÀH MXVW DV GHSX- WLHVGHFLGHGWRSXWWKHDQLPDO GRZQ $Q ,63 VSRNHVPDQ VD\VWKHUHZDVDQDOWHUFDWLRQ DQG<DQWLV DQG WKH WZR GHS- XWLHVDOO¿UHGWKHLUZHDSRQV %RWK GHSXWLHV KDYH EHHQ SODFHG RQ SDLG OHDYH 7KHLU QDPHV KDYH QRW EHHQ UH- leased. <DQWLV GLHG DW WKH VFHQH 2QH GHSXW\ VXVWDLQHG D PL- QRULQMXU\ 45-4/#4X Agricultural Loan Agents