8 CapitalPress.com August 11, 2017 Thinning project may move ahead Court rejects arguments from Alliance for the Wild Rockies Area in detail lu ia R. mb Co 31 KANIKSU NAT’L FOR. eille P e n d Or 25 R. By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI PEND OREILLE Capital Press OREILLE N.W.R. An environmental group has failed to convince a fed- eral appeals court that an in- junction is warranted against a 12,800-acre thinning proj- ect in Washington’s Colville National Forest. The Alliance for the Wild Rockies hasn’t proved that halting the A to Z Project is justifi ed based on alleged violations of federal forest management and environ- 395 A to Z Project area COLVILLE NAT’L FOR. STEVENS 20 211 N 2 231 Capital Press graphic mental laws, according to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The plaintiff has “not demonstrated serious ques- tions, much less a likelihood of success” in accusing the U.S. Forest Service of botch- ing its environmental anal- ysis of the project, the 9th Circuit said. The A to Z Project is in- tended to harvest commercial timber while changing the “trajectory” of the area from the “unhealthy path it is cur- rently on to one that moves it toward a healthy and resilient forest,” according to the For- est Service’s analysis. With the reduction in tree density, the forest will be less susceptible to wildfi res and insect infestations, the agen- cy said. Rehabilitation of ero- sion-prone roads will also reduce sediment runoff into streams. However, the Alliance for the Wild Rockies claimed the Forest Service inade- quately analyzed the impacts of logging on the fi sher and the pine marten, which are fur-bearing mammals in the weasel family. The fi sher is also a candidate for Endan- gered Species Act protec- tions. The agency determined that more than 2,000 acres of older trees and “core areas” for the pine marten will be excluded from logging, so it contends that the project won’t interfere with the spe- cies’ viability. This conclusion was ex- tended to the fi sher, which has habitat preferences simi- lar to the pine marten. The plaintiff argued the Forest Service incorrectly considered the pine marten’s habitat as a proxy for the spe- cies instead of monitoring its actual population. Similarly, the group claimed that pine marten hab- itat shouldn’t serve as a proxy for the fi sher population. The 9th Circuit rejected both arguments, fi nding that the Forest Service was per- mitted to use such proxies in its analysis of the project. The appellate court also ruled that road maintenance and reconstruction will pre- vent the project from causing sediment runoff at a rate that will harm fi sh. Sediment runoff from grazing is also expected to decrease because vegetation is being allowed to regrow in overgrazed and riparian areas, the 9th Circuit said. Idaho water resources agency takes on enforcement of rights on Lower Portneuf By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press POCATELLO, Idaho — Before July 27, administering water rights for the Lower Portneuf River was an infor- mal process, involving gentle- men’s agreements and neigh- borly handshakes. But now, Idaho Depart- ment of Water Resources offi - cials say management of Wa- ter District 29-D will be more typical and structured. In the midst of a banner water year marked by plenty of water in most watersheds, the Idaho Department of Wa- ter Resources has instructed the district’s watermaster, Randy Smith, to notify users of the fi rst water call curtail- ments in the Lower Portneuf’s history. The water district was formed in 2011, but adminis- tration of water rights hadn’t been feasible until now, based on the completion of the Snake River Basin Adjudica- tion about three years ago, ex- plained IDWR Water Compli- ance Bureau Chief Tim Luke. “Now the adjudication is over and we have a unifying decree signed by the district court,” so it’s time to do it, Luke said. Smith, a retired phone company worker who irri- gates a couple of small alfalfa fi elds in Pocatello, initially notifi ed irrigators with rights junior to 1903 to curtail their water use. Curtailment notic- es were broadened Aug. 6 to cover irrigators with rights ju- nior to 1900. The district includes 313 water rights junior to 1900, most of which are used to ir- rigate 10- to 15-acre pastures, lawns or small alfalfa fi elds. In 2016, senior irrigators with the Surface Water Co- alition reached a settlement with groundwater users whose wells were reducing Snake River spring fl ows. John O’Connell/Capital Press Randy Smith, watermaster of the Lower Portneuf River water district, stands along the banks of the Portneuf River at the pump he uses to irrigate alfalfa behind his Pocatello, Idaho, home. Smith has been asked to notify members of his district that they must curtail their water use for the fi rst time, based on the Surface Water Coalition’s water call. The state is now looking at upstream surface users who have been diverting out of priority. In normal water years, Luke said 1,900 Portneuf sur- face rights would be curtailed a month or two earlier than this season. He noted many water rights on the system’s tributary streams are “self regulating” in dry years, as they dry up before the water rights expire. “This is something new going forward,” Luke said. “It’s not going to be easy starting off.” Smith anticipates many of his users will simply ignore the order, believing it’s illog- ical to dry their land to deliver a pittance of water to users more than 100 miles away — especially during a year when it’s not needed. He understands state law gives priority to senior users, but vows his district’s mem- bers will push for statutory reforms to avoid waste. He doesn’t plan to seek re-elec- tion as watermaster. “The way it’s always been in this district is, OK, I may have an older priority date and you may be junior, but you take a little bit and I’ve got enough to get me by,” Smith said. “It’s always been a neighborly thing, and now it’s just a law thing.” Luke said the department is also laying the groundwork to eventually start actively administering Water District 29-H, which will affect south- east Idaho irrigators who draw from Marsh Creek. In addition to enforcing the coalition’s call, Luke said Ida- ho Department of Water Re- sources plans to address some out-of-priority diversions af- fecting senior users within the same district. Luke said it could take a year or two for the Marsh Creek district to become ac- tive. Courtesy of T&R Farms Ron Reimann Water rights advocate dies in collision Ron Reimann had ‘overpowering sense of justice’ By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press Eastern Washington farm- er Ron Reimann believed in protecting growers’ water rights, people who knew him say. Reimann, 74, died July 30 when his side-by-side off- road vehicle was struck by a 2001 Chrysler van on a road near Kahlotus, Wash., accord- ing to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Offi ce. Reimann was one of 12 original board members for the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association and a leader of the Washington State Potato Commission. He was also a commissioner for the Port of Pasco. Reimann served as presi- dent of the irrigators associa- tion for the last eight years. “Irrigated agriculture throughout Washington state is in much better shape as a re- sult of his work,” said Darryll Olsen, board representative of the irrigators association. The association blocked efforts to reduce water rights for growers on the state and federal level, Olsen said. “He had such an overpow- ering sense of justice and fair- ness,” Olsen said. “He acted that way towards people, but he expected people to be pro- tected as well.” Reimann served as chair- man for the potato commis- sion from 1994 to 1996 and remained active in the group, commission executive direc- tor Chris Voigt said. And though Reimann was a great leader for the commis- sion, Voigt believes his legacy will be water. “He took great pride in making food on his farm and understood the value of irri- gation for our country’s food security,” Voigt said. The collision is still under investigation, according to the sheriff’s offi ce. Reimann is survived by his wife, Rella, son, Reid, and granddaughter Anastasia. Ser- vices were Aug. 8. New canola association gains certifi cation By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press WE SPECIALIZE IN BULK BAGS! 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The association will include farmers in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana, said Karen Sowers, Washington State University Extension out- reach specialist for oilseeds. “It’s the fi rst big step,” Sow- ers said. The association is formaliz- ing its bylaws. Under current draft bylaws, the association will offer four levels of membership, ranging from $500 per year to $5,000 per year, with a voting seat on the board of directors at the $5,000 per year level. Sowers is taking nomina- tions of producer members for the board of directors. The nominees will be placed on a ballot. The association is seek- ing nominations of at least two growers from each state. Sowers has an email contact list of 300 canola growers in the E.J. Harris/EO Media Group File The Pacifi c Northwest Canola Association is a step closer to reality. four states. Sowers said the association also welcomes farmers in their fi rst year of growing canola or who are thinking about trying it. “I guess there’s not an ‘ide- al’ candidate, just a passion for growing canola and knowing it makes sense in a rotation wher- ever you may be in the Pacifi c Northwest,” she said. Canola is priced about 19 cents per pound for GMO canola to 20.5 cents per pound for non-GMO canola. Spring canola harvest began the week of Aug. 7. Sowers expects average yields. Early yields look good, but the sum- mer heat is “pretty wicked,” she said. Most of the winter canola harvest is done, Sowers said. She expects average to above average yields, due to extended snow cover and spring mois- ture. Sowers hopes to ramp up the search for an executive di- rector in the fall. She said the association wants someone with a passion for and under- standing of the region’s canola industry. Draft bylaws currently state the association will meet twice a year. Sowers hopes the asso- ciation will be offi cial by the end of the year.