MEETING EASTERN WASHINGTON S WATER NEEDS. Carolyn Comeau Office of Columbia River WA State Department of Ecology

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1 MEETING EASTERN WASHINGTON S WATER NEEDS Carolyn Comeau Office of Columbia River WA State Department of Ecology November 16, 2011

2 MEETING EASTERN WASHINGTON S WATER NEEDS OFFICE OF COLUMBIA RIVER CURRENT PROJECTS 2011 WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND FORECAST

3 Ecology directed to aggressively pursue development of new water supplies for both instream and out-of-stream uses Significant investment in new storage and conservation Capital: authorization for bonds of up to $200 million Operating: $2.1 million and 15 FTEs 2/3 of funds for study & construction of new storage & pump exchanges 1/3 of new storage for improving streamflows to benefit fish 2/3 of new storage for new out-of-stream uses 1/3 of funds for all other water supply projects

4 FINDING SOLUTIONS: New Permits Odessa Subarea Instream Flows Drought Relief

5 Alternatives to Groundwater for Odessa Alternatives to groundwater for agricultural users in the Odessa subarea aquifer; For the last 40 years, farmers ingrant, Lincoln and Franklincounties in the Odessa Subarea have been relying on declining groundwater to irrigate crops. These farmers were intended to be served by surface water from the Columbia River as part of the Columbia Basin Project. The aquifer is now declining to such an extent (pump depths exceeding 2,000 feet) that the ability of farmers to irrigate their crops is at risk. The loss of irrigation water in the area could cost $600 million a year in lost revenue and the elimination of 7,500 jobs. Through conservation, storage and delivery of surface water supplies, the Office of Columbia River (OCR) is working to protect Washington farmers. Odessa Subarea Special Study & EIS (up to approximately 350,000 ac-ft being studied). Lake Roosevelt Incremental Storage Releases (30,000 acre-feet in implementation). Coordinated Conservation Program (Approximately 6,000 ac-ft in implementation). Odessa Infrastructure Upgrades (Weber Siphon and Potholes Supplemental Feed Route).

6 Pending Water Right Applications Sources of water supply for pending water right applications; Over 350 are pending within one mile of the Columbia River. Some applicants have been waiting 20 years to receive water rights because of litigation over the quantities of water necessary for instream and out-of-stream uses. In 2006, the Columbia River Program introduced a program where both instream and out-ofstream needs are met through water supply development projects. Lake Roosevelt Incremental Storage Releases Sullivan Creek Reservoir (Pend Oreille PUD) Kennewick Irrigation District Red Mountain Kennewick Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project Rocky Reach Dam Pool Raise (Chelan PUD) Some non-additive permits have already been issued.

7 Future Growth New municipal, domestic, industrial and irrigation water needs in basin Population growth, increasing agricultural demands, and instreamneeds are competing for water from an already overtaxed Columbia River. By forecasting how supply will change and what new demands will come to Washington, Office of Columbia River (OCR) is working to predictand meet the long-term demand for water supplies from storage and conservation. Large Storage Feasibility Yakima Basin Integrated Management Plan ASR Feasibility Conservation Water Banking / Marketing Acquisitions/Leases

8 Drought Relief for Interruptible Water Right Holders New uninterruptible supply of water for interruptible water right holders During times of drought about 380 interruptible water right holders risk crop loss when their water use from the Columbia River is curtailed. Such losses can add up to millions of dollars in lost revenue. The Office of Columbia River s mission is to develop alternative supplies that can be relied upon during periods of drought. Lake Roosevelt Incremental Storage Releases (33,000 ac-ft). Columbia River Drought Insurance Program (Leases/Acquisitions, 5000 ac-ft). Developing fish improvement projects to convert interruptibles to firm supplies.

9 Instream Flows Water for instream purposes Low stream flows threaten salmon and steelhead populations. Competition between instream and out-of-stream uses resulted in litigation over water supply during the past 30 years. The Columbia River Program s mission is to develop water supplies where instream flow benefit is an integral part of project selection. Lake Roosevelt Incremental Storage Releases (44,500 ac-ft) Kennewick Irrigation District Pump Exchange (11,005 ac-ft) Barker Ranch Canal Piping (6,436 ac-ft) Sullivan Creek Reservoir (4,600 ac-ft) Rocky Reach Dam Pool Raise Walla Walla Pump Exchange Manastash and Peshastin Canal Piping Yakima Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Program

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11 Lake Roosevelt Storage Release

12 Sullivan Lake The Project The Pend Oreille County Public Utility District will release 14,000 acre-feet of water each summer, when the water is needed most. Two-thirds of that water will be allocated for new water rights, including cities and towns. The remainder will go to enhance streamflows. Opportunities Potential water supply opportunities are scarce in northeast Washington. This project will help cities meet present and future demands. Expected Outcomes 9,333 ac-ft of water will be made available for new water rights. 4,667 ac-ft of water will be put into Sullivan Creek and protected all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Timeline Reservoir releases and trust decision in summer 2012 New permits beginning October 2012 Cost $14 Million Economic Benefits $1.4 Billion added to Tax Base Environmental Benefits 4,667 of water ac-ft added to streamflows Community Benefits In-lake recreation, fisheries, and aesthetic values enhanced. Ratepayer impacts minimized. Quote Insuring that the expenses related to the decommissioning of the Sullivan Creek Project are not passed along to our customers in the form of rate increases was a primary goal during this process. PUD general manager, Bob Geddes

13 Red Mountain AVA Pump Project The Project Move Kennewick Irrigation District (KID) diversion point on the Yakima River 20 miles downstream from Prosser to Kiona. Located in Western Benton County. Opportunities The Yakima River between Prosser and Kiona is subject to low flows in the summer months. The water supplied by this project will help to alleviate part of the problem. The Red Mountain American Viticultural Area is quickly becoming globally renowned for the characteristics of its grapes. Water supplied by this project will increase its production potential. Expected Outcomes Increased water supply will allow for additional 1,785 acres of wine grape vineyards to be planted. An additional 11,005 ac-ft of water will be added to Yakima River stream flows. Timeline Permitting decision in December 2011, construction in 2012, and new lands irrigated beginning in Cost $ Million Economic Benefits $9.2 Million Annually 103 jobs added Environmental Benefits 11,005 ac-ft of water added to a low-flowing stretch of the Yakima River (between Prosser and Benton City) 1,200 ac-ft of shrub steppe habitat protected Community Benefits 1,785 acres of new irrigation Quote "It benefits the wine, the fish, the state, the landowners out there and our ratepayers," said Scott Revell, planning manager for KID.

14 Columbia River Basin Long-Term Water Supply & Demand Forecast The Project The forecast provides a comprehensive analysis of the likely future changes in Eastern Washington s surface water supplies and water demands for agriculture, municipalities, hydropower and instream flows. Environmental and economic scenarios were modeled to understand how surface water supplies and demands could be impacted by climate change, regional global economics and state level water management actions. The forecasted results show that across Eastern Washington, hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water is needed for irrigation, municipal and fisheries uses by Partnered with WSU and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Opportunities OCR will use the Forecast as a capital investment planning tool to guide project funding decisions. Expected Outcomes The Forecast supports OCR in strategically investing in water supply projects that maximize instream and out-of-stream benefits. Timeline Final Report released in January 2012 Cost $1.3 Million Economic Benefits Strategically funded water supply projects that enhance eastern Washington s economy, environment and community development. Environmental Benefits Forecast contains an Instream Atlas summarizing habitat and stream conditions Community Benefits Forecast predicts demand for irrigation and municipal uses by 2030.

15 STRATEGIC PLANNING TOOL TO DEVELOP A WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN Understand environmental and economic impacts on future water supplies and demands. Identify areas where water demands are highest. Identify areas where supplies are available. Goal: Develop water supply projects to meet future instream and out of stream demands.

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22 Annual Water supplies: ~ 3% increase in annual supplies Seasonal Supplies: ~ 17.5% increase between November and May ~14.3 % decrease between June and October More precipitation falling as rain rather than snow Snow pack melting earlier in the season (away from irrigation season

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25 Demand Type Estimated Volume (ac-ft) 2030 New Irrigation Demand 170,000 (+/- 18,000) 2030 New Municipal and Domestic Demand 108,500 Unmet Columbia River Instream Flows 13,400,000 Unmet Tributary Instream Flows 500, New Hydropower Demand 0 Unmet Columbia River Interruptibles 40,000 to 310,000 Alternate Supply for Odessa Subarea 230,000 Yakima Basin Water Supply 450,000

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