[Vision2020] Water. Continuing the discussion

[Nils Peterson]

Submitted Letter to Editor, DNews

An important idea was not conveyed by your coverage last week of the  
City Council hearing. The idea is important because it is far  
reaching -- beyond the Thompson Rezone. Diane French, Palouse Water  
Conservation Network presented an analysis of "water liability." Read  
full report here: http://www.nosuperwalmart.com/documents/ 
watermay1.shtml

Diane's presentation analyzed the platted but not yet improved  
residential lots in Moscow, based on a map generated by Latah  
County’s GIS system. These lots are available for development without  
any further review other than a building permit. They have a right to  
connect and use City water. While there is a small degree of  
uncertainty in the data because the county tax system often lags  
behind on the ground reality. Not considering the Thompson property,  
Diane's report found a "water liability" of 17% (over 140 million  
gallons per year (MGY)) above 2005 pumping volumes.  In 2005, Moscow  
pumped 819 MGY, the Palouse Basin Aquifer agreement provides an  
absolute cap on total pumping at 875 MGY.  Current platted lots could  
push Moscow 84MGY over the cap. This number does not include  
irrigation water for the new City ball fields along Palouse River Drive.

Water policy and planning is important because static water levels in  
the City’s main pumping well continue to decline even with the recent  
conservation savings by Moscow citizens and businesses. The Moscow  
Comprehensive Plan in the general discussion reads: “Future planning  
decisions concerning any new development in the Moscow area should  
consider the amount of water to be used by the development, the  
nature of the water use, and the source of the water supply.” A  
recent discussion on Vision 2020 explored ways to address this water  
shortage, including a concept for securing new water for development  
from conservation measures among existing uses. Please continue your  
Palouse Water series with more articles exploring these issues.

Nils Peterson
Moscow
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