[Vision2020] Protect Grand Ronde Aquifer

[KRFP]

Here's a little tidbit I picked up recently from Science News.  Did you 
know that there is a significant carbon footprint to using ground (or 
well) water as we do?  Because there is dissolved CO2 in groundwater it 
fizzes out and our (human) usage contributes as much CO2 as all of the 
volcanoes of the world. 

Sorry I can't give the link it's a subscriber only one.

Dave


Tom Hansen wrote:
> >From the Letters section of today's (January 17, 2008) Spokesman Review with
> thanks to Buell Hollister of Spokane -
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
> Washington State HB 1338 - 2003-04
> Providing additional certainty for municipal water rights.
> http://tinyurl.com/2fbs3o
>
> --------------------------
>
> Protect Grand Ronde aquifer
>
> The cities of Moscow and Pullman and the University of Idaho as well as WSU
> rely on the Grande Ronde aquifer as a sole source of water. The water level
> in the aquifer has declined up to 3 feet for several decades, putting the
> long-term sustainability of the water supply in question.
>
> Under Washington's new municipal water law (HB 1338), WSU is designated a
> municipality, allowing the university to combine water permits previously
> issued by the state to pump three times the water the university currently
> uses. Ignoring the declining water level of the Grande Ronde aquifer WSU
> intends to pump up to 250 million gallons of water a season to irrigate an
> 18-hole golf course. Strange action for a land grant agricultural university
> that advises farmers on prudent use of water.
>
> Several local private citizens, conservation groups and Indian tribes have
> brought suit against the state of Washington testing the constitutionality
> of HB 1338 for allowing over-appropriation of water in violation of the
> public interest in affected communities. If the suit, beginning Jan. 22 in
> Pullman, is successful, it will prevent future over-appropriation of water,
> benefiting sustainable community growth and economic development.
>
> Buell Hollister
> Spokane
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "If not us, who?
> If not now, when?"
>
> - Unknown
>
>
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