Washington State Water Resources Association

Reclamation Awards $12 million Contract for Grand Coulee Dam Powerplants

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:22:21 -0700

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $12 million construction contract for power transformers in the Left and Right Powerplants at Grand Coulee Dam located on the Columbia River about 90 miles west of Spokane, Washington.

Gardner Zemke Company of Albuquerque, New Mexico was awarded the contract on October 13, 2010.

New apple varieties hit the market

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:21:55 -0700

YAKIMA -- The names can be quirky, sublime or romantic.

SweeTango, Piñata, Jazz, Aurora, Honeycrisp, Opal, Sweetie, Pacific Rose and Ambrosia.

Mid-Columbia irrigation begins to shut off Friday

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:57:45 -0700

Irrigation water throughout the Tri-Cities and the Mid-Columbia begins to be shut down for the winter starting this week.

Yakima picture dim in light of overuse, state says

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:57:43 -0700

OLYMPIA -- Water users in the Yakima River region face problems on par with those in the Klamath Basin, a Washington state water official says.

Feds expand habitat protection for threatened bull trout

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:57:43 -0700

Federal officials on Tuesday greatly expanded protections to Yakima River Basin areas that are considered critical to restoring the threatened bull trout.

Triennial Review Process for the Surface Water Quality Standards

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:43:03 -0700

Federal regulations require that states hold public hearings at least once every three years to review applicable surface water quality standards and, as appropriate, adopt new or modified standards. This process is called a triennial review.

Ice Age ground water vanishing

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:00:21 -0700

Wells could start running dry in parts of Columbia River Basin in next decade

A hydrologic study of part of Washington state's Columbia Basin predicts most ground water in that area could run out in the next decade.

The Columbia Basin Ground Water Management Area group recently began the hydrologic study to understand the recharge and discharge of groundwater in the 8,160 square miles of Adams, Lincoln, Grant and Franklin counties in Eastern Washington.

The model developed for the study evaluates the overall water "budget" for the region, which includes the number of acre-feet of water stored in the ground that wells can reasonably access, said Paul Stoker, executive director of the water management area.

Export demand boosts NW onion market

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:14:27 -0700

Northwest onion growers are wrapping up harvest this month with an upbeat market outlook.

Weather problems in parts of Asia and Europe have resulted in a sub-par global onion crop, spurring demand for U.S. storage onions, according to grower-shippers.

Big Drop in USDA’s Corn Crop Estimate Surprises Industry

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:11:29 -0700

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 8, 2010 – A big drop in both the corn yield and production estimates in October’s crop report caught the industry by surprise, according to John Anderson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation. The report was released today by the Agriculture Department.

Reecer Creek restoration begins

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:10:37 -0700

ELLENSBURG—Construction crews recently broke ground on a project 14 years in the making. When it's all said and done, the $1,085,273 Reecer Creek floodplain restoration will have lessened the impact of normal, seasonal flooding and occasional, more severe flooding in west Ellensburg. The project will provide salmon rearing and spawning habitat.

Kittitas commissioners OK solar farm plan

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:09:22 -0700

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) -- Kittitas County commissioners have approved construction and operation plans for a $350 million solar power farm near Cle Elum.

The Daily Record of Ellensburg reports the decision Tuesday clears the way for detailed design and construction planning for the Teanaway Solar Reserve. It received a permit in August despite objections from environmentalists.

Developers say the project could generate enough electricity to power about 45,000 homes.

Rains dampen valley's 2nd cutting

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:08:03 -0700

KITTITAS VALLEY—With near-record rainfall for September occurring close to the peak of second cutting of Kittitas Valley's timothy hay, the situation seems to come down to this: There's a small amount of green hay in the second cutting, but there's a whole lot more brown hay.

Truck shortage has effect on potato harvest

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:01:57 -0700

MOSES LAKE - A truck shortage is underway in Washington, Idaho and California.

The situation is causing potato packers to scramble for available vehicles to bring their product to market.

Spotted wing fruit fly's been spotted

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:01:15 -0700

PROSSER - A few months ago farmers whose livelihoods are dependent on fruits, including grape growers, were put on notice that there may be a concern regarding the spotted wing fruit fly this year.

Lower Valley fall harvest in full swing

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:00:27 -0700

Apple growers are rejoicing. This year promises to be a great harvest, according to Washington State Apple Commission President Todd Fryhover.

He said 2010 is forecast as the second largest crop in Washington history. The largest crop was in 2008.

Hop farmers face reality check

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 12:59:36 -0700

Less quantity, but higher quality; that's the 2010 hop harvest in a nutshell according to Yakima Chief CEO Steve Carpenter.

Carpenter said cool and wet weather in late spring and early summer contributed to a smaller crop this year.

2010 a promising year for wheat and hay farmers

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 12:58:57 -0700

Wheat and hay farmers have had a difficult couple of years, but 2010 is looking up for those who are busy supplying the market with products to help sustain life in this country.

Community supported agriculture thriving at Heavenly Hills Harvest

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 12:58:16 -0700

Merritt Mitchell-Wajeeh says she has always had an interest in growing produce. For the past couple of years she has turned that passion into Heavenly Hills Harvest, a community supported garden that supplies customers from Selah to Richland with fresh vegetables.

Irrigation shut-off to start next week

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 12:57:26 -0700

Local irrigation districts will in the next few days start the seasonal process of shutting down the supply of irrigation water.

The first to feel the pinch will be the city of Grandview, where irrigation water will be turned off next Monday, Oct. 11. That's because of irrigation construction plans in the city.

EPA Releases Plan to Reduce Toxics in Columbia River Basin

Fri, 8 Oct 2010 12:56:44 -0700

U.S. EPA has issued a comprehensive plan to reduce toxic pollution in the Columbia River Basin. The plan tilts toward new monitoring and research programs, but also calls for more stringent water quality standards and more restrictions on water discharges, as well as greater attention to toxics in air emissions and contaminated site cleanups.

2010 WSWRA Annual Conference

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 14:00:56 -0700

Complete Annual Conference materials now available on our website. Conference and free workshop agendas are updated.