EPHRATA — A Grant County PUD spokesperson stated Friday a preliminary federal injunction concerning Crescent Bar Island was expected by the district.

The injunction allows people to remain living on the district-owned island until the court dispute about possession is resolved.

U.S. District Court Judge Quackenbush encouraged the islanders to file a motion for the preliminary injunction in December. The district did not oppose the injunction, stated Sarah Morford, a district spokesperson.

"While we await the resolution of this dispute, we will continue to act in the best interest of the people of Grant County," she said. "We remain committed to returning the island to full public use and are moving forward to develop and charge the Port of Quincy reasonable rental value for their tenants' continued use of the island. That amount has yet to be established."

On Thursday, the PUD filed a court motion to compel the parties to arbitrate. The PUD keeps working to move the dispute to a three-member arbitration panel.

"We are hopeful that in arbitration, the dispute over Crescent Bar Island will be quickly resolved," Morford said.

Crescent Bar resident Margaret Linder said she thinks Quackenbush is on the right track. She pointed out she and her husband are rate payers.

"We have three homes that we pay electrical for," Linder said. "They've just dropped the ball. They should have been monitoring down there."

Grant PUD filed its Shoreline Management Plan for its Priest Rapids Project with the Federal Energy Regulator Commission (FERC) in 2010 and is awaiting approval, Morford noted. The FERC grants the PUD its license to own and operate its Columbia River dams.