SPOKANE - According to an economic analysis conducted by the Department of Ecology, water permits issued in the Quincy Groundwater Management Subarea have meant millions of dollars to the area's economy.

According to Ecology, they could add $14.8 million to agricultural property values and $70 million to commercial land values in Grant County.

Ecology has issued 167 new permits for the withdrawal of artificially stored groundwater within the QGMS. The, permits issued in the past seven years, authorize the use of 35,219 acre-feet of water. They boost the local economy by providing more farmable acreage, new industrial growth and support construction jobs

The Quincy Subarea artificially stored groundwater program currently authorizes a total of 170,469 acre-feet of water with a market value estimated to be about $350 million. An acre foot equals 325,851 gallons of water.

Benefits of this effort are flowing to the communities of Ephrata, George, Moses Lake, Quincy and Warden and to the farms, vineyards and businesses of Grant County.

Agricultural producers, domestic water users and major employers acquiring the permits have included Cochran Farms, Maiers Irrevocable Farming Trust, Weber Family Farms, Willard & Sherry Lange Farm, Dieringer Dairy, Cross B Estate Homeowner Association and Potholes Reservoir Golf & Camping.

The Quincy Subarea was delineated in 1969 by the Washington Legislature because the characteristics of the aquifer there necessitated a more involved permitting process.