Grant County economy gains with help of new water permits
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 14 years, 8 months AGO
The Royal Register News
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.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Connell woman killed in Booker Road crash
CONNELL — Charges are pending against a Kennewick man following a collision about 12 miles south of Othello that killed a Connell woman and injured three other people Tuesday evening. A Washington State Patrol press memo said intoxicating substances were a factor. Jessica Zarate, 37, Connell, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near the intersection of SR 17 and South Booker Road, the WSP memo said. She was driving south on Booker Road approaching the intersection when her car was hit by a pickup driven by John Reiss, 62, Kennewick. Edgar Garcia Quirino, 28, Othello, was driving north on SR 17 and ran into Zarate's car, the WSP memo said. The crash occurred at about 6:40 p.m.
Wheeler Road closed because of traffic collision
UPDATE: The road was reopened as of noon, according to a GCSO media release. MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s Office has announced there is a road closure between Road 3-NE and Road S-NE. There was a serious traffic collision. GCSO is asking for drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Doors opening: The Currents will provide homeownership for more local workers
About 104 homes are planned at the former Atlas sawmill site
Teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers who keep Coeur d’Alene running will soon have more places to buy a home in the community where they work. About 104 homes are being planned to be built at Atlas Waterfront, on roughly 10 acres that are part of a swath of land that was once home to the Atlas sawmill and is being redeveloped. Ignite CDA, the city of Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency, is leading this effort.