ELLENSBURG — Six Central Washington counties will urge the state to take action on new water storage and also demand that the Legislature rein in the Department of Ecology’s ability to ban the drilling of small private wells.

The impetus is a ban that’s already in place in upper Kittitas County.

Those two messages — likely to be included in a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire — emerged during a Wednesday meeting convened by Kittitas County commissioners seeking to forge a united front with nearby counties on water issues.

But a more aggressive approach may be needed, said state Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, at the meeting that included commissioners from Kittitas, Yakima, Benton, Franklin and Grant counties and a representative from Klickitat County.

“Until someone is willing to sue, they won’t listen. You need to have equal risk on both sides,” said Hinkle, who was a Kittitas County commissioner before being elected to the Legislature. “I don’t know how you can do that unless someone sues.”

Even a shift to Republicans in power in the Legislature and a Republican governor wouldn’t guarantee a shift in policy, he warned the group.

At the same time as the county officials were gathering in Ellensburg, state Ecology Department Director Ted Sturdevant told the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board the best way to solve the water issues is through cooperation.

“I’m more than curious about whether we’re going to keep talking or if this is going to be political,” he said.

He also sought to allay fears — repeated more than once by county officials — that the agency has plans to broaden the well ban to neighboring counties like Yakima and Benton.

Kittitas County Commissioner Alan Crankovich contended a wider ban is imminent, while fellow Commissioner Paul Jewell said an expansion is part of the agency’s anti-growth stance.

“They are trying to prove their political aspirations on the backs of our citizens,” Jewell told other commissioners.

Sturdevant said the issues in Kittitas County are different from those elsewhere.

“Benton and Yakima County are nothing like Kittitas. There are not the same growth pressures,” said Sturdevant, who became Ecology director in November 2009.

The Ecology Department imposed the ban on new exempt wells, those that do not require a state permit, saying that the rapid growth of housing subdivisions in the upper county relying on exempt wells is reducing the available water for senior water rights and streamflows.

The agency imposed the ban after two years of talks with county commissioners on a water management plan for the upper county, west of Indian John Hill.

Gregoire turned down a request to lift the nine-month ban last week, but she ordered the Department of Ecology to adopt a permanent rule. Putting that rule in place would require the agency to allow public comment and testimony. To get new wells, residents and developers would have to obtain existing water rights to offset their new use. Suncadia, the upscale resort near Roslyn, has water rights and is making a water bank available.

Residents also have the ability to purchase a share of a water right held in the state’s trust water rights program.

A similar plan could be developed with $700,000 in state funds the Legislature is making available. Kittitas County will be able to use that money to purchase water rights to offset new uses if an agreement with Ecology can be reached on groundwater management.

Kittitas County commissioners said Wednesday any agreement would need to include a lifting of the current moratorium.

New storage, such as a reservoir,  is the preferred solution, said Yakima County Commissioner Kevin Bouchey.

A comprehensive effort involving local, state, federal and tribal governments, fish and farm interests is trying to craft a solution on how to meet the water needs of all competing uses.

Known as the latest chapter in the federal water enhancement project, the effort is looking at fish passage at basin dams, improved habitat, new reservoir storage, groundwater storage, habitat improvements, more water conservation and a market system for buying and selling water rights.

Leaders are pointing toward an environmental impact statement late this year, followed by requests for state and federal funding.

The effort, jointly led by Ecology and the federal Bureau of Reclamation, began last year after reclamation ended a study that focused on the proposed Black Rock reservoir, east of Yakima. The dam ultimately was deemed to be too costly for the benefits it would provide.

“Our perspective is this does need to be addressed at the legislative level,” Bouchey said following the 90-minute meeting. “Long term, the answer is more water storage. We have to deal with the overall water supply issue. That is where the enhancement process is so key for these needs.”

County commissioners agreed an expansion of the current inadequate water storage will solve most of the water problems for cities, agriculture and instream needs for fish.

“Storage will solve 90 percent of this issue,” Jewell said.

• David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com.