CLE ELUM, Wash. -- Changes to a proposed water management agreement between Kittitas County and the state Department of Ecology governing new water wells may be in the offing, representatives of both sides said here Tuesday. Word of the ongoing talks emerged at the conclusion of a second hearing that drew another large crowd before county commissioners at the county District Court office. "No one wants to be in the position we are in. The commissioners have a lot of interests they are trying to look out for, and Ecology has duties and responsibilities," Prosecuting Attorney Greg Zempel said after the hearing. Mark Schuppe, water resources section manager for the agency's central region in Yakima, said agency officials are actively working with the county to reach a new agreement. Both sides hope a resolution will lift a ban the Department of Ecology imposed July 16 halting all new water wells in the upper county area, west and north of Indian John Hill. Ecology took the much-criticized step, saying the county had refused to sign an agreement that establishes a framework for requiring some water users to offset their use by obtaining an existing right. Others would be limited in how much water their individual wells could draw. The wells in question are "exempt wells" used for homes, a half-acre lawn and garden, industrial use, and watering livestock. The agency is concerned new wells are damaging senior water rights and stream flows. Opponents of the ban say the state's action is damaging the Kittitas County economy, costing jobs and investments people have made in property. Tuesday night, several of the roughly 80 people at a hearing testified. Two representatives from the city of Roslyn noted that the community has had to endure the threat of losing water during droughts while new homes with unregulated wells never have to worry about having limits imposed on water use. And one realtor from Rosyln said he and others are considering a class-action lawsuit against Ecology because of the well water ban. Commissioner Mark McClain said commissioners scheduled the last two public hearings when it appeared the state and county had an agreement in principle on future development in the upper county. Now, he said, the state says it doesn't want to sign it. "I don't understand the end game. At this point, Ecology is playing politics with people's lives," McClain said. "That is disappointing." Ecology officials have said they're reluctant to sign an agreement with Kittitas County until an attorney general's opinion is issued on legal questions about the agency's authority to limit withdrawals from unregulated wells. That opinion is expected within a month. County commissioners have scheduled an Aug. 26 meeting to continue deliberating on the proposed agreement. * David Lester can be reached at 509-577-7674 or dlester@yakimaherald.com. CLE ELUM, Wash. -- Changes to a proposed water management agreement between Kittitas County and the state Department of Ecology governing new water wells may be in the offing, representatives of both sides said here Tuesday. Word of the ongoing talks emer City Desk, LOCAL

2009-08-19T04:13:24Z

by David Lester

2009-08-19T06:44:13Z

false

Ecology, Kittitas Co. discuss changing water agreement 22517 ecology-kittitas-co-discuss-changing-water-agreement Web Story

Yakima Herald-Republic

2009-08-19T06:43:27Z

7206583

Ecology, Kittitas Co. discuss changing water agreement published Web Daily

2009-08-19T06:43:27Z