Columbia Basin Development League conference set for Nov. 3
MOSES LAKE — The effort to convert irrigation in the Odessa area from local wells to Columbia Basin irrigation project water will be the subject of two presentations at the annual Columbia Basin Development League conference, scheduled for Nov. 3. Conference presentations begin at 1 p.m. at the ATEC building on the Big Bend Community College campus.
“Odessa Successes and Challenges: Financing, Funding and Construction” is the subject of a presentation by Tom Tebb of the Washington Department of Ecology. Tebb is the director of the DOE’s Columbia River office.
It’s a large project – the irrigation districts are looking to replace wells in an area extending from north of Moses Lake past the Scootney wastewater canal south of Othello and east to Odessa, according to information from the development league. There’s also a panel discussion on where the project goes from here.
Nate Andreini will talk about the actual construction of the project, expanding canals, adding booster stations, pumps and pipes. Andreini is the assistant manager for technical services and the district engineer for the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District. Mike Schwisow will talk about efforts to obtain federal funding; Schwisow is the CDBL director of government relations. Washington state senator Judy Warnick, Moses Lake, will discuss state funding and options for construction bonds.
A second panel discussion, “A View from the Canals,” will look at district operation from the perspective of the people delivering and using the water. The panel includes Andreini, Dave Solem, manager of the South Columbia Basin Irrigation District; Darvin Fales, manager of the Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District and Clint Wertz, manager of the Ephrata field office for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Infrastructure and its maintenance will be the topic of a presentation from Lorri Lee, Pacific Northwest regional director for the Bureau of Reclamation. Jennifer Adam, assistant professor from Washington State University in Pullman, will talk about water forecasts and supply and demand along the Columbia River. Adam is a professor of civil and environmental engineering.
Ian Lyle will discuss the politics of the project, and federal financing. Lyle is director of government relations for Water Strategies LLC.
Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the league’s annual meeting at about 6 :45 p.m. The annual meeting includes election of trustees.
Gary Chandler of the Association for Washington Business will be the keynote speaker, taking the stage at about 7:15 p.m. Chandler will focus on the plans for completion of the Columbia Basin Project.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.