Columbia River

Columbia River

More Dams?

The Washington Department of Ecology is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the state's new Columbia River Basin Water Management Program.

The Columbia River Bill is on a fast-track and there has been a lot of activity surrounding it. CELP has been vigilant every step of the way and has carefully monitored its progress. CELP has commented at the initial scoping stage, the release of the 2006 Water Supply Inventory and Long-Term Water Supply and Demand Report, and the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Each of these phases, and CELP's comments, are detailed below.

CELP has submitted comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) released by the Department of Ecology. The DEIS is a very important document as it outlines possible alternatives and policy decisions that Ecology will examine as it implements the Columbia River Bill. CELP, and other environmental groups throughout the state, have many concerns with the DEIS. Click here to read CELP's comments.

The Department of Ecology has released the 2006 Water Supply Inventory and Long-Term Water Supply and Demand Report. These reports were mandated in the Dam Bill legislation and are designed to inform decision-making regarding water supply and demand along the Columbia. As this initial report makes abundantly clear there is currently not enough hard data regarding water rights, supply, demand, and conservation to enable Ecology to make any water right decisions. Click here for direct quotes from the report acknowledging the deficiencies. Unfortunately, Ecology wants to use this initial report as the "foundation" for implementing the Columbia River Bill. CELP has submitted comments. Click here for more information.

* Read CELP's scoping comments.

* View Ecology's Scoping Request document.

* Learn more about the meanderings and history of the Columbia River Bill.

April 2006

Proposed Mainstem Columbia River Storage Options Pose Significant Environmental Impacts

The Bureau of Reclamation and the Washington Department of Ecology produced an Off-Channel Storage Assessment in order to assess potential environmental, land use, and infrastructure impacts. The assessment lists 11 sites along the Columbia that could be flooded to create storage. Using the data contained in the report, CELP complied a matrix, which details the locations, estimated costs, and potential impacts to federal and state threatened and endangered species. Download the spreadsheet!

Background

Although Washington state law directs the Department of Ecology to maintain sufficient river flows for fish and wildlife and to ensure water is available prior to permitting new uses, a staggering amount of water is taken from the Columbia under state water permits (mostly for irrigation), greatly depleting the river. Lower river flows decrease water quality by raising water temperature and concentrating pollutants and sedimentation, putting further pressure on endangered and threatened salmon.

In 2002, the state launched the Columbia River Initiative in response to CELP's Petition for Closure and Emergency rulemaking to protect river resources. The Department of Ecology contracted with the National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council (NAS-NRC) to conduct a review of scientific information related to instream flows, water withdrawals, and salmon survival. Throughout 2003, CELP, in collaboration with American Rivers, the National Wildlife Federation, and Columbia River Tribes, provided significant testimony and background data for the panel's use.

Learn More

* Read Columbia River Vision: Strong and Sustainable Management of Washington's Waters, a paper outlining problems with and proposed solutions for long-term management of the Columbia River.

* Read a letter from CELP, American Rivers, and the National Wildlife Federation about the scope of work for the National Academy of Sciences Study.

* Read the Department of Ecology's response to CELP's earlier comments.

* Visit the Department of Ecology website on the Columbia Water Partnership.

Quad Cities Water Rights

Settlement Agreement

August 14, 2003

River advocates and the state Department of Ecology will have more tools to protect the Columbia River under the recent settlement agreement in CELP's lawsuit against Ecology and the ``Quad Cities" of Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and West Richland (see below).

The cities and Ecology have agreed to a number of pro-river terms in order for the four East Washington cities to have additional access to the Columbia River water they want for the future. Among them:

• The cities will come up with plans to "pay back" the river during low flow periods and show direct benefits to fish and the Columbia River system,

• The cities will have to follow strict conservation requirements, including definite timelines for implementing programs, and

•Ecology has agreed to postpone formal rule-making on the Columbia River Initiative until it has received the final scientific report from the National Academies of Science panel and will issue no further water rights permits from the Columbia until January 1, 2005 or the effective date of the new rules--whichever comes first.

Press Release | Summary of Settlement | Settlement

Background

Several sections of the Columbia near the Quad Cities fail Federal Clean Water Act standards, due in part to reduced river flows. Nearly 40% of the average natural flow of the river at McNary Dam (about 40 miles downstream from the Quad Cities) is already withdrawn (mostly for irrigation). And with hundreds of users not yet taking all of the water they are permitted to use, flows on the Columbia are likely to continue dropping, even if Ecology issues no new water rights.

Agencies as diverse as U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, B.C. Hydro of Canada, the Bonneville Power Administration, and Indian Tribes are currently working to improve salmon habitat by restoring water to the Columbia River system. Ironically, Ecology defended issuing the proposed Quad-Cities permit even though it has budgeted $588,000 for two studies to determine whether the Columbia can even afford more water withdrawals. Those recommendations are due by Spring 2004.

State law requires Ecology to ensure that Washington's rivers retain adequate flows to support fisheries and other environmental values. Further, the Statewide Strategy to Recover Salmon (issued by the Governors Joint Natural Resource Cabinet) calls for a halt to new Columbia water rights until new minimum stream flows are set for the river.

Historically, Ecology has not required metering or reporting of most water withdrawals. It lacks basic water use data about thousands of water rights, and no comprehensive water budget that balances water supply and demand for the river, has ever been created.

Press Release: State buys water - Ecology gives it away

Preliminary ruling by Pollution Control Hearings Board gives CELP the go-ahead to pursue its case against Ecology in "Quad Cities" case.

Press Release | PCHB Decision

Press Release: CELP seeks to invalidate Quad Cities water permit

Cites violations of state laws, questionable economic benefits, public policy conflicts, lack of evidence that withdrawals will not harm salmon

Press Release| Permit Timeline | Notice of Appeal | Attachments to appeal