Columbia Basin Water Group sets date for conference

The Columbia Basin Development League will hold its annual conference, entitled “With One Voice,” Thursday, March 4 from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

The league has been an advocate of the Columbia Basin Project for the past six decades.

As a virtual conference call, access is easy for all stakeholders in the Columbia Basin to get up-to-date information on efforts to develop, maintain, and improve the Columbia Basin Project.

Topics include a review of the economic impact of the Columbia Basin Project, partner projects, updates from the three irrigation districts as well as the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program.

Speakers will also cover the steps required to complete the Columbia Basin Project, which funds infrastructure projects and the role water law plays with secondary use permits.

Scheduled speakers include: Melissa Downes, Office of the Columbia River, Department of Ecology; Madison Moore, Washington State Department of Agriculture; Jed Crowther, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District; Vicky Scharlau, Columbia Basin Development League; Representative Mike Steele, Washington State Legislature; Craig Simpson, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District; Roger Sonnichsen, Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District; Dave Solem, South Columbia Basin Irrigation District; Marc Maynard, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Ephrata Field Office; and Laura Williams, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Washington.

The League represents the interests of stakeholders in the Columbia Basin, and advocates at the city, county, state and federal levels for continued development and support of the Columbia Basin Project—the largest reclamation project in the United States.

The Columbia Basin Project provides irrigation water to more than 671,000 acres of land across eastern and central Washington. From parks to power and from irrigation to recreation, the Columbia Basin Project is a vital source of strength to the regional and state economy as well as a key component of its high quality of life thanks to efficient, well-maintained, affordable infrastructure and sustainable environmental stewardship.

Visit http://www.cbdl.org/support/annual-conference to register and learn more.