Congress gets briefed on Odessa Aquifer

The Columbia Basin Development League, the Washington State Department of Ecology and Washington State Potato Commission made the trip. Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt says a big briefing was conducted for the staff of Washington’s congressional delegation and for congressional committees with jurisdiction over the Columbia Basin Project.

Voigt: “We talked about the successes we have had so far. The Potholes Supplemental Feed Route, which will be critical in part of the Odessa area, that is going forward. Construction is underway. Some of it has already been completed. They are actually going to be working on the Weber Siphon, putting another siphon under Interstate 90. That will occur in probably the next two weeks is when they will start breaking ground. So, we are making real progress on the Odessa issue.”

Voigt says the groups received good feedback from their visit.

Voigt: “They say we are very well organized. We have very good community support. Of course we are entering very tough budget times. We have huge deficits in congress and their ability to fund these projects. So, there are some concerns heading into it.”

Voigt says the focus was getting an appropriation for the last year of a five year study on the Odessa Aquifer.

That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I’m Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.