07/19/06 Greater Columbia Basin Water Forum

Washington Ag July 19, 2006 Water policy leaders and key stakeholders are gathering in the Tri-Cities tomorrow to assess the initial implementation of the new Columbia River Basin water management legislation passed earlier this year. The program covers key water management objectives and projects sought by eastern Washington interests, including new Columbia River water rights, securing immediate water supplies for the Odessa Sub-Area and the major options being considered for Yakima River Basin storage. The forum begins a 8:30 am Thursday at the Columbia Center Red Lion Inn in Kennewick and sponsors include the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association and the Eastern Washington Water Alliance. Washington State University Extension says potato late blight in the Columbia Basin is confined to the area between north Pasco and just north of Eltopia, and east of Pasco to east of Burbank. WSU plant pathologist Dennis Johnson says sprinkler irrigated fields between Pasco and Othello and east of Burbank should be on a seven-day fungicide application schedule. Johnson: "Fields elsewhere in the Basin should be on a 10-day fungicide application schedule." Johnson says copper fungicides should not be relied upon for late blight in the Basin unless the field is for organic production. I'm Bob Hoff.