05/09/07 Yakima water forecast; commercializing WSU research

Washington Ag May 9, 2007 The Bureau of Reclamation has released the May forecast for irrigation water supply in the Yakima Basin. Chuck Garner, Yakima Project river operations supervisor, says its looking great for irrigators. Garner: "Well right now it looks pretty good for the rest of the year. You know the snow is a little lower than we expected but what is there is fairly solid and it is not going to come off in a hurry so it is going to stretch out over the summer." The Bureau says as of May 1st Yakima system storage was a healthy 121 percent of average at 92 percent full. The Washington State University Research Foundation and Greater Spokane Incorporated are hosting an inaugural event to showcase emerging WSU technologies with commercialization and market potential. The event which is targeted to the investment community and potential business partners is tomorrow May 10th from two to four p.m. at the Academic Center Building on the Riverpoint Campus in Spokane. Among the technologies to be presented is a process that enhances the production of biofuel from biomass which can also provide improved sources of various high value flavor/fragrance. Also being featured are other processes to make products ranging from biofuels to neutraceuticals from agricultural residue. I'm Bob Hoff.