BIG BEND RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

(RC&D)

FINAL

2004 - 2009 Area Plan of Work

for

Adams, Grant, Franklin and Lincoln Counties, WA

The BBRC&D Council Area Plan of Action was developed with the assistance and cooperation of the Big Bend RC&D Full Council. All programs and assistance of the BBRC&D Council are available without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, marital status, or disability

2004-2009 LONG RANGE AREA PLAN FOR

BIG BEND RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Serving Adams, Franklin, Grant and Lincoln Counties – Washington State.

Mission:    “Working to develop human and natural resources through cooperative efforts.”

Vision:  “To empower local people to take a proactive role in improving their standard of living and quality of life.  To serve as a “catalyst” in creating the partnerships needed to successfully achieve economic and natural resource development while maintaining an environmental ethic.

General Description of Area:  The Big Bend RC&D Area encompasses a vast and diversified portion of Central Washington.  It is bordered on the north, south and west by the Columbia, Snake and Spokane Rivers.  To the east is the city of Spokane and to the west is Seattle on the Puget Sound.

The total population of the area is approximately 133,400 people with roughly 47 percent of the population located in rural areas.  Minority residents account for more than 33 percent of the populations.  Major population centers include Pasco, Moses Lake, Ephrata, Quincy, Othello, Davenport and Ritzville.

Agriculture is the major enterprise and land use comprising approximately 4,556,400 acres.  It is dominated by production of livestock, small grains, and corn, potatoes, and alfalfa, vegetable and seed crops.  Over 70 different crops are produced.  Industrial and business enterprises include food processing, manufacturing, and retail trade.  Support services such as recreation and tourism are also vital.

The unemployment rate in the four county area ranges from 7.2% to 16% with Franklin, Grant and Adams counties designated as “Distressed Areas”. 

Important resources include a desert landscape transformed into intensely cropped irrigated agriculture; lakes, streams and reservoirs, and wetland wildlife habitat created as a result of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project.  Other important resources include extensive grazing lands, hydroelectric power generation, historic and cultural sites.

Soils/Topography:  Soils in Adams, Franklin, Grant and Lincoln counties formed on basalt lava, granite, glacial deposits, and loess (wind blown silts).  Loess covers large areas of rolling hills typically used for dry land wheat production.  These loess soils range in depth from very shallow (to bedrock or other restrictive layer) to very deep depending on location, aspect and slope.  Several hundred thousand acres of coarse textured sands and gravels overlay the basalt.  These soils were largely unproductive until availability of water, beginning in the 1950s, turned them into valuable irrigated cropland.  Non-irrigated soils and loess soils on steeper side slopes are primarily used as rangeland.  All soils have additions of small amounts of volcanic ash from the Cascade volcanoes including several inches of ash from the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.  Soils in this area have low organic matter and high wind and water erosion potentials.  Landscapes vary from relatively flat to somewhat rolling hills and are characterized by an arid desert climate.  Elevations range from about 300 feet to 2000 feet above sea level.

Geology:  The northern portion of the Area is formed from granite.  This is the oldest material in the Area.  As you travel south, the underlying rock is basalt that flowed up through cracks or fissures in the earth’s crust and is up to 10,000 feet thick in places.  The land surface was shaped by massive catastrophic floods as recently as 13,000 years ago when ice dams broke that were holding back lakes the size of the Great Lakes.  These massive flows of water carved great coulees in the basalt and deposited sediment, sand and gravel, and rocks over a vast area.  These floods are responsible for creating the Channeled Scablands of Central Washington.

Climate:  The climate is arid with approximately 6-15 inches of precipitation per year.  Most of the annual precipitation comes November through March in the form of rain and snow.  The growing season varies from 175 – 205 days in the Area.

Winds come predominately from the southwest, with November through March being the critical time of year from strong winds.  During this period it is not uncommon to receive winds of 50 miles per hour for extended periods of time.  In 1990, there were several wind events that exceeded 100 miles per hour.

Heavy rain associated with summer thunderstorms result in flash floods, causing crop damage, gully erosion and carries sediment into fish bearing water bodies, irrigation canals, etc.

Land Use:  More than 4.5 million acres or 93 percent of the Area is devoted to agricultural production.  Even though livestock grazing is an important industry, the production of agricultural crops is the predominant land use in the Big Bend RC&D Area.  Primary crops produced are wheat, barley, corn, alfalfa and potatoes.  Over 70 other crops are grown in the Big Bend RC&D Area, including vegetables, seed crops, apples, cherries, pears and peaches.

Land Use by Areas:

            Dry Cropland                                     1,861,090 acres

            Irrigated Cropland                                            797,610 acres

            Pasture                                                                76,200 acres

            Range                                                             1,751,000 acres

            Forest Land                                                         70,500 acres

            Water                                                                 137,400 acres

            Urban                                                                   45,000 acres

            Transportation                                                    70,400 acres

            Miscellaneous Other Use                                 112,500 acres

                                                                                    _______________

                                                                                    4,922,400 acres                     

State and federal holdings account for approximately 696,063 acres or 14 percent of the Area.  This has a tremendous impact on local economies and infrastructure due to reductions in tax base.

Water Resources:  The Columbia Basin Irrigation Project, contained entirely within the Big Bend Area, has changed the face of the Columbia Basin since it began in 1948.  Water diverted from Grand Coulee Dam brought irrigation water to a desolate desert area creating some of the most productive agricultural land in the United States.  Today, more than 560,000 acres are irrigated by the first half of the project allowing the production of more than 70 different crops.

The second half of the project was scheduled to bring another 538,600 acres under irrigation.  Because of the salmon issues this has been postponed indefinitely.  If this project is not implemented, the long term investments made by counties, cities, and communities to prepare for growth and change will be lost.

Over 80 percent of the domestic rural and city water consumed in the Area comes from underground water wells.  Approximately 200,000 acres of farmlands are irrigated from underground wells.  With continued agricultural use, these underground aquifers are declining each year affecting quality and quantity of water.  The dropping water tables are also resulting in high sodium concentrations that are affecting drinking water and water quality problems.  Control and maintenance of the underground aquifer, water quality and water resource management are high priority concerns to the Area.

The project has created more than 137,000 surface acres of lakes, and reservoirs in the Area.  This in turn has created opportunities to hunt, fish, bird watch, swim, water ski and other outdoor recreational activities.  Wildlife habitat has been modified to the benefit and detriment of tremendously diverse species.  The Area has created enhanced habitat for 22 species of game fish and over 155 species of song birds, migratory waterfowl and upland birds.

Agriculture is dependent on available irrigation water, affordable hydroelectric power and access to markets by barging materials and products up and down the Snake and Columbia Rivers.  These resources are in jeopardy of being lost in order to re-establish native salmon runs in the Snake and Columbia Rivers.  Only 6 percent of the 79 million acre feet of water that flows in the Columbia River each year are available for agricultural purposes.  The Columbia Basin Project utilizes only half (2.7 million acre feet) of the allotted water for agriculture.  (USGS Survey Water Data Report WA 93-1).

If any of these resources are negatively impacted, agriculture and the businesses dependent on it would realize an economic loss in the tens of millions of dollars.

Lakes, Streams, Rivers:  Rivers of importance include the Columbia, Snake, and Spokane.  These rivers border the Big Bend Area on three sides.  Damming of the Columbia and Snake Rivers created 8 reservoirs.  The rivers are used for transporting 34 million tons of cargo annually, generating 62 percent of the Northwest’s power needs, irrigating over a half million acres of the nation’s most productive land.  In addition, a multi-million dollar recreation and tourism industry exists in the Big Bend Area.

Climatic changes have played a tremendous role in the economic decline of the dry cropland portions of the Area.  The Columbia Basin has had to deal with lower than normal rainfall for more than eight years.  Lower than normal yields and low wheat prices have put some family farms on the verge of bankruptcy.  Many of the seep lakes and waterways in the channeled scablands have dried up, putting additional stress on wildlife and livestock.

Reservoir levels, down due to low snow packs, are impacting irrigation, salmon habitat, salmon migration, and hydroelectric power generation.

The Area is also home to the longest stream in the United States.  Crab Creek begins in the eastern portion of Lincoln County and flows approximately 144 miles before entering the Columbia River.

Recreation and Tourism:  Recreation and tourism play an important role in the economies of the four county Area.  The reservoirs and lakes created by the Columbia River, Snake River and the Columbia Basin Project make the Big Bend RC&D Area a popular vacationing destination for the rest of Washington State as well as the rest of the country.  Over 2 million visitors come to the Big Bend RC&D Area every year.  This is adding additional stress to the resources and the ecosystem.

Several festivals in the Area call attention to the diversity and sensitivity of these valuable resources.  The Coulee Corridor project addresses agro and ecotourism in communities along highway 17 from Othello to Grand Coulee Dam.  Some of these festival and outreach activities include the Sand hill Crane Festival, Bald Eagle Festival, and Farmer Consumer Awareness Day.  The Coulee Corridor Consortium is active in promoting festivals along the corridor and plan to encourage travel along the corridor during the 2006 migration to Canada for the Olympics.

The Inland Empire Railroad Historical Society is moving forward in their plans to implement a Railroad Interpretive Center outside of Reardan.  A roundhouse and turn table will be installed as center stage for the Railroad Historical Museum and Interpretive center. Rail has been moved onto the sight and a switch installment has been approved.

Agriculture groups in the Columbia Basin have formed the Agfarmation network.  This group provides radio broadcast of the types of crops and trivia to help educate travelers.  Many of the growers display identification signs in the fence rows labeling the crops grown along the highway.  The colorful and animated Christmas decorations adorn the center pivot end sprinkler gun enlightening and entertaining travelers passing through on the I-90 corridor.

Twenty two species of game fish are available in the Big Bend RC&D area.  The most common fish are largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, bluegill, trout, salmon and steelhead.  Moses Lake, located in Grant Count, was the premiere bass and crappie lake in the State of Washington until 1982 when the fisheries started declining.  In 1991, a study was completed that concluded the economic loss to Moses Lake for that year was 2.8 million dollars.  Other areas within the Big Bend Area are starting to see similar economic and recreational losses.  There will be many opportunities to regain a quality fisheries resource with a corresponding surge in the economy.

Population:  The total population of the four county RC&D area is approximately 157,400.  Rural residents account for approximately 47 percent of the total population.  In addition, minority residents account for approximately 33 percent of the total population.  (Big Bend EDC Comprehensive Economic Development Plan 2003)

Major and minor population centers include:  (OFM Data Estimate for 2003)

Adams Co.(16,600)    Franklin Co.(53,600)              Grant Co.(77,100)                  Lincoln Co.(10,100)

Othello     5,970           Pasco-     37,580                     Moses Lake-15,730                 Davenport-1,690

Ritzville  1,735  Connell    3,190                        Ephrata          6,855                 Odessa          930

Lind           570            Mesa           440                       Warden          2,540                 Wilbur          880         

Washtucna 250            Kahlotus     215                        Mattawa         3,025                 Reardan        595        

Hatton       105                                                             Royal City     1,815                  Harrington    434

                                                                                    Soap Lake      1,730                Sprague         490

                                                                                    Grand Coulee   920                  Almira           295

                                                                                    Electric City     955                   Creston          225

                                                                                    Coulee City      590                  Edwall           110

                                                                                    George              525             

                                                                                    Wilson Creek    240

                                                                                    Hartline            130

                                                                                    Krupp                 65

                                                                                    Quincy           5,165

Area Economy:  Employment in the Big Bend Area is characterized by low wages and high unemployment.  The five year unemployment average for the four county Area is approximately 7.5 percent as compared to the statewide average of approximately 6.4 percent.  The number of people living below the poverty level is approximately 18% of the Area population.

The Area is largely supported by agriculture, food processing, manufacturing and retail trade.  Support services such as recreation and tourism are also vital.  The local housing needs in the Area indicate there is a need for low and middle income housing.  Power costs in the area are rising due to costs associated with salmon protection and enhancement issues.

Transportation and Utilities:  The four county area has moderate to good highways and secondary roads.  The principle east-west route is Interstate 90 which connects the eastern part of the Area with Western Washington via Snoqualmie Pass.  State Route 17 bisects the Area from north to south and serves as a popular route to many recreational areas.  Interstate 82 approaches the area from the south west and links with Seattle, Yakima.   State Highway 395 links Tri Cities, Ritzville

Burlington Northern Santa Fe runs to Connell, Pasco, Sprague, Spokane to Chicago.  Northern route connects Davenport to Spokane.  These routes are both passenger and freights routes.

Municipal airports have been developed at all of the population centers.  Commercial air service is available at the Grant County Airport in Moses Lake and the Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco.  The airport at Moses Lake is now designated as an international port served by U.S. Customs and Immigration Service.

A network of private and public utility districts provide power and communication throughout the area.  Power is generated through a series of 10 dams on the Columbia River, the most famous being Grand Coulee Dam.  Wind turbines are taking over a large portion of the adjoining counties due to the favorable wind generation conditions.  Power generated is being used within the four county area.  Expansion is expected within the area in the near future.

A problem within the Area is transportation, particularly farm to market.  Historically, the area developed with two east-west railroads and one east-west highway.  Presently, grain crops now travel north to south to grain terminals on the Snake and Columbia Rivers.  The grain is then barged down the Columbia River to ocean grain ports.  These north to south roads are not in adequate condition for large trucks, although provisions are being made to upgrade these with limited funding commitments.

Needs and Opportunities:   Since the formation of the Big Bend RC&D Council on April 24, 1994, the Council has been gathering data to assess the Area difficulties, problems and opportunities.  From information collected and input from public meetings, the Council updated the Area plan to address the problems and opportunities of the Area.

The Big Bend RC&D Council has realized tremendous progress in establishing itself.  Sponsors and the public have contributed to identifying resource needs and opportunities.  With this information, the Council Plans to accelerate efforts to improve the quality of life in associated rural communities and the Area.

During the past 8 years, the Council has brought together information gathered from sponsors and partners through correspondence and public meetings.  The sponsors and partners have contributed resource studies and program objectives based on their individual Long Range Plans and Plans of Work.  From this work, the needs and opportunities of the area were identified as follows:

1. Economic Development – The economic well being of the Big Bend RC&D Area is dependent on the success of agriculture.  To stay a viable industry, agriculture relies on water as its life blood.  That life blood consists of generating affordable power, providing water for crop use and transportation of products on water systems to world markets.<B style="mso-bid