03/02/05 Columbia River rule on hold

Washington Ag March 2, 2005 The merits of the Columbia River Initiative, or CRI, aside, agricultural interests have been critical of the Department of Ecology for proceeding with the rule making process for water policy before the state legislature has even acted on that policy. Stuhlmiller: "Please stop that rule making procedure and let the legislature deal with the policy measures that have to be done." That was John Stuhlmiller of the Washington State Farm Bureau at a recent legislative hearing on the CRI. Now, Governor Christine Gregoire has asked the Department of Ecology to suspend work on the rule associated with the Columbia River Initiative until the end of the current legislative session. Linda Hoffman of Ecology says the department will step back on proceeding with the rule until a full airing in the legislature is complete. The CRI proposal would establish a framework for issuing new water rights from the river while also improving stream flows for fish populations. Nearly 400 Washington State University extension educators from throughout the state are in Pullman through tomorrow for the biannual all-extension conference. WSU Extension Dean Linda Fox, says the conference is an opportunity for their front-line people to learn about emerging issues Extension faces today and tomorrow, and the skills to be successful. I'm Bob Hoff.