Daily Record (Ellensburg, Wash.), December 1, 2007

LETTERS: PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH MAY BE PRUDENT WITH WATER

[Rachel's introduction: "Where unknowns abound, a more rational approach to public policy is found in "The Precautionary Principle." It urges the prevention of problems through the exercise of caution and it would direct us to impose restrictions on drilling new exempt wells now. When and if it can be shown such restrictions are no longer needed, they can be relaxed. Such caution likely will restrict short-term monetary gain but it almost certainly will minimize the costly, long term water supply problems that do in fact exist elsewhere."]

By Duane Skeen

To the Editor:

The Daily Record has kept its readers informed on the continuing issue of exempt water wells and a request before the County Commissioners to declare a moratorium on further drilling. Interestingly this issue in Kittitas County has now gained wider attention. The November 21 Seattle Times contained an article by reporter Jonathan Martin titled "Big growth, big fight over water" which summarized where the matter currently stands. Mr. Martin did not overtly side with any of the parties involved but clearly identified the various factions and special interests now debating the future of water supplies for Kittitas County. However, an underlying message emerges from his report and it agrees with that found in many other published reports describing what is happening in our county with respect to development.

That message is clear. An opportunity to make money in the short run supersedes taking prudent action to protect precious water supplies over the long run. From all reports various officials at the county and state level have failed to show any serious interest in protecting the unknown quantity of water in county aquifers. Indeed they have stood on the rationale that "... there is no evidence of a water shortage at this time." Their prevailing attitude seems to be against taking effective protective measures until there is catastrophic evidence -- apparently in the form of people's wells drying up.

Where unknowns abound, a more rational approach to public policy is found in "The Precautionary Principle." It urges the prevention of problems through the exercise of caution and it would direct us to impose restrictions on drilling new exempt wells now. When and if it can be shown such restrictions are no longer needed, they can be relaxed. Such caution likely will restrict short-term monetary gain but it almost certainly will minimize the costly, long term water supply problems that do in fact exist elsewhere. Prudent well drilling restrictions are not a new concept. Indeed, as Mr. Martin points out in his article "Restrictions on wells are in place in Walla Walla, Skagit County and Okanogan's Methow Valley and are being considered in Wenatchee."

I wonder what the folks in Atlanta, Ga., and other areas of the nation and world now facing severe water shortages would say about the officials and others opposing protective measures on water extraction. I doubt that the words "short sighted" would be judged sufficiently strong.

Copyright 2007 Kittitas County Publishing