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Interim Land and Water Use Policies Pave Way for Shoreline Management Plan
Public participation sought
May 4, 2009

EPHRATA, WA – Grant PUD commissioners today opened public process and adopted a set of principles that will govern interim land and water use policies and prioritize public access and use of the reservoirs and shorelines created by Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams. 

Grant PUD commissioners and staff will host a series of public meetings designed to share key elements of the draft Shoreline Management Plan, solicit public input on shoreline management and discuss possibilities for the future of Crescent Bar Island. Initial meetings will be held on the following dates:

June 4             7:00 p.m.         Quincy Fire District No. 3 Station                   1201 Central Ave. S            Quincy
Update 05/26/09
June 4 Public Workshop Meeting location changed to the Quincy Community Center, 115 F St. SW

June 9             7:00 p.m.         Grant PUD Commission Meeting Room           30 C St. SW                        Ephrata


Additional meeting dates will be announced in local newspapers and posted on Grant PUD’s Web site.

Grant PUD is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to finalize and implement a number of resource management plans, including a Shoreline Management Plan as part of the utility’s new license to operate the Priest Rapids Project. The FERC-issued license stipulates that the plan must manage the many resources and uses of the Priest Rapids Project shorelines consistently with license requirements and project purposes.  It must also address the needs of the recreating public.

In recent months, Grant PUD staff has been consulting with FERC-identified stakeholders and is now putting the finishing touches on a draft version of the Shoreline Management Plan. Grant PUD staff anticipates reviewing the plan with the Grant PUD Commission in early May and making the document available for public review and comment thereafter. The interim land and water use policies will guide finalization of the plan.

The interim land and water use policies and eventual Shoreline Management Plan apply to the Grant PUD-owned lands within the Priest Rapids Project boundary and the project waters. Grant PUD, commissioners support the following goals:

• Prioritizing public access to project lands and water.
• Creating consistent policies and procedures for use of Grant PUD-owned properties.
• Incorporating broad public involvement of Grant PUD customer-owners in the development  of a vision and plan for the future of Crescent Bar Island.
• Minimizing liability, risk and costs associated with managing project lands and water.
• Complying with local, state and federal regulations.

“Grant PUD commissioners support safe public use of the abundant educational and recreational resources located along the Priest Rapids Project water shorelines,” stated Commission President Terry Brewer. “We look forward to prioritizing specific practices that protect natural resources and historical properties, while improving public access for all Grant County residents and those who visit from outside the area.”

The diverse mix of popular recreation sites on the Priest Rapids Project includes Crescent Bar Island, Sunland Estates, Sand Hollow, Vantage-area boat launch/marina and Desert Aire, all of which include Grant PUD-owned shorelines. The FERC license specifies that the Shoreline Management Plan include provisions to protect and enhance Crescent Bar Island. Grant PUD Commissioners desire extensive public input as they move forward on deciding the future of Crescent Bar Island. The Crescent Bar Island lease with the Port of Quincy expires in June of 2012.

Additional information on the Shoreline Management Plan and ways to participate in this process are available at www.gcpud.org.

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Grant County Public Utility District is a Washington state municipal corporation that began electric service in 1942.  Owned by the people it serves, Grant PUD generates and sells electricity to Grant County residents and millions of customers throughout Central Washington and the Pacific Northwest.  The Priest Rapids Project, comprised of Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams, produces nearly 2,000 megawatts of clean, renewable and reliable electricity – enough to supply a city the size of Seattle.  A leader in science based technology; Grant PUD is committed to finding effective measures for the protection, mitigation and enhancement of salmon, steelhead and other natural and cultural resources.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Dorothy Harris
(509) 793-1516 / dharris@gcpud.org