Printable PDF

Shoreline Management Planning and Crescent Bar Island Visioning Continues
September 8, 2009

EPHRATA, WA – Over the past three months, hundreds of area residents have shared their vision of the future of Crescent Bar Island with Grant PUD Commissioners as part of a public visioning process for the utility-owned vacation spot. The process concludes with an all-day meeting on September 14 where the commission will hear verbal testimony on Crescent Bar Island and the draft Shoreline Management Plan for the Priest Rapids Project. The meeting will be held at Grant PUD’s main office at 30 C Street SW in Ephrata.

To allow time for all interested in addressing the Commission, each person will be given three minutes for verbal comments. Sign-in is required for speakers. The following sessions have been scheduled for the convenience of those with work and travel conflicts:

9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.   Open sign-in

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon   Shoreline Management Plan Hearing
Commissioners invite public testimony on the draft Shoreline Management Plan for the Priest Rapids Project shorelines and waters, including land use in specific locations such as Sunland Estates, Desert Aire and the Vantage area.

1:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.   Crescent Bar Island Visioning
Commissioners will hear public comments on the future of Crescent Bar Island.

6:00 – 6:30 p.m.   Shoreline Management Plan Hearing, continued
Commissioners invite additional public testimony on the draft Shoreline Management Plan for the Priest Rapids Project shorelines and waters, including land use in specific locations such as Sunland Estates, Desert Aire and the Vantage area.

6:30 – 9:00 p.m.   Crescent Bar Island Visioning, continued
Commissioners will hear additional public comments on the future of Crescent Bar Island.

“A formal public hearing gives Grant County residents a voice on land use before the draft Shoreline Management Plan moves toward approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,” commented Commission President Terry Brewer. “We will also listen to public comment regarding their preference for the future of Crescent Bar Island. We take our responsibility to manage the Columbia River shorelines along the reservoirs created by Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams seriously and greatly appreciate the many written comments received to date.”

Nearly 300 citizens have provided their ideas on shoreline management or Crescent Bar Island. The verbal statements recorded September 14 will be transcribed and added to the record of written comments for full consideration by the Board of Commissioners.”

“The fact that so many were willing to put time into recording their ideas illustrates that the public process is alive and well in Grant County,” shared Brewer. “While written comments are preferred and will be accepted through September 14, we understand there are some who prefer to address the Commission directly. With limitations on seating and parking, we encourage those wishing to speak to keep the guidelines for the day in mind and others to consider listening to the recording from the comfort of their homes.”

Public Hearing Guidelines:

• Sign-in is required to speak.
• Due to the high interest of these topics, please know seating space is limited.
• Those wishing to speak are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes prior the appropriate session start time.
• Individuals must be present when called to speak.
• Each testimony will begin with speaker’s name and address.
• Each person will be allowed one three-minute opportunity to speak.
• Please prepare verbal comments in advance to best use three-minute time segments.
• When finished speaking, individuals will exit the room to allow entry for other speakers.
• Commissioners’ role is to hear verbal testimony.
• Commission action will take place at a later date.
• Grant PUD staff will be available to field questions.
• Courtesy and respect for all viewpoints is appreciated.

To devote adequate time to public testimony September 14, Grant PUD commissioners will not hold their usual Monday business meeting. Decisions on Crescent Bar Island will take place some months later after all public input has been compiled, analyzed and fully considered. Comments on the draft Shoreline Management Plan will be reviewed before it returns to key stakeholders identified by FERC in the license. Commission approval will take place once final input is received from stakeholders, and the Shoreline Management Plan will be submitted to FERC for final approval.

For nearly 50 years, Crescent Bar Island has been a summer destination under a lease to the Port of Quincy and managed by various private companies. With the lease expiring in 2012 and a new FERC license requiring a finalized Shoreline Management Plan that includes provisions to protect and enhance Crescent Bar Island and improve public recreation use, Grant PUD commissioners sought broad public input on the future of Crescent Bar Island.

Several well-attended meetings were held throughout the county, followed by numerous discussions with civic groups, homeowner associations and other interested parties. Commissioners continue with their listening mode on September 14.

Throughout the public outreach process on land use and Crescent Bar Island, Grant PUD commissioners have supported 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.

Background information, presentations and frequently asked questions about shoreline management and Crescent Bar Island are available on the Grant PUD Web site. Written comments are accepted through September 14. The audio recording of the meeting will be available on the Grant PUD Web site by September 15. Please select one of the following options to submit written comments, access the audio recording or gather additional information:

Online: http://www.gcpud.org
email: commissioners@gcpud.org
Postal mail: P.O. Box 878, Ephrata WA 98823
Phone: (509) 793-1522

Approximately 250 attended the June 4 meeting at the Quincy Community Center to hearing about shoreline management and Crescent Bar Island.

Tucked in a bend on the Columbia River’s Wanapum Reservoir, Crescent Bar is visited by thousands of sun-seeking vacationers annually.

#                                                          #

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