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Recently, in my article “Gardening by Osmosis,” my fingers fumbled on the keyboard. Arrowleaf balsamroot was referred to as arrowroot balsam. The yellow bouquets of the native Balsamorrhiza sagittata that grace hillsides, open meadows and forest edges have long been testimony to the longevity of plant. Before people came from the East to claim the land, indigenous people harvested arrowleaf balsamroot. Though all parts of the plant are edible, they are not necessarily palatable as the strong pine-scented sap is bitter. nat...
OLYMPIA — The state Department of Ecology has declared a statewide drought emergency for everywhere except cities with large storage basins. The drought update was issued Friday, April 19, with the agency predicting a warm, dry spring. According to the agency, the weather forecast will leave many watershed statewide with low water. The declaration allows state agencies to provide drought-related assistance in a more timely manner. Gov. Jay Inslee calked up this year’s forecast drought to global warming. “As our climate conti...
Let’s have a look at the benefits of dams to human life with a special focus on Grand Coulee Dam. It is the largest hydroelectric producing facility in the U.S. and provides enough electricity to power about 2 million households every year, 68% of all Washington state households. Please keep in mind too, that it is just one of 145 hydroelectric dams in the state. Grand Coulee Dam prompted the creation of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Columbia Basin Project which converted 670,000 acres (more than 1,000 square-miles) of for...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The preservation of the Snake River dams has been solidified as a key item on the legislative agenda for the city council. The move comes amidst ongoing debate and litigation surrounding the dams’ future and their environmental impact. Chelsea Martin, Government Relations and Communications Coordinator at Modern Electric Water Co., emphasized the importance of maintaining affordable electricity costs for the region. “Our goal is to keep electricity costs low,...
As Washington stands at a pivotal moment in shaping its energy future, it becomes increasingly clear that adopting sensible, forward-thinking solutions is crucial for a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally sound power grid. It’s time for our state to embrace energy policies that genuinely prioritize the well-being of its residents. The Power Washington plan, a comprehensive strategy I advocate for, is designed to confront and resolve critical issues within our energy landscape. The plan is led by Sen. Curtis King o...
CHENEY – The current water supply outlook for Washington is an early assessment, but it shows little snowpack through December. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program hydrologistMatt Warbritton, the snowpack is significantly lower-than-average, but overall precipitation is only slightly below average, thanks to December rainfall. Because of the strong El Nino events this year, the r...
CHENEY – Construction on a new addition to the city wastewater treatment plant is underway. The final filtration building, a component of the city’s public works network, aims to reduce stress on the system. The project traces back to 2006 when the city was contemplating addressing its water challenges. After years of strategic planning, the project started moving forward in 2017. Public Works Manager Dan Ferguson said a lot of planning that went into the process. He said the total project cost of $21 million, with the fil...
On Tuesday, Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick, and I introduced House Bill 2040, also known as the Carbon Auction Rebate program. The bill seeks to provide rebates to Washington motorists suffering from our state’s high gas prices. This past summer, for the first time, Washington surpassed California for the highest gasoline price in the nation. With the summer travel season behind us, our gasoline prices have fallen, but they are still much higher than our surrounding states. The average price for gasoline in Washington, a...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden Administration and environmental activists formalized an agreement Dec. 14 on plans to manage and improve salmon populations on the Snake River. A “memorandum of understanding” was filed with U.S. District Court in an attempt to curtail lawsuits over salmon and efforts by environmental activists to breach the four Lower Snake River dams. The agreement was formally announced Thursday, Dec. 14, by the Biden Administration, more than two weeks after a leaked document was released to the public by 5t...
CROSS COUNTRY: Cheney wins in two events at Highlander Cheney cross country head coach Derek Slaughter called results from the Sept. 9 Highlander Invitational the "best ever" and for food reason. His Blackhawks scored quite well at the race staged at Shadle Park High School in Spokane with a pair of team wins in competition arranged by class and run on a 2.5-mile course. Led by Calvin Hilton, Cheney dominated the junior boys race with a 1-2-4 finish with the Blackhawks...
CHENEY – Graduation left Cheney girls soccer stripped of some notable players, Coach Nels Radke said in a recent interview. But it hardly left an empty bench and Radke approaches 2023 with optimism that flows freely when discussing his team. Moving on were Emersyn Heuett, a defender, forward Kaiti Low, Ellie Barden at center mid and forward Kensie Roller. "We lost some key positions, but we were bringing back a lot of strength," Radke said. "I'm really excited for what I t...
Waterwise, drought tolerant, xeriscaping, drip-irrigation, terms that suggest the value of water, are often in gardeners discussions these days. Resources for more information include online searches, Xerces publications and contacts with the Spokane County WSU Master Gardeners. Master Gardener, Kris Moberg-Hendron, leads the Waterwise Information Program and welcomes gardeners interested in Water Wise landscaping to visit the demonstration gardens at the WSU extension office at 222 N. Havana, in Spokane. Registration is not...
In 1922, the Columbia Basin Irrigation League was formed. Just a year later, Congress passed a bill allowing an investigation of the irrigation project with appropriations of $100,000. This was the very beginning of the process that led to construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest dam in the world at the time, to help provide irrigation to the Columbia Basin, and power to the Pacific Northwest and beyond. It was also the beginning of one of the largest irrigation efforts in the nation, the Columbia Basin Project. The...
In 1922, the Columbia Basin Irrigation League was formed. Just a year later, Congress passed a bill allowing an investigation of the irrigation project with appropriations of $100,000. This was the very beginning of the process that led to construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, the largest dam in the world at the time, to help provide irrigation to the Columbia Basin, and power to the Pacific Northwest and beyond. It was also the beginning of one of the largest irrigation...
City Council votes on Barker Project Valley Herald SPOKANE VALLEY —The city council voted unanimously on a motion consideration for the Barker Road Widening project at their regular meeting on June 6. The current project, according to reference documents, is the last segment of the multi-phase project and will construct the remaining road improvements connecting both east and west ends of Euclid Avenue including the Union Pacific Railroad crossing and the multi-use path from east Euclid to the Barker Grade Separation Project...
MEDICAL LAKE – State-planted trout are competing with goldfish for food in the four West Medical Lake ponds. As a result, state officials want use Rotenone in the ponds to eradicate the goldfish population. Although goldfish are the “target species” of the “naturally occurring” poison, Rotenone is highly toxic to all “gill-breathing organisms, state documents on its use show. Before poisoning the ponds – formed with the water level in West Medical Lake declines in warmer months – the state Department of Fish and Wildlife wa...
CHENEY — Family Play & Learn Storytime on May 26 and 31, and every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday throughout the month of June from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the meeting room of the library at 610 First St. Children ages 2 to 5 and their families are welcome. Children will be able to play while learning during 30 minutes of reading picture books, singing songs, and learning fingerplays. This will be followed by 30 minutes of activities that explore the concepts of math, science, art, and literacy. Weed Control in Your Garden on M...
The following building permits were approved in April APPROVED Building 01/11/2023 04/25/2023 Jalomo - Add Vinyl Siding, Replace/Widen Patio Door Install vinyl siding and new 16’ patio door (widening existing door opening) $44,625.00 609 IRENE PL, CHENEY Residential INLAND HOME IMPROVEMENTS INC DANIEL SCHIMKE INLAND HOME IMPROVEMENTS INC DANIEL SCHIMKE APPROVED Building 02/15/2023 04/17/2023 Skutley - Add 4th Bedroom, Remodel Kitchen, Add Bathroom, Porch Support Reinforce sagging floor near bay window in living area and inter...
April 2023 Margaret A. Swenson Finally, it is springtime. Time to plant, clean, work and dream. Warm days invigorate me and it seems energy stored away all winter has finally found release. Though raking, shoveling and stretching are now part of my day, I need to be mindful, as my father always said, “Rome wasn’t built in a day!” My retort was, “Yes, but it didn’t take long to tear it down!” I am always encouraged and inspired by the work my neighbors do. And though I live in the country, I am grateful not to be policed by my...
In Washington, this year we’re fortunate to have escaped the historic droughts plaguing other parts of the world. The Columbia River basin water system has been at normal levels which is good for our agriculture, hydropower generation, barging, local water supplies, and fish and wildlife. However, 20 years ago we faced the same severe drought that is afflicting the world’s major river drainages including the Colorado, Rhine, and Yangtze. That water scarcity is forcing factorie...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The deadline to apply for the 2023 USDA Conservation Stewardship Program is Oct. 13. The program is open to producers seeking technical and financial assistance with conservation efforts. Under the program, farmers can receive payments for managing, maintaining and expanding conservation measures like planting cover crops and buffer strips, as well as improving pollinator habitat. Farmers can also receive help with irrigation monitoring, herbicide application, grazing systems and more. Applicants will be r...
By Mark Schoesler Senator A draft of the “Lower Snake River Dams Benefit Replacement Report,” requested by Washington’s U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee last fall, recently was released to the public. While intended to make the case for breaching the four dams between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities, the report ironically makes a good case for keeping the dams. The report estimates it will cost between $10-$27 billion to replace the benefits provided by the four dams. Knowing how government projects usually go over...
Even though the neighbors line up to take pictures of your impeccably weed-free, absolutely straight rows of vegetables and Better Homes and Gardens has made an appointment to feature your garden in their next issue, or NOT! The reality may be pumpkin vines strangling anything that dares venture on the pathways, zucchinis the size of small children hiding under its giant leaves and tomato plants totally out of control; all is well. Try not to worry about rows of carrots you didn’t thin and as my grandpa used to say, ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Eastern Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, helped get legislation approved by the U.S House of Representatives on Wednesday night that includes language to protect four Lower Snake River dams. “Salmon and dams can-and-do co-exist,” she said Thursday. “Study after study has shown the critical benefits the Lower Snake River dams provide to our region: affordable and reliable hydropower, low-emissions transportation of goods, and irrigation for farmers in Washington who feed the world....
My green babies are ready to go outside. The soil temperature is nearly 55 degrees and there is no snow on Mt. Spokane. My new irrigation system with drip lines is set up; importantly, I have a new tube of sunscreen. I’ll get a new hat and gloves next week. Since my dear little green ones have never tasted outside air or natural sunshine, I will have to ease them into the real world. After bringing them all back inside the first night, I rigged up vinyl tablecloths to cover them. I didn’t sleep all night, worrying they wou...
