Here's the "other post"...more about the liberal plot to give water to rednecks and fish:

From this month's NWFishLetter

http://www.newsdata.com/fishletter/240/6story.html

[6] Washington Pens New Water Agreement With Tribes

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire announced this week that two Upper Columbia tribes have agreed to release water from Lake Roosevelt to help farmers who have had to rely on the Odessa aquifer for their pumping needs to irrigate 10,000 acres of cropland.

"Today's historic agreement ensures a water supply that sustains farming, supports growing communities and enhances our precious salmon resource," said Gov. Gregoire. "I appreciate and applaud the leadership of farmers, environmental groups, county commissioners, legislators, federal officials and tribal governments in creating a lasting water-supply partnership."

The legislature must approve the agreement that calls for annual payments to the Spokane Tribe of $2.25 million, and $3.8 million to the Colvilles next year and $3.6 million annually after that. Part of the money will go to offset any impacts from the extra foot or so of expected drawdown.

"The Colville Tribes is very gratified that the governor has worked with us as a co-equal sovereign to come to an agreement that protects our important interests in the Columbia River and Lake Roosevelt," said tribal chair Richard Marchand.

"Grand Coulee Dam inundates our boundary rivers and uplands within the Spokane Indian Reservation," said Spokane Tribal Chairman Richard Sherwood. "Our conceptual agreement will provide major benefits downstream while helping the tribe to address some of the impacts from storage and use of that water on our lands."

The agreement will also supplement irrigation needs of some junior water rights holders in drought years by 33,000 acre-feet, and supply more water for municipalities and industry needs.

It will also make 27,500 acre-feet available for salmon flows every year and an extra 17,000 acre-feet to help fish in critical drought years.

The agreement also calls for the legislature to provide $2 million to local governments around Lake Roosevelt to address priority water issues. -B. R.