Document text
Ashland agrees to tap into water link City can continue to look into alternatives By PETER WONG ASHLAND -- The City Council voted Tuesday night to take part in the water intertie linking Talent and Phoenix with Medford's water system. The 6-0 vote masked deep differences over whether Ashland should extend its piping to Talent to receive the water in the future. Only one council member favored an immediate connection with the Talent-Ashland-Phoenix (TAP) Project. "Let's take the opportunity that has been presented to us and use it," said Councilman Cameron Hanson, who took office four weeks ago. Councilman Alan DeBoer said recommendations by the city staff and engineering consultant, which do not propose an immediate connection to the pipeline, assure that the city will have access to that water if it wants it. "I think it provides us with a long-range plan for future councils and citizens, who can decide if we want to run that last three or four miles," he said. Other council members said city participation now still would leave the way open for future alternatives, such as reuse of the city's treated wastewater for irrigation, a pipeline instead of a canal for Talent Irrigation District water to the city, and reallocation of farmers' water rights to city uses. "I would not be in favor of taking all our water from the TAP Project," said Councilwoman Carole Wheeldon. "I would not be in favor of going into the TAP system in the near future before we really explore a lot of our potential." With approval of federal grants and state loans, Phoenix and Talent are in the final stages of design of a pipeline connecting them to the Medford Water Commission system. Construction is planned this spring. What Ashland did Tuesday was to agree to pay for a 24-inch line from Phoenix to Talent, instead of an 18-inch line, to increase capacity for Medford's system to supply Ashland. That step will cost Ashland about $1.2 million. Ashland also will have to buy rights to that water from Lost Creek Lake, estimated at $1 million, and pay an estimated $1.3 million in systems development charges to Medford. Ashland's water needs are assured for about 20 years, but a recent report by Carollo Engineers of Portland said the city will face a water shortage by 2050. The city's main source is Ashland Creek, and supplemental water comes from the Talent Irrigation District. It is trying to make use of treated wastewater for irrigation. "My position tonight is that we should leave all our options open," said Councilman Don Laws. Sixteen speakers at the hearing split down the middle on the issue of city participation in the intertie. The Ashland Chamber of Commerce was among those favoring it. Bob Taber, who lost a City Council bid last month, urged the council to reject any option that would draw from the Rogue River. As president of Headwaters, an environmental group based in Ashland, Jim Moore said he had been predisposed against the idea of the city drawing water from Lost Creek Lake. But Moore, who spoke only for himself, said state fisheries biologists assured him there was enough water for fish. He said he supports city efforts at conservation of water and reclamation of wastewater. But he also said the intertie could be environmentally acceptable if it allowed the city to leave more water in Ashland Creek, which flows into Bear Creek. "This solution may not be available 50 years from now," he said. "But we have a window of opportunity now. It may not be feasible to take all our water from that source, but we should set in motion the necessary activity to utilize its advantages." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA