13th District lawmakers support governor’s decision to divert funds to Moses Lake Dam project

13th District lawmakers support governor’s decision to divert funds to Moses Lake Dam project

With the urging of 13th District lawmakers, Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry and Reps. Judy Warnick, and Matt Manweller, as well as support from capital budget leaders in the House and Senate, Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the transferring of $2 million from the Sullivan Lake Water Supply Project to the Moses Lake Irrigation Rehabilitation District (MLIRD). The MLIRD will use the funds for the first phase of the north dam replacement project on Moses Lake. The funding can be used for design, permitting, management and actual construction costs.

Holmquist-Newbry, Warnick, Manweller and the chairs and ranking minority members on the capital budget committees in the House and Senate submitted a letter of support to the governor for the funding transfer. Warnick presented the letter yesterday to capital budget leaders while in Olympia. She previously served as the ranking Republican on the committee. However, due to her leadership role as caucus chair for House Republicans, she gave up that position but remains active on the committee.

“Without a capital budget this year, we had to look at other options to fund this project,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “This is a critical need to protect private and public properties along Moses Lake and we did not feel like we could wait for a future capital budget to protect the people and lands at the south end of the lake.” 

Manweller is pleased the MLIRD will be able to move forward on this critical public safety issue.

“We knew this was an urgent need during the session, and would have preferred to resolve these issues with a supplemental capital budget,” said Manweller, R-Ellensburg. “However, this shows due diligence pays off and we can now move forward with this project and address the flood risk before the dam fails.”  

Holmquist Newbry noted that – despite the disappointment of the Legislature not adopting a capital budget – both the House and Senate individually passed capital proposals that included the $2 million funding.

“Replacing the north dam on Moses Lake is critical to protecting lives and property from potential flooding, and lawmakers from both chambers and both parties recognized that fact,” said Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake. “I am pleased that the governor also recognizes the importance of this project and is willing to work with us to find a solution that will allow this important work to proceed without further delays.”

No emergency funds were available, but the governor has the ability to divert funding from projects that have been postponed. The Sullivan Lake Water Project has been delayed due to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) late issuance of its license surrender order to Pend Oreille County Public Utility District. The delay by FERC has slowed the Seattle City Light’s cold water outlet construction at Sullivan Lake, which has pushed state payments to Pend Oreille County PUD into the next biennium allowing for the diversion of those funds to the Moses Lake project.

For more information about Rep. Warnick, visit: www.representativejudywarnick.com.
For more information about Rep. Manweller, visit: www.representativemattmanweller.com.
For more information about Sen. Holmquist-Newbry, visit: www.janeaholmquistnewbry.src.wastateleg.org. 

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