The governor toured the Valley prior to the roundtable, visiting sites where conservation and restoration efforts have improved water flow in area rivers. At the Tum-A-Lum Bridge on the Walla Walla River, Locke watched water flow over a stream bed that had been dry for a century. At Pepper Bridge Vineyard, he saw demonstrations of irrigation technology designed to increase efficiency while decreasing water draws. Other tour sites offered examples of metering, improved fish screens, flood control measures and stream restoration.

He then joined the roundtable discussion at the college's enology and viticulture center with representatives of agriculture, government agencies, irrigation districts, salmon recovery projects, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservations and education programs.

While Locke lauded the Walla Walla Watershed Alliance and local governments for their work, he said the state must do its part and update water laws. Currently, Washington water laws mandate water rights left unused for five years revert to the state, providing little incentive for those who own the rights to conserve water.

"We've got to get away from the use-it-or-lose-it mentality," he said.

Roundtable participants said they were committed to conservation, but some worried about its cost to agriculture.

Stuart Durfee, of Gardena Farms Irrigation District, said increasing stream flow decreases available water for irrigation and can cost farmers production.

Bob Hutchins, a Dayton farmer and member of the Columbia County Watershed Planning Unit, voiced concerns about land mammals drawn to streams, some of which have "a tremendous influence on agriculture."

Yancy Reser, of the Native Creek Society, lamented the dry state of many small streams, which lose water seasonally because of withdrawals upstream.

Locke said the state is looking to improve water flows in large and small rivers by capturing and storing water during wet seasons, then releasing it during dry months to augment stream flow and recharge aquifers.

Locke said he wants to channel money to the Walla Walla Basin for demonstration projects focused on such capture, store and release efforts. Walla Walla County Commissioner Dave Carey said watershed conservation efforts in the basin had exceeded expectations, producing results rather than train wrecks. He asked Locke "to keep working with us."

Locke said the 2004 legislative session will be his last, but he will urge lawmakers to revise water laws and provide more flexibility with allocation, use and management of water systems.

"I'm proud of what you've accomplished," the governor said. "I want to replicate this across the state."

Photo by Gina Massoni, WWBWC.