SEATTLE, Wash., Nov. 7, 2000 (South County Journal) — The city of Seattle has joined two South King County utilities in approving a plan to draw millions of gallons of drinking water each day from the Green River.
The Seattle City Council yesterday approved the Second Supply Project, which will supply an average of 42 million gallons of water a day to the thirsty Puget Sound Basin starting in 2004.
The Covington Water District and the Lakehaven Utility District in Federal Way have signed the agreement.
But the $250 million project is awaiting the approval of its final two partners, Kent and Tacoma.
Seattle supplies water to 1.3 million residents in King County, including thousands in South King County and the Eastside. Seattle will get about 14 millions gallons a day.
The water comes from the city of Tacoma's second water right to the river. The Tacoma City Council is scheduled to sign the agreement this January, after federal agencies approve its Habitat Conservation Plan for the Green River Watershed.
The pipeline and its northern spur to Lake Youngs reservoir would tie together the region's water supply system, making it possible to share water during emergencies or shortages.
The project is the only new source of water on the books in the Puget Sound Basin.
The project will cost Kent about $28 million and the Covington Water District about $22 million. Seattle's share is $76.1 million.
"This agreement gives us a greater opportunity to conserve water in the region, improve stream conditions and protect our natural environment," said Diana Gale, managing director of Seattle Public Utilities.
The environmental review points out that the pipeline to Lake Youngs could affect chinook salmon, mostly because of construction in and near bodies of water. The utilities also must maintain minimum stream flows in the Green River for fish runs.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will raise the level of the reservoir behind Howard Hanson Dam in order to store the additional water.
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