Sierra Club Upper Columbia River P.O. Box 413 Spokane, WA 99210 (509) 456-3376 www.idaho.sierraclub.org /uppercol/

visits since November 30, 2002

Three new power plants would consume 20 million gallons a day.

The Spokane Aquifer (shown in light blue) flows underground starting from Lake Pend Oreille in the map's upper right-hand corner to Spokane where it feeds the Spokane River and Little Spokane River. The Aquifer is the sole source of drinking water for 450,000 people. Power plants proposed for Idaho would suck enough water to supply 100,000 people. The water would be 100% evaporated. Pump the Aquifer, rob the Spokane River.

March 2002 Dear Sierra Club member and water drinker, Water is our most precious natural resource. We are engaged in a battle to protect the public health: our sole source of drinking water for 450,000 people here in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene region. Will you help us? Three energy corporations - Cogentrix Energy, Newport Generation, and Avista Utilities - have applied to daily pump 20 million gallons of fresh water from the Spokane-Rathdrum Aquifer. We are challenging them over the water. Surprisingly the check you wrote to pay your water bill didn't go to protect the Aquifer. Will you help us? The power plants would be located just across the state line in Idaho because Washington has a moratorium on issuing new rights from the Aquifer. The Rathdrum Prairie is zoned for heavy industry, explaining why Burlington Northern Railroad is building its fuel depot there. The welcome mat is out for corporate America: free water and lax laws. Our Aquifer is in peril. Think of the Aquifer as an underground river that starts at the southern end of Lake Pend Oreille in Idaho. The water crosses the state boundary and flows into Washington, resurfacing to augment the Spokane River and Little Spokane River. Pump the Aquifer, rob the Spokane River. The Spokane-Rathdrum Aquifer is your sole source of drinking water, and for 450,000 other people. The water rights, if granted by Idaho, would be given away for free. Water would be 100 percent evaporated to cool the natural gas-powered energy plants. Long-term jobs at these three power plants would number only about 70. This same amount of water would supply household needs for 100,000 people. The energy would be exported out of the Inland Northwest, except for Avista. Our region is vulnerable to corporate colonialism: sacrifice our drinking water, export the energy. Communities needing water will have to stand in line. Water rights issued to the energy corporations would take priority. In western water law, this is called "first in time, first in right." The public interest be damned. Energy companies want to daily pump and evaporate 20 million gallons of some of the finest drinking water on earth: enough for 100,000 people. Protecting the Aquifer will require a three-part solution: Idaho needs to impose a moratorium on issuing further water rights until an independent scientific study is completed that leads to a bi-state compact on managing the Aquifer between Idaho and Washington. For more information and links on our Aquifer go to : www.waterplanet.ws/aquifer How much did you pay for your drinking water this month? Surprisingly the check you wrote to pay your water bill didn't go to protect the Aquifer. That is why we are asking for you help.   Thank you, Hal Rowe, Chair John Osborn, MD, Conservation Chair P.S. Please make your check payable to "Sierra Club". And lift your glass of water with cheers to the Spokane-Rathdrum Aquifer. Sierra Club Upper Columbia River P.O. Box 413 Spokane, WA 99210 (509) 456-3376 www.idaho.sierraclub.org/uppercol/ Yes! I will protect our community's drinking water.