October 2010 Archives

"Halloween (or Hallowe'en) is an annual holiday observed on October 31, primarily in Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the United States. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints' Day, but is today largely a secular celebration.

Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving jack-o'-lanterns, ghost tours, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, committing pranks, telling ghost stories or other frightening tales, and watching horror films...

Origin of name

The word Halloween is first attested in the 16th century and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even ("evening"), that is, the night before All Hallows Day.[10] Although the phrase All Hallows is found in Old English (ealra hālgena mæssedæg, mass-day of all saints), All-Hallows-Even is itself not attested until 1556," quoting Wikipedia.

"Thurston County bankruptcy filings remained brisk through the first nine months of the year, rising nearly 13 percent from the same period in 2009, according to data compiled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington...

Olympia bankruptcy attorney Jennie Patton said Tuesday that she’s not surprised filings continue to rise. 'Until the unemployment rate drops, we’re going to see people that need to file bankruptcy because they are out of resources,' she said. 'Employment is one of the last things to recover following a recession,'" quoting Rolf Boone in The Olympian.

Quoted from JZ Knight's website:

SuperConsciousness Magazine’s Publisher and Managing Editor Jair Robles and Editor-in-Chief Danielle Graham conducted an exclusive interview with JZ Knight titled “Walker Between Two Worlds.”

“This week we feature an exclusive interview with JZ Knight who for the first time publicly shares some of her experiences while her body channels Ramtha, The Enlightened One.

In this exclusive interview JZ Knight, President of Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment, shares her experiences as a walker in many worlds. She discusses her observations of how reality unfolds in other dimensions, her perception of humanity’s spiritual evolution in today’s world, and much more!”

Interview excerpt:
“I think that the most spiritually evolved person is someone who never has to worry about being taken care of. They never worry, wherever they are, because they are in touch with where they are. It’s on their terms, but their terms are the whole environment around them,” quoting JZ Knight.

CLICK HERE for the full text in the Fall, 2010 issue of SuperConsciousness Magazine.

Copyright © 2010 JZ Knight. used with permission.

ABOUT YELM-BASED SUPER-CONSCIOUSNESS MAGAZINE:
"SuperConsciousness is created by a team of people who have chosen to consciously embark on a journey of spiritual knowledge, self-awareness, and ultimate self-responsibility. We don’t pretend to be gurus or have answers for anyone else: We’re having fun simply discovering them for ourselves. What you can count on is that we are passionate about human evolution, making known the unknown, and bringing you solid evidence showing that we all possess the innate capacity to create an outrageous life beyond our wildest imaginations."

The Yelm Community Blog has been provided information from a very reliable source that long-time Yelm civil servant & area volunteer Glen Cunningham is leaving the area for northern California to be close to and support his ailing mother while also engaging in a new business opportunity.

While I have disagreed with Mr. Cunningham on several issues, I wish he and his family well in his future endeavors.

Mr. Cunningham has been a wonderful example of dedicating his life in service to this community & has served on many public citizen volunteer committees, and most recently of note as the President of the Yelm Chamber of Commerce.

Glen's smile & eagerness to volunteer here will be sorely missed.

BEST WISHES TO GLEN & HIS FAMILY AS THEY CHART A NEW FUTURE.

THURSTON COUNTY NEWS

1. "No layoffs in '11 Thurston plan"
"Budget: Revenue expected to 'stay flat or grow at a very slow pace'"

"Thurston County released its 2011 preliminary budget Tuesday (Oct. 26), and its fiscal manager said the county is in fairly strong financial position going into next year.

The $276.4 million budget, which is about 8.5 percent lower than the revised 2010 budget, calls for maintaining service levels with no layoffs, a slight increase in general fund spending and a $28.9 million decrease in other funds, budget and fiscal manager Robin Campbell told the board," quoting Nate Hulings of The Olympian.
Ed. Note: Kudos to the three Commissioners!

2. "Thurston County bankruptcies up 13%"
"Thurston: Filings will continue as long as jobs are scarce, says attorney"

"Thurston County bankruptcy filings remained brisk through the first nine months of the year, rising nearly 13 percent from the same period in 2009, according to data compiled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington.," quoting Rolf Boone in The Olympian.

"In the coming times, you can always depend on the demand for distilled water, medical, medicinal alcohol, alternative fuels (ethanol) and consumable alcohol. Get permits and distill your own at home. Alcohol is classed, in hard times, as liquid currency. It is one of the things that will always remain valuable. It can be used for bartering, food and to pay for labor. Sterilizing, perfuming, cooking with as fuel and as "gas" for your car. We are very knowledgable (sic) on all of these uses and want to teach people. Check out our articles on our blog.

Rainier Distillers specializes in home-distilling equipment, supplies and knowledge. On this site, you will find lots of information about stills, what you can distill, recipes for home distilling, how to articles on distilling, supplies for distilling, parts for those of you who wish to build your own stills, plans, our own blog, a community forum to ask questions, and even the Federal applications you must have to produce ethanol. If you check out our store you can purchase distilling equipment and other things like alcohol stoves," quoting Rainer Distillers.

Co-owner Anthony Zaca tells the Yelm Community Blog Rainier Distillers is here to serve the community & throughout the world and are proud to be based here in the Nisqually Valley.

Off the Grid News' website carried Mr. Zaca's story on his vision.
CLICK HERE for the full story:c "Alcohol: The Possibilities are Endless"

TELL RAINIER DISTILLERS YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG.

Mayor Ron Harding

Yelm's Mayor Ron Harding has been recently touting his policy to continue Yelm's growth.
Some recent examples:

1. Mayor Ron Harding answered questions on October 14th as the guest of the Yelm Real Estate Network.
The group reports Mayor Harding said he hopes to have enough water approved by Ecology by June, 2011 for 300-400 additional homes to be hooked-up.
Harding told the gathering there has been enough saved with water conservation to get approval for 300-400 additional homes.

With a home using approximately 3.5 acre feet per year (afy) of water, here is how Yelm intends to get the added water to be approved by Ecology:

- Yelm is expecting to get approximately 30 afy of the McMonigle water rights.

- Yelm is expected to report a 2010 net savings of 67 afy of water via conservation & citizen cutbacks due to the high water bills from annual increases - a total net savings will be determined after the conclusion of 2010, sometimes in January, 2011.

- 30 afy savings on well consolidation with the new test well, a report covered by Megan Hanson in the Nisqually Valley News last week.

- this totals 127 new additional afy of water allocation anticipated, which equates to 36 new homes (127 divided by 3.5), new homes Mayor Harding is touting for water approval rights.

Yelm's current Ecology annual water allocation - 796.66 acre feet per year.
Harding wants Ecology's approval for 300-400 new homes, which equates to 1,270 acre feet per year (350 new homes) or double Yelm's annual allocation.
Does anyone serious think Ecology is going to allow Yelm to pump that much water?

So, the mayor will get enough water for approximately 35 homes as is seen now, and touts getting water for 10 times that many homes. HMMM!

2. " U.S. foreclosure mess chills investors, clouds market"
"Uncertainties hanging over the industry raise concerns about the broader economy"
By Helen Chernikoff Reuters on MSNBC.

Ed. Note: The Yelm Real Estate network should ask these questions:
- Who is Mr. Harding expecting to build these new homes?
- Who does Mr. Harding expect to buy these new homes?
- Who does Mr. Harding expect will loan money for new homes in Yelm with massive water hook-up fees & annual water rate increases?
- Who does Mr. Harding expect to qualify for mortgages for these new homes?
- Why is Mr. Harding wanting to continually grow this town?

The continued grow, grow, grow policies of this city defy logic and demonstrate an education not far beyond a basic high-school economics class.
Continual growth comes at a cost!
The effects of Harding's continual Yelm growth on roads, air & water resources are already showing up in this pristine area.

Last week I had the pleasure of receiving a call from a local community leader & we conversed on a myriad of subjects including the trashing of Yelm's 1995 Vision Plan. We spoke of Yelm's logo, the Pride of the Prairie & sadly commented the Prairie in Yelm is almost all built over.

3. Megan Hanson in the Nisqually Valley News reported last Friday:
"Loop Hoopla"
"Officials celebrate phase one completion of the Yelm Bypass project"

"The new road is the first of a two phases designed to relieve congestion in one of the fastest growing areas in Washington. Since 2000 Yelm’s population has grown by more than 50 percent. The second phase of the project, which extends the new road from Cullens Road to State Highway 507, will begin once funding is available."

Yelm's population has grown by 50% in ten years and Mayor Harding expects to have water for 300-400 more homes by June.
Folks, do you want this town to grow another 25%?
Perhaps the economic environment will keep Harding's goal in-check, which will assist the city's environment.

Seems the mayor should focus on what is happening NOW in Yelm compared to continually looking to grow, grow, grow -

look around and see all of the closed businesses, vacant storefronts & how many more people here are going to food banks, as outlined in the Melanie Lockhart's story on Oct. 15th in the NVN titled:
"Feeding hungry"
"New Yelm warehouse fast becoming a ‘hub’"

And, last year, UCBO had the largest amount of requests in their history for family aid at the holidays in 2009. Expect an even higher number in 2010.

We ought to take care of our own first before adding more growth!

And last,
my wife and I drove on the new Phase 1 of the Bypass Thursday evening, the day after opening,
as we returned from dinner and shopping in Lacey (what we wanted to buy could not be found in Yelm - we shopped around here first). Upon entering the roundabout, the road signs noted the speed limit of 35 mph on a straight away. The bright moon was shrouded in clouds so the highway was totally dark.

There on the side of the road in the darkness was a police vehicle with the radar gun pointing our way. We were well within the speed limit, yet couldn't help but notice that the city has found a new use for the bypass - to generate some quick revenue from unsuspecting citizens on a darkened straight-away issuing speeding tickets & on the 2nd day of opening - jeepers!
So drivers checking-out the bypass at night - be ware.

Sad & shocking news arrived yesterday:

Yelm's Mt. Rainier Clinic (MRC) announces their closure.
Dr. Elmer Cranton opened here in Yelm in 1990 with his son John Cranton, NN, ARNP running the clinic the last 6 years. "The current economic and regulatory environment" were cited as major factors in the decision to close here.

Dr. Cranton's world-famous chelation therapy treatments brought people to Yelm from all over the United States & several foreign countries. Not only does this town lose another business, the city loses the employee payroll tax, B & O tax, & sales tax revenue, to name just a few.

Additionally, many patients came to MRC from out of town and patronized our local businesses like the super-markets, hotel, pharmacies & gas stations. Their revenue will now be lost in our local stores.

I have been a patient at MRC since 1990, indeed one of their first as I have patient number 80.
CLICK HERE for my August 14, 2006 description of Mt. Rainier Clinic on this blog.

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG THANKS THE CRANTONS FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY & WISHES THEM WELL IN THEIR ENDEAVORS.

Janet Harding, model for Yelm's Giorda E.,
Photo courtesy of Giorda Elie

Former Miss Washington Janet Harding has returned to her hometown and is making her own impact felt here, in addition to that of her father Ron, who is mayor.

Harding was crowned Miss Washington July 12, 2008 at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma and represented Washington in the Miss America competition, January, 2009 in Las Vegas. She competed in the Miss Washington pageant as Miss Tahoma, a title she earned in a Puyallup pageant.

She is currently a barista at Randeez Coffee next to Key Bank in Yelm and a model for Giroda E.
Ms. Harding looks radiant modeling Giorda E. fashions in the store's recent mailing [pictured above]!

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG WISHES MS. HARDING WELL IN HER ENDEAVORS.

Representative Tom Campbell
Photo from Representative Campbell's official website

Three Former Chairmen of the Second District Democrats organization, along with current Secretary Bob Akervick from Eatonville, all four speaking as individuals, today issued the following statement urging Independent voters, Democrats and interested Republicans to support the re-election of Representative Tom Campbell over his Republican opponent, JT Wilcox in the 2nd LD of Washington State, in SE Pierce County.

We reluctantly weigh into this race because of our new primary election system that has produced a limited choice of just two Republicans. This is a result, and now an election, that begs out for as much information as possible for voters to help decide the final outcome as there are significant differences between these two candidates. Failing to speak out as we are doing would have been the worst result of all. We are simply adding our voices to the other organizations that have offered formal endorsements. However, we speak from the perspecxtive of our overall 2nd District needs, and not for or against any special agenda item in Olympia.

Representative Campbell has been a legislative leader on health, environment, education and other issues representing the voters of our 2nd LD regardless of party considerations. Even when we disagree with him as we have done, we find him reasonable, willing to listen, and willing to work in a bi-partisan way to obtain positive legislative results.

In contrast, JT Wilcox has declared that he will be more loyal to the Republican caucus where he will be unable to meet the priority needs of our 2nd District. To us, this means that his priority is first to party, and secondarily to the people of the 2nd LD. If elected, JT Wilcox will help make the legislature even more partisan and less effective.

Therefore, we strongly urge Independent voters who are a majority in our District, Democrats, and Republicans who put the needs of our district and state ahead of partisan party considerations; to vote to Re-elect State Representative Tom Campbell. This could be a close final vote, and we urge all voters in the 2nd Legislative District to cast their absentee ballots and poll voters to keep our districts needs in the forefront of the legislature.

The four sponsors of this statement are as follows - Bob Chamberlain, Chair from 2007-2008, Bill Harrington, Chair from 2005-2006, Abe Adams, Chair from 2003-2004, and Bob Akervick, currently elected Secretary of the 2nd District Democrats organization.

Ed. Note: This key item from this story the Yelm Community Blogger can attest first-hand:

- "...we find him reasonable, willing to listen, and willing to work in a bi-partisan way to obtain positive legislative results."

- The term "Cabal" has been coined by a respected area volunteer/property owner to describe a group of people thinking they own this town through their perceived control. While the Wilcox family & their Wilcox Farms have been wonderful stewards of the environment in preserving the Nisqually Watershed & switching to an all organic dairy, I have always been concerned about Mr. Wilcox's connection to that Yelm "cabal."

Will Mr. Wilcox's loyalty be to the Party and the cabal?
To hear these Democratic Party officials say this is chilling:
"JT Wilcox has declared that he will be more loyal to the Republican caucus where he will be unable to meet the priority needs of our 2nd District.
To us, this means that his priority is first to party, and secondarily to the people of the 2nd LD.
If elected, JT Wilcox will help make the legislature even more partisan and less effective."

- This writer concurs with this statement from these Democratic leaders & joins in endorsing Rep. Tom Campbell's re-election:
"Therefore, we strongly urge Independent voters who are a majority in our District, Democrats, and Republicans who put the needs of our district and state ahead of partisan party considerations; to vote to Re-elect State Representative Tom Campbell."

LET TOM CAMPBELL CONTINUE HIS WORK FOR THIS DISTRICT!
VOTE FOR TOM CAMPBELL, LD 2 CANDIDATE

READ MR. CAMPBELL'S FLIER INSERT FROM TODAY'S NISQUALLY VALLEY NEWS:
CLICK HERE.
Reprinted here with permission.

Click here for Yelm Cinemas showtime information.

Yelm Cinemas at Prairie Park
Photo courtesy of Yelm Cinemas

Yelm Cinemas is hosting a special screening of an important films in which all should be educated:

-. FOOD, INC. will screen Saturday, Oct. 23rd at 9am, Yelm Cinemas, all seats $6.25.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

“How much do we really know about the food we buy in our stores?
FOOD, INC. is am important film that lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry.”

THE COMMUNITY IS INVITED TO COME SEE THIS FILM TO GET EDUCATED ON THIS IMPORTANT STORY OF THE DAY.

Sandra Romero

Commissioner Sandra Romero Hosts Monthly Coffees with Area Residents

Monday, October 25th. (THIS COMING Monday!)

FROM COMMISSIONER ROMERO'S E-MAILER:
Please join Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero, as she hosts her monthly informal coffee hours in Rainier, Yelm on Monday, October 25th.

This month’s coffee will focus on what Thurston County has recently done for its citizens. Come find out how we are promoting rural economic development, saving farms, helping the homeless, and creating a more user friendly website just to name a few. Our special guest will be County Manager, Don Krupp.

Commissioner Romero stated, “A lot of people are interested in what county government does for them. Government is really a matter of representation, after all, and we have many different programs and
important projects to share with the public.”

Commissioner Romero provides to participant’s coffee that she pays for herself. She is the representative of District 2, which includes Yelm, Lacey, and Rainier.

What:
Citizen meeting with second district County Commissioner Sandra Romero

When:
Monday, October 25th, 2010

Where:
Rainier: 9:30am – 10:30am - Rainier City Hall – 102, Rochester St. W.

Yelm: 11:00am – Noon – Blue Bottle Espresso – 309 East Yelm Avenue.

THIS WILL BE THE LAST COFFEE AT YELM'S BLUE BOTTLE, AS THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN SOLD & CLOSES OCT.31ST.

This letter from Timberland Regional Library's Fall, 2010 mailer to patrons is printed here with permission:

Michael Crose, the Timberland Regional Library District’s (TRL) Interim Director, was promoted this summer to Library Director following an intensive interview process. He had been serving in that capacity since October 2009.

As TRL’s Library Director Crose is responsible for managing all aspects of the multi-county rural library district, which includes 27 libraries, five cooperative library centers and four kiosks.
Previously, he served as TRL’s Manager of Administrative Services since 2006 and Assistant Director of Management Services from 1980 to 1994.

Mr. Crose is a graduate of Central Washington University with a B.A.in Business Administration and Economics as well as a Masters Degree in Public Administration from The Evergreen State College. “The library of today blends high-tech tools with our traditional high-touch services.
A library is not just about what’s on the shelf, it’s about the people in that library becoming more informed as they build better lives for themselves, their families and their communities.
From computer stations with Internet access to downloadable movies, music, audio books and eBooks, the library remains the commons of its community,” remarked Crose.

“The public library will continue to reach out and form partnerships in our five counties that best serve the public and our mission to improve literacy by connecting with schools, literacy and early learning groups, theater groups, museums, businesses and others,” Crose said. For example, the library partnered with Northwest Pediatrics in Centralia for Reach Out and Read, a day of early learning and reading activities in the park across from the Centralia Timberland Library.

Crose said, “I look forward to collaborating over the next year with staff and patrons to form TRL’s strategic plan and long-range objectives. I’ll be considering alternative ways to provide services besides library buildings, which take great investments of time and money. One possibility is expanding TRL kiosks into malls, coffee shops, grocery stores and other high traffic spaces.”

“Your public library serves the unique needs of every community by bringing people and information together and providing equal access to information for all,” said Crose, “I’ll see you at the library.”

Ed. Note:
Director Crose gave a frank interview on the status of the Yelm Library with the Yelm Community Blog on September 3, 2010.

A follow-up interview with readers' questions and a response to Mayor Harding's local newspaper column on the local library is forthcoming.

Cynthia Schmier, President -Yelm Real Estate Network

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM YELM RE/MAX AGENT CYNTHIA SCHMIER

Consumer confidence in Thurston County fell in the third quarter of the year as the state of the slower South Sound labor market continues to weigh on people's minds, a new survey has found.

"That survey is the Thurston County Economic Development Council's economic vitality index. Reflected as a number, consumer confidence fell to 85 in the third quarter of the year, down from 102 in the first quarter of the year.

Households' negative perceptions of the labor market are a major factor in the downward trend in the consumer confidence index as well as their perceptions of the future economic climate, the index states.

The expectation index also fell, down 23 points from the previous quarter to stand at 145...

The economic vitality index is based on a random representative sample of 2,000 county households. The index is a partnership between the Thurston County EDC,
Saint Martin's University,
Jason Roberts and Associates,
the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce
and
Joseph Beaulieu of First Citizens Bank [Washington].
The index is compiled by Riley Moore, associate professor of economics, school of business, Saint Martin's University," quoting The Olympian.

2. County's home sales and median price

"Closed [home] sales in Thurston County also were down, falling from 265 during September 2009 to 247 last month. The median price also was lower, falling from $242,000 to $233,000, " quoting the Business Examiner.

UPDATE:
"WA retail sales were down 1 percent in 2nd quarter"
From this morning's Olympian.

Yelm Food CO-OP Holds Annual Meeting

Yelm Food Co-op's Board member Leland Hagendorf sent this to the Yelm Community Blog to share with our community:

On September 12, 2010, the Yelm Food Co-op (Co-op) held its Annual Meeting. An enthusiastic membership attended the fourth Annual Meeting to hear a report of Co-op progress and elect Officers.

The Co-op opened its doors at the current location on April 27, 2007 with 97 Members. Since that time it has grown to an organization with annual sales of more than $500,000 and has recently had an upsurge in membership now totaling approximately 575 active members. The daily operations of the store are overseen by the manager, Aaron Rodriguez, and buyer Florence Vincent, plus dozens of volunteers that assist with deliveries, stocking, cashiering, and cleaning the store. As a community owned organization, the Co-op is a vital contribution to Yelm.

Included in the Mission Statement of the Co-op is "to serve our membership and our community by making available reasonably priced, high quality, whole foods, and other basic goods. Our buying policies incorporate good nutrition, respect for the environment and support of sustainable local agriculture and production."

Outgoing Board President Peggy Mauk, gave an overview of the Co-op's progress and the tremendous effort put forth by previous board members to create a service organization that benefits all citizens of the greater Yelm community. These accomplishments highlighted a major milestone of the Co-op and recognition was especially given to the countless volunteers who have worked to establish this great non-profit Cooperative.

The members present at the annual meeting recognize and support the great potential of the Co-op in the coming years to be a leader in the Yelm Community. Several qualified individuals stepped up to run for the available Board of Director positions, and the membership elected the following people to lead the evolution: Bill Wyman, President; Vienne Cordet, Vice President; Debbie Burgan, Secretary; Fran White and Bev Larkins Co-Treasures, Carolyn Farley and additional Board members Chelsea Bunn, Eleanor Israel, and Leland Hagendorf. The new Board held its first organizational meeting, and established the following committees: Strategic Planning, Finance/Budget, By-laws and Policy Procedures, and the Marketing and Community Outreach Committee. Opportunities for members to serve on these committees will be made available in the store. The board will be holding the next meeting on Sunday, October 10, and will work to develop a 5 Year Strategic Plan.

The Co-op carries an extensive array of products including local eggs and raw milk, Yelm produce, gluten-free foods, free range and antibiotic-free chickens and beef, loose herbal teas, and all-natural health supplements. The store is expanding products and services to meet the needs of the community.

To join the Co-op or for additional information, stop by the store at:

404 1st St SE
Yelm, Washington
or visit the website at www.yelmcoop.com.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW TEAM AT THE YELM FOOD CO=OP!
VISIT & TELL THE STAFF YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG.

Development rules on tap
Open House: Thurston County plans sessions to explain proposed critical-areas changes

"Thurston County has scheduled four open houses at which planners will answer questions and listen to concerns about proposed tougher development regulations on or near environmentally sensitive lands.

The first open house is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound.

The proposed update to the critical-areas ordinance, which was adopted in 1994, could go before the county commissioners by early next year. The goal is to protect the areas and people living in them, county planning director Scott Clark said.

Those likely to be affected by the amendments are the 81,000 people living in unincorporated Thurston County – a 634-square-mile area that could see its population spike to more than 100,000 by 2030, according to county staff members," quoting The Olympian.

Yelm Public Safety Building & City Council Chambers

Last Tuesday night, the Yelm City Council approved another $76,000 to be paid to Golder and Associates "for work associated with updating the 2008 Mitigation Plan," according to the city's Staff Report.

You will recall on August 14, 2009, the City of Yelm withdrew their MDNS (Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance) for an incomplete and unapproved draft Water Mitigation Plan -
in which the City of Yelm determined

- that a proposed five-fold increase in pumping City water “will not have a probable significant adverse environmental impact on the local aquifer”.

Now, the city says,
"Since 2008, the cities of Yelm, Olympia and Lacey have been working with both DOE and the Squaxin Island Tribe to better identify these predicted impacts [impacts to the Deschutes basin] and propose mitigation measures that will enhance the affected Deschutes water bodies. The time is now for each of the cities to update their existing mitigation plans and identify the work that has been done over the last two year period. The revised mitigation plans will be re-submitted to DOE with the request for issuance of new water rights. Yelm is requesting the issuance of a Phase 1 and Phase 2 water right that would total approximately 942 acre feet of ‘new’ water."

942 acre feet of 'new" water would more than double Yelm's annual DOE water allocation 796.66 acre feet in 2009drawing down the aquifer.