RICHLAND, WA - A watchdog group is crying foul on the federal government’s plan to pump more water out of the Columbia River in Eastern Washington. The government plans to build a massive pipeline near Moses Lake with federal stimulus money. Correspondent Anna King explains.

At issue is the federal government’s plan to build a massive pipeline near Moses Lake to pull more water out of the Columbia River to help irrigate crops. Rachael Paschael Osborn with the group Center for Environmental Law & Policy says she became concerned with the pipeline when she realized how large it was.

Rachael Paschael Osborn: “We believe that if the federal government is going to go out and spend $50 million on building a huge pipeline intended to carry a whole lot more water out of the Columbia River, that they need to do their environmental analysis in advance.”

The pipeline would carry water to growing cities in Eastern Washington and farmers who are concerned that their aquifer is rapidly drying up. Bureau of Reclamation officials say they are reviewing Paschael Osborn’s letter.

Copyright 2009 Northwest News Network

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