Seattle and North Bend Sign New Water Agreement
Since 1999, North Bend has Faced
Construction Freeze Due to Limited Water Supply

For immediate release: 12/17/07

For more information, Contact:
Andy Ryan, 684-7688
Marty McOmber, 684-8358 or 423-4541 (cell)

SEATTLE —Seattle and North Bend have agreed to a 60-year water contract that allows for smart, sustainable growth in North Bend that can help take development pressure off rural areas.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said the proposal, which goes before the Seattle City Council for approval Monday, is in keeping with the spirit of Washington’s 1990 Growth Management Act (GMA). That law seeks to curb urban sprawl, encourage economic development, and protect natural resources by concentrating new growth in compact “urban growth areas,” which includes North Bend.

The agreement will help end an eight-year building moratorium in North Bend.

Under the plan, Seattle would provide North Bend with as much as 1.1 million gallons of water per day (annual average) from Hobo Creek in the Cedar River Watershed, source of Seattle’s drinking water. Untreated Hobo Creek water would be pumped over a ridge into Boxley Creek, a tributary of the South Fork Snoqualmie River — mitigating the impact of North Bend’s withdrawal of more water from its sources at Mt. Si Spring and future wells near the river.

“I am pleased that we have been able to work with North Bend to find a solution that enables them to meet the water demands for their city,” Nickels said. “As a good neighbor, it makes sense for Seattle to enter into this agreement, which works toward the GMA’s goal of building strong, vital communities — while preserving a healthy rural environment for the next generation.”

Nickels said the contract, which could be operational as early as next year, is a “win win” that allows North Bend to grow while ensuring adequate water flows in the Cedar River for fish, and certainty for the region’s water supply.

“This is a great example of how creative work at the regional level can help solve local problems,” Nickels said.

Development has been on hold in North Bend since 1999, when it was determined that demand for water had exceeded the city’s rights for withdrawal of water at Mt. Si Spring. North Bend voluntarily instituted a building moratorium to curtail any additional requests for water other than those approvals vested before the moratorium's effective date. Under the proposed contract with Seattle, North Bend could begin receiving Hobo Springs water as early as 2008.

“The agreement with Seattle is an integral part of our water supply solution,” said North Bend Mayor Ken Hearing. “We want to thank Mayor Nickels and Seattle’s Council and Staff for their willingness to create a regional solution to our problem. We could not have done this without them.”

In addition to providing a reliable water supply to more than 1.3 million customers in the Seattle metropolitan area, SPU provides essential sewer, drainage, solid waste and engineering services that safeguard public health, maintain the city’s infrastructure and protect, conserve and enhance the region's environmental resources.

Visit the mayor’s web site. Get the mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter.

-30-

Seattle Public Utilities