A Case Study for the Inland Northwest Economic Adjustment Strategy
County Population 7,300; Curlew 140
250+ forestry, mining and lumber manufacturing jobs lost over 10 years
1 of 2 remaining mills in serious jeopardy due to loss of federal timber supply
Local strategy: Town of Curlew has erected an amphitheatre to host bluegrass festival and other events; draw visitors
Curlew Water District, with help from WA-CERT sponsored symposium, has leveraged funding and technical assistance necessary to complete $850,000 water system improvement project
Ferry County
County Seat: Republic
Area: 2,202 square miles
Totol Population: 7,300
White: 81%
Native American: 18%
Other: 1%
Ciites:
Republic: 1,040
Unincorporated Communities:
Danville
Keller
Inchelium
Orient
Background
Curlew is located in Ferry County, Washington, in the northeastern portion of the State - just 10 miles south of the Canadian border. Approximately 85% of the County is forested, and the Colville Confederated Tribes Reservation accounts for nearly half of the area.
The modern history of Ferry County started in the 1850s. Washington Territory had been established in 1853, and four years later, gold was discovered at Rock Creek just north of the U.S.-Canadian border. Trails to Rock Creek cut across the rich interior valleys of the Kettle River and Curlew Creek, and the traveling prospectors had a chance to admire Ferry County for the first time.
As the county filled with newcomers, land ownership became a problem. A large tract of land, mostly mountainous and including all of modern Ferry County, was set aside as the Colville Indian Reservation. In 1893 and 1894 the first government surveyors passed though Ferry County, establishing the Range and Township boundaries and setting the stage for the greatest "boom" in the county's history.
In February of 1896, the "North Half" of the Colville Indian Reservation, including the northern half of Ferry County, was opened for the staking of mining claims. The first claim was staked on Eureka Creek, just north of the present town of Republic. By spring there were 64 men in the Eureka Camp and the gold rush was on. Gold seekers poured into the thriving tent town from all directions.
| Employment Security Department, 1998 | ||
| Colville Reservation Counties(2000) | ||
| Employment | Wages | |
Government |
38% | 36% |
Services |
15% | 10% |
Mining |
14% | 29% |
Retail/Trade |
14% | 6% |
Manufacturing |
11% | 14% |
Other |
8% | 5% |
The "rush" lasted until roughly 1900 and produced notable changes. Eureka changed its name to Republic in honor of one of its largest mines, and acquired a post office. 1898 saw Republic's first streets and lots platted, and in the space of two months of that same year, the town's population increased by 2,000 people. Drinking water sold for 25 cents a barrel from a horse drawn wagon, and public policy decisions were made at a mass meeting of miners.
Other small mining towns sprang up. Some - like Curlew, Orient and Keller - still survive. The turn of the century saw more changes. Logging on the Colville Reservation had been stringently controlled, but in 1900 restrictions were lifted and small sawmills were soon in operation up almost every creek. The "North Half" was opened for homesteading the same year and development of the county spread.
Industry
The main industries in Ferry County today are mining, logging, lumber production and ranching. All of these industries are in decline. The remaining active mining company is closing one of its two mines. There are only two large lumber mills. One mill, which provided employment for three generations, has had its number of workers cut to less than half. Changes in cutting practices have drastically reduced the annual harvest in the National Forests.
Forestry, mining and lumber manufacturing have been the traditional source of family wage jobs in the county. Until recently, the 506 jobs (27% of all jobs) generated by those industries used to account for 44% of all wages in the county. Today, fewer than half of those jobs still exist.
Ranching constitutes another challenged industry. The cattle industry is substantial here, but with aging ranchers and more and more subdivisions, ranching is on the decline too. In 1992, the County had the state's highest median age for farmers - at 57.9 years old. The County also rated first in the size of farms, but with only 193 farms, ranked only 33rd out of 39 counties in total farms.
The Curlew Challenge
Curlew is an unincorporated community of about 140 people. The Curlew Water District is the entity responsible for providing the community's drinking water. The District serves 35 residential connections, the school (with 250 students) and twelve business connections. The water system was started in the 1920s and has been repaired and extended since. Many of the iron pipes have rusted and repair is a constant activity. Currently, about one third of the water pumped is consumed, the rest flows back into the Kettle River through leaks.
Recently, it was determined that the current system poses two major health concerns. First, the two existing wells experience occasional flooding from surface runoff generated by Curlew Creek. Second, both wells appear to be vulnerable to runoff contaminants from upgradient cattle corrals.
The Curlew Solution
In 2000, the Curlew Water District was invited to attend the WA-CERT Symposium put on by the Washington Community Economic Revitalization Team. During the four-day meeting the Curlew Team was able to concentrate on finding a solution to their problems. They met with various funding agencies and state agencies. By the end of Symposium, The District had expanded a $147,000 grant into $350,000.
Moreover, the community had established clear steps for proceeding with the transfer of water rights to new wells, final design and construction. All of those steps have since been accomplished. Two new wells have been drilled and produce both a high quantity and high quality of water. An additional loan has been approved by USDA Rural Development, and with the addition of grant funding, the $850,000 water system improvement project can now be completed before winter.
Without the assistance of the WA-CERT program, and the resulting cooperation of state and federal agencies, implementing a project such as this in Curlew would have been next to impossible. As a corollary benefit of having participated in the WA-CERT symposium, community leaders are now better-equipped to move other projects ahead, and know they have resources available.
The Future
Curlew recently completed work on a new community amphitheater. The amphitheater will play host to an annual bluegrass music festival, beginning summer of 2001. It is anticipated that events such as this one will bring more people to the community and help stimulate the local economy. And hopefully, with continued outside assistance and support, the town will effectively grow new economic bases, and remain a place people are proud to call home.
