Memo to file—agreement regarding temporary transfer of Blocksxxxxxx at Columbia View (its control and utilization) from ARS to WSU

It is understood that land at the site known as Columbia View, situated along the Columbia River in Douglas County, about 10 miles north of Wenatchee, was deeded by the Washington State Horticultural Association in 1952 to The State College of Washington (now Washington State University, Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center) with the understanding that the said property would be used by both Washington State University and the United States Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry (now United State Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Tree Fruit Research Laboratory) for various research programs of importance to the tree fruit industry. The land was divided up into relatively small blocks that were designated with numbers and assigned to either Washington State University (Cooperator) or the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Land historically used by the Cooperator is identified as Block Numbers 9, 11, 12, 13, 13A 14, 15, 17 18, and 19; land used by ARS is identified as Block Numbers1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6, 7, 8, 16, 20 (previously old nursery block with no number designation), and the small unnumbered corner area immediately north of Block 19.

Recently, the Cooperator has had a greater need for land space to conduct their research programs. In the meantime, the need by ARS for experimental orchard plots has decreased. However, history will show in general that ARS research programs have changed and evolved according to the changing needs of the agricultural industries it serves; thus, it is likely that at some future time, ARS at the Wenatchee location will have a greater need for field plots than it does at present.

With consideration to the above factors, an arrangement whereby ARS would “lend” space to the Cooperator was discussed. The minimum period required for the use of a block of land, from the time of tree planting until the time of tree removal, varies greatly depending on the research objective. At present, the xxx(PI name) program would like to temporarily takeover control andutilization of certain blocks of land at Columbia View from ARS.

  1. The Cooperator Agrees to:
  1. Accept all responsibility for Blocksxxxxat Columbia View for a period of xxyears, beginning at the time of planting (or preparing to plant) in xxxx.
  1. Allow ARS the option to regain the control and utilization of Blocks xxx at the end of the x-year period indicated above.
  1. Allow ARS the option to regain the control and utilization of Blocksxxxx after the above x-year period and any extended period that ARS agrees to.
  1. ARS Agrees to:
  1. Allow the Cooperator to have total control and utilization of Blocks xxx at Columbia View for a period of x years, beginning at the time of planting (or preparing to plant) in xxxx.
  1. At the end of the above x-year period, give the Cooperator the option to annually request from ARS a one-year extension that will be covered each time in an amendment to the Memo to file.
  1. Consider future requests from the Cooperator to relinquish control and utilization of this or other blocks of land at Columbia View that ARS has historically controlled, for a period of x years under the terms given above, with the agreement and any exceptions being specified in an amendment to the Memo to file.
  1. It is Mutually Agreed that:
  1. X-year agreements for any given block of land at Columbia View, as described above, will be established in late summer or fall, prior to the time of planting when the x-year period begins, to allow time for planning and land preparation.
  1. For any x-year agreement as described above, conflicts between land preparation plans and the termination of an orchard, which may be delayed because of the need to harvest fruit or collect data at the end of the season preceding the establishment of the new planting and the start of the x-year period, will be resolved case for case by verbal agreement between the Cooperator and ARS.

Signed: ______Date: ______

Dr. James McFerson, Director, WSU TFREC

Signed: ______Date: ______

Dr. James Mattheis, Research Leader, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Lab.