The Kennewick Irrigation District took the first step Tuesday toward building an irrigation reservoir on Red Mountain.

The district's board approved the purchase of 1.32 acres from Stan and Susan Hill of Whitaker Estates in Benton City for $26,400.

KID will build a 100,000-gallon tank on the property.

"It will be one of two tank-type reservoirs on the mountain," said Scott Revell, planning manager for KID. "This one will be on the shoulder of Red Mountain at 1,070 feet above sea level, just below the vineyards at Col Salare Winery."

The irrigation district will soon begin site preparation work which basically will be removing a lot of rock where the pump station will be built, he said.

The water to fill the two reservoirs will come from the Yakima River, Revell said.

The irrigation district is planning to build a second 400,000-gallon reservoir on Red Mountain at the 838 foot level. The purchase for the land for that tank is in negotiations.

"There will be water to the top of Red Mountain but it will be pumped up from the reservoirs," Revell said.