Senate Weighing Proposals to Get Water for E. Oregon

By Jeannine Koranda, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Feb. 12–Two measures focused on getting more water for Eastern Oregon were introduced in the state Senate last week.

One proposal looks at building a dam in Juniper Canyon to store water. The other asks the Water Resources Department to allow 500,000 acre-feet of water to be taken out of the Columbia River annually for the next 25 years.

The withdrawal project, dubbed the Oregon Oasis Project, has been spearheaded by the Umatilla Electric Cooperative. The water would help irrigate farm land, replace declining ground water and supplement water uses for cities.

Members of the co-op were in Salem last week drumming up support for the proposal, said Cindy Finlayson, director of economic development and regional affairs for the co-op.

“We’ve gotten a good response so far for the bill,” she said.

People understand that water is an issue and necessary if farmers in Eastern Oregon are to take advantage of the burgeoning biofuels market, she said.

“If we’re going to have a biofuels industry here we need water to grow the crops … otherwise we’re going to be supporting other state’s economies,” Finlayson said.

The group estimates the project would provide water for 90,000 irrigated acres, creating more than 10,000 new jobs and about $452 million in additional revenue.

While the withdrawal proposal is a short-term fix that would last 25 years, others are looking at longer term solutions

Sen. David Nelson, R-Pendleton, sponsored a measure directing the Water Resources Department to look at building a dam and reservoir in Juniper Canyon. Reps. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, and Bob Jenson, R-Pendleton, also are supporting the proposal.

The reservoir could be filled from Columbia River water when available and contribute to the area’s economic growth, the measure said.

The study would determine the design issues, environmental concerns, permitting issues, funding and cost of the possible project.

The proposal asks the Legislature to take $250,000 out of the general fund to pay for the initial assessment.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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