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Confidence in Oregon's
water supplies evaporates
MITCH LIES
Capital Press
December 31, 2008
Despite Oregon's abundant rainfall, Oregonians don't believe the state has enough water to meet its needs - not now and definitely not in the future.
A recently released report from five water roundtables held last fall in different parts of the state, shows a majority of 300 participants are wary about the state's ability to meet its current water needs.
Confidence in Oregon's ability to meet its future needs is even lower. About two-thirds of the participants said in 20 years, the quantity of water in Oregon won't be adequate to supply Oregon's cities, farms and wildlife.
The water roundtables were held last fall in Salem, Bend, Newport, Ontario and Medford.
"This was an effort to simply find out what was on Oregonians' minds when it came to water issues," said Michael Campana, director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University. "We found that people were not optimistic about future water supplies, and that there are a lot of concerns."
OSU's institute has compiled findings from surveys taken at the roundtables into a report.
Among key findings, according to the report, Oregon needs integrated long-range planning and management at the basin level; Oregon should integrate its water and land-use planning; one size does not fit all when it comes to water management.
Oregonians also, according to the report, believe the state should do more to restore wetlands, floodplains and in-stream flows and develop a long-range water management plan.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski's proposed 2009-11 budget includes funding for two positions in the Oregon Water Resources Department to work on the long-range plan.
Other key issues identified in the report are concerns about non-point water pollution as a result of urbanization; concerns about the impacts climate change will inflict on the state's water supplies; and concerns about inequitable distribution of water resources among states.
The report notes that participants brought up similar issues at all five roundtables, but certain issues carried more weight in certain locations. For example, the issue of protecting water rights generated more heated support in the farming communities of Ontario and Bend than in Salem.
The roundtables were supported by several government and private nonprofit organizations, including the League of Oregon Cities, Oregon Trout, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; OSU; the Oregon Water Resources Department and others.
Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland, worked with OSU's Institute for Water and Watersheds and the university's Institute for Natural Resources in spearheading the roundtables.
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NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
MITCH LIES
Capital Press
December 31, 2008
Despite Oregon's abundant rainfall, Oregonians don't believe the state has enough water to meet its needs - not now and definitely not in the future.
A recently released report from five water roundtables held last fall in different parts of the state, shows a majority of 300 participants are wary about the state's ability to meet its current water needs.
Confidence in Oregon's ability to meet its future needs is even lower. About two-thirds of the participants said in 20 years, the quantity of water in Oregon won't be adequate to supply Oregon's cities, farms and wildlife.
The water roundtables were held last fall in Salem, Bend, Newport, Ontario and Medford.
"This was an effort to simply find out what was on Oregonians' minds when it came to water issues," said Michael Campana, director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University. "We found that people were not optimistic about future water supplies, and that there are a lot of concerns."
OSU's institute has compiled findings from surveys taken at the roundtables into a report.
Among key findings, according to the report, Oregon needs integrated long-range planning and management at the basin level; Oregon should integrate its water and land-use planning; one size does not fit all when it comes to water management.
Oregonians also, according to the report, believe the state should do more to restore wetlands, floodplains and in-stream flows and develop a long-range water management plan.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski's proposed 2009-11 budget includes funding for two positions in the Oregon Water Resources Department to work on the long-range plan.
Other key issues identified in the report are concerns about non-point water pollution as a result of urbanization; concerns about the impacts climate change will inflict on the state's water supplies; and concerns about inequitable distribution of water resources among states.
The report notes that participants brought up similar issues at all five roundtables, but certain issues carried more weight in certain locations. For example, the issue of protecting water rights generated more heated support in the farming communities of Ontario and Bend than in Salem.
The roundtables were supported by several government and private nonprofit organizations, including the League of Oregon Cities, Oregon Trout, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; OSU; the Oregon Water Resources Department and others.
Sen. Jackie Dingfelder, D-Portland, worked with OSU's Institute for Water and Watersheds and the university's Institute for Natural Resources in spearheading the roundtables.
| Related Links |
| The report on the roundtables |
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted
material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit
research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml