Kulongoski: State needs broad approach to water

Mitch Lies
Capital Press
March 28, 2008

Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, in his state of the state address in Portland last week, called on state leaders to look toward water storage and water conservation as keys to addressing future impacts of global warming.

"People outside this state may wonder how Oregonians can be worried about not having enough water," Kulongoski said. "But we know better.

"That's why I went to Hermiston ( Ore. ) two weeks ago to sign Senate Bill 1069," he said.

The bill, which lawmakers passed in the recently completed special session, calls for the state to set aside $1.75 million for irrigation districts and other entities to fund water storage feasibility studies, and puts $750,000 toward studying whether it is feasible to pull water from the Columbia River during the winter for irrigation uses in the summer.

"This water can be stored and later used for irrigation and fish protection," Kulongoski said. "But Senate Bill 1069 was only one small step. We need a much broader approach, including conservation, to make sure we always have high-quality, stable and abundant water supplies."

Kulongoski also in his speech emphasized a need to improve Oregon 's transportation infrastructure.

"Does anyone seriously think that we can have a 21st-century economy with a 20th-century transportation network?" he said.

Other priorities he emphasized include investing in health care and education, battling global warming and building a sustainable economy.

"Global warming and sustainable development are as much an opportunity as they are a challenge," Kulongoski said. "By marketing Oregon 's way of doing business, we can attract new companies in wind, wave, geothermal and solar."

Overall, the governor said, he believes Oregon 's economy is on the right track.

"We can show the nation that it is possible to have prosperity and livability," he said.

Kulongoski also praised lawmakers for establishing a rainy-day fund in the 2007 legislative session.

"For the first time in decades we have financial stability and integrity," he said.

Staff writer Mitch Lies is based in Salem . E-mail: mlies@capitalpress.com. 

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