74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
{ + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 1241
A-Engrossed
Senate Bill 600
Ordered by the Senate April 30
Including Senate Amendments dated April 30
Sponsored by Senator NELSON (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
Directs Water Resources Department to conduct statewide water
supply and conservation opportunities assessment. Sets completion
date of July 1, 2009.
Appropriates moneys from General Fund to department to pay
costs of assessment.
Sunsets January 2, 2010.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to statewide water supply assessment; and appropriating
money.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + The Legislative Assembly finds that:
(1) The Oregon Progress Board's State of the Environment Report
2000 noted that one of the state's major environmental challenges
is an inadequate supply of water.
(2) Surface waters in most of Oregon are fully appropriated by
existing out-of-stream and in-stream uses, except during periods
outside the irrigation season when stream flows are generally
higher.
(3) Ground water resources in Oregon are showing signs of
overuse and are becoming unstable in many areas.
(4) Conflicts between out-of-stream and in-stream needs are
becoming increasingly divisive and expensive to resolve.
(5) Opportunities exist for partnerships and water project
development in many subbasins, including the Umatilla River
subbasin and the Walla Walla River subbasin, and these
opportunities can be supported through state participation and
funding to complement the current efforts of the federal
government. + }
SECTION 2. { + The Water Resources Department shall conduct a
statewide water supply and conservation opportunities assessment.
The purpose of this assessment is to allow the state to:
(1) Identify challenges in ensuring sufficient water supplies
in meeting existing and future beneficial uses of water;
(2) Provide data for prioritizing future water storage and
conservation projects;
(3) Identify periods of water availability from the Columbia
River for possible use in Oregon; and
(4) Maximize the benefits of ongoing partnerships between the
federal government, the state government, tribal organizations
and private entities, such as the partnerships in the Umatilla
River subbasin and the Walla Walla River subbasin. + }
SECTION 3. { + The statewide water supply and conservation
opportunities assessment shall:
(1) Review existing and future water needs in Oregon, including
out-of-stream and in-stream water needs;
(2) Develop a statewide inventory of potential storage sites,
including above ground reservoirs and below ground sites such as
artificial recharge projects;
(3) Analyze water supply that may be gained through greater
adoption of efficient water use practices;
(4) Investigate basin yield estimates, focusing on the amount
of runoff that can be expected each year, or each season, for
various drainage basins;
(5) Analyze water supply benefits that may be gained from water
exchanges identified in the Bureau of Reclamation of the United
States Department of the Interior 'Umatilla Basin Project Phase
III Feasibility Study' and the United States Army Corps of
Engineers 'Walla Walla Instream Flow Project'; and
(6) Develop a funding program for community-based water supply
planning that provides incentive funding to communities that
develop strategies to meet their long-term water supply
needs. + }
SECTION 4. { + The Water Resources Department shall complete
the statewide water supply and conservation opportunities
assessment described in sections 2 and 3 of this 2007 Act by July
1, 2009, and report the results of the assessment by this date to
the Legislative Assembly in the manner provided in ORS 192.245. A
copy of the report shall also be provided to the Bureau of
Reclamation of the United States Department of the Interior and
to the United States Army Corps of Engineers. + }
SECTION 5. { + In addition to and not in lieu of any other
appropriation, there is appropriated to the Water Resources
Department, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2007, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $1,000,000 to pay the costs of the
statewide water supply and conservation opportunities assessment
described in sections 2 and 3 of this 2007 Act. From this amount,
$50,000 shall be used to support the Bureau of Reclamation of the
United States Department of the Interior 'Umatilla Basin Project
Phase III Feasibility Study' and $50,000 shall be used to support
the United States Army Corps of Engineers 'Walla Walla Instream
Flow Project.' + }
SECTION 6. { + Sections 1 to 4 of this 2007 Act are repealed
on January 2, 2010. + }
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