The Bowman Dam bill introduced by Oregon’s Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden is for the most part a crowd pleaser.
Prineville
would get access to more water. Farmers and fish would also get more.
And it would allow the installation of a hydroelectric turbine on Bowman
Dam.
Those things are all fairly straightforward in the bill. But
when it comes to other details, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River,
pointed out some important issues to us that need to be clarified.
The bill’s purpose is twofold.
First,
it fixes what is considered a mistaken boundary line. Bowman Dam — an
earthen, man-made dam — was included in 1993 in the Crooked River’s wild
and scenic designation. Of course, there’s nothing wild and scenic
about it. What’s important is that with such a designation, no hydro
could be built. The bill moves the boundary.
Second, the bill
clarifies how water from the Crooked River can be used. It makes
available more water behind the dam so Prineville can get access to more
groundwater. It has assurances for irrigators.
What’s unclear is what happens to the remaining water in Prineville Reservoir and who decides.
The
bill mentions that the government “shall store in and release from
Prineville Reservoir all remaining stored water quantities for the
benefit of downstream wildlife and fish.” Does that mean Prineville
Reservoir could be allowed to mostly dry up?
The Commissioner of
Reclamation is also to set the release schedules for water consistent
with the guidance from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and the
state of Oregon. What if the tribes and the state disagree?
We
applaud the work that Walden, Merkley and Wyden have all put into this
issue. We hope that in the short time remaining, the concerns can be
clarified and the bill can be passed.