OR Senate authorizes state to implement sustainable water use plan
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) led the Oregon Senate on Wednesday in passing Senate Bill 1567, authorizing the Oregon Water Resource Department to implement a roadmap for sustainable water use and fisheries restoration through the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan.
The bill directs the state to work collaboratively with Washington and partner with federal agencies, tribes, and water users to manage water resources in the basin.
“Senate Bill 1567 is a collaborative effort of the communities, industries, and tribes who rely on the Walla Walla Basin and have had to grapple with declining surface and groundwater levels,” Hansell said. “Based on my over 40 years of experience as a county commissioner and state senator representing Umatilla County, I understand how intertwined the Walla Walla River Basin is with Oregon, Washington, and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. We must have bi-state coordination on water management efforts for our shared basin to reach its potential.”
Senate Bill 1567 closely mirrors a bill in the Washington Legislature, House Bill 1322, which passed unanimously and became law in 2023.
