Public input sought for Harney Critical Groundwater Area Rulemaking
By Mindy Gould on Tuesday, February 28th, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
Salem- (Released by Oregon Water Resources Department) Over the last few years, Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) has actively engaged and connected with local water users in the Harney Basin regarding the increasing demand for water and the declining groundwater levels in the region. OWRD is now slated to begin an important rulemaking which intends to address declining groundwater levels in the basin.
OWRD engagement staff will be available to meet with members of the public in Burns, Oregon on March 7, March 8 and March 9 to discuss and provide direct input on the upcoming OWRD critical groundwater rulemaking for the basin. This rulemaking is also known as the Division 512 Rulemaking. This rulemaking continues the series of proposed actions that OWRD is planning to take over the next few years following the Harney Basin Groundwater Study that was published by the U.S. Geological Survey in April 2022. The Division 512 rules will govern the use of groundwater in the Basin, including use within the Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern.
Details to participate: What: Drop-in conversations with OWRD Engagement Staff. When: Tuesday, March 7 from 11am-3pm, Wednesday, March 8 from 8am-12pm and Thursday March 9 from 12pm-5pm. Location: 85 W Washington St, Burns, Or.
Important Note: For additional information, or to schedule an alternative time to meet outside of the drop-in times, contact Alexandria Scott by email at alexandria.i.scott@water.oregon.gov or by phone (503) 871-4283.
To receive future announcements about the Harney Basin and rulemakings, please sign up for the mailing list at: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORWRD/subscriber/new?preferences=true
The Oregon Water Resources Department is the state agency charged with studying, allocating, and distributing water in Oregon. Visit www.oregon.gov/owrd.
OWRD engagement staff will be available to meet with members of the public in Burns, Oregon on March 7, March 8 and March 9 to discuss and provide direct input on the upcoming OWRD critical groundwater rulemaking for the basin. This rulemaking is also known as the Division 512 Rulemaking. This rulemaking continues the series of proposed actions that OWRD is planning to take over the next few years following the Harney Basin Groundwater Study that was published by the U.S. Geological Survey in April 2022. The Division 512 rules will govern the use of groundwater in the Basin, including use within the Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern.
