Today, Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Greg Walden announced they have reached an agreement on legislation to implement a collaborative vision for water management along the Crooked River, and that the bill passed the Senate unanimously this afternoon.
These developments set the stage for the bill to become law soon and deliver improved water certainty and a stronger foundation for economic growth and job creation in Central Oregon.
"This is a great victory for Central Oregon," Merkley said. "This collaborative plan, which reflects enormous contributions from throughout the community, resolves a 40-year fight over water. It's a win-win plan that will bring jobs and certainty to the region, ensuring water for economic development, farming, recreation, and healthy streams. My thanks go out to everyone in Central Oregon who helped make this plan a reality, as well as to Congressman Walden and Senator Wyden, and I look forward to seeing Central Oregon thrive with a win-win water management plan."
"This bill is a win for jobs in Central Oregon," said Walden. "It provides much needed water to Prineville for city residents and economic development, ensures certainty for farmers, improves fish habitat for tribes and other fishermen, paves the way for energy generation at Bowman Dam, and protects recreation. I want to thank all stakeholders who worked in a collaborative way to get to this agreement which benefits the region as a whole. And I'd like to thank Senator Merkley for stepping up and working hard in this effort. Barring any unforeseen delays, the House will soon pass this bill and send it to the President's desk to be signed into law."