WASHINGTON (KTVZ) — Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden,
D-Ore., announced Wednesday they secured funding for essential community
projects across Oregon in Congress’s fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations
package, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into
law by President Biden this week.
With the support of members of Oregon’s congressional
delegation in the House of Representatives-Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl
Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, and Kurt Schrader-a total of 145
community-initiated projects in Oregon were included in the package.
Once law, these essential projects will receive the support
needed to help meet critical needs in every corner of the state, including
investing in wildfire and drought resiliency, affordable housing, health care,
education, manufacturing, and much more, all while creating essential services
and good-paying jobs.
“No one knows the unique needs of communities
across Oregon like the folks living and working in them,” said
Merkley, who helped drive inclusion of Oregon projects as the only Oregon
member of Congress from either chamber to serve on the Appropriations Committee
since Senator Mark Hatfield.”I joined the Committee in 2013 to ensure
Oregon has a strong voice in decisions about our nation’s investments.
Community-initiated projects are an incredible example of this, because these
local and regional projects were generated at the ground level by folks who are
working to make their communities better. I worked with Senator Wyden and
members of Oregon’s House delegation to secure funding for 145 of these
important homegrown projects for Oregonians in every corner of our state, and
these projects will have positive impacts across our state for years to
come.”
“These investments represent the best of the Oregon
Way, namely that Oregonians in communities all across the state pulled together
to determine their local quality-of-life solutions that will keep people safe
and generate jobs that strengthen the economy,” Wyden
said. “I’ve heard during more than 1,000 town halls in each of our 36
counties how Oregonians want federal investments just like these that reflect
their grass-roots priorities. And I’m glad to have teamed up with them and
Senator Merkley to produce these tangible and significant results.”
Both Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden hold a town hall in
each Oregon county every year and work hard to ensure that local feedback
informs every aspect of their work in Washington, D.C. This local feedback is
directly reflected in the projects that were chosen for federal funding in this
year’s package.
Because of Senator Merkley’s position on the powerful
Appropriations Committee and key role pushing Oregon priorities in the drafting
of the bills, and the collaborative way that Senator Merkley and Wyden work
together to advocate for projects from Oregon, last year the two Senators were
able to secure more projects for their home state than any other Senators
besides Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The 145 Oregon community-initiated projects were spread out
among bills produced by the Appropriations subcommittees, including 20 projects
in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, of which
Senator Merkley is Chair.
The funds and projects secured by Senators Merkley and
Wyden, broken down by region, are as follows:
Oregon Coast:
- $10.528
million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Port of Coos Bay Dredging - $4
million for the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for Shutter
Creek Rehabilitation and Renovations - $4
million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Columbia River Channel
Improvements - $3
million for Nehalem Bay Health District for its Health Center and Pharmacy - $3
million for Tillamook County for its Fiber Network, with Rep. Schrader - $2.8
million for Oregon Dept of Transportation for the US101 Sidewalk Infill,
with Rep. Schrader - $2
million for Tillamook County for its Public Safety Radio Communication
System, with Rep. Schrader - $2
million for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for a Lincoln County Radio
System Upgrade - $1
million for Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital for SUD Treatment
Center facilities and equipment - $800,000
for Oregon State University for the Blue-Tech Professional Training
Program - $750,000
for Columbia Memorial Hospital for Emergency Operations and Logistics
Renovations - $750,000
for the Coquille Indian Tribe for Coquille River Salmon Conservation - $702,000
for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Umpqua River Project - $625,000
for the Tillamook Estuary Partnership for Climate Change Monitoring
Instruments - $330,000
for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Tillamook Bay and Bar Project - $320,000
for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Coquille River - $50,000
for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Skipanon Channel Project
Click HERE for quotes from Oregon Coast community-initiated
project recipients.
Metro:
- $5
million for the Oregon Food Bank for Facilities and Equipment in
Multnomah, Wasco, and Malheur Counties - $4
million for City of Beaverton for Beaverton Downtown Loop, with Rep.
Bonamici - $4
million for Housing Authority of Clackamas County for Hillside Redevelopment
Project, with Rep. Schrader - $3.2
million for Oregon Dept of Transportation for OR141: Hall Boulevard
Pedestrian Safety Improvements at Hemlock & Spruce, with Rep. Bonamici - $3.179
million for City of Gresham for 181st Safety Improvements Project, with
Rep. Blumenauer - $3
million for Home Forward for the Troutdale Affordable Housing
Project - $3
million for the City of Beaverton for the Beaverton Homelessness Shelter - $3
million for the City of Sherwood for the Tonquin Employment Area Access
Project - $3
million for Tualatin Valley Water District for the Willamette Water Supply
System Construction Project, with Rep. Bonamici - $2
million for Clackamas County for a Watershed Protection Project and
Wastewater Facility Decommission, with Rep. Blumenauer - $2
million for OCHIN Inc for Health Information Technology Training, with
Rep. Bonamici - $2
million for The Oregon Zoo for the Condor Restoration Project - $2
million for Central City Concern for the Portland River Haven &
Recuperative Care Program Expansion Project - $2
million for City of Portland for Community Safety Plan Design and
Programming, with Rep. Blumenauer - $2
million for Multnomah County for Earthquake Ready Burnside Bridge Design
Phase, with Rep. Blumenauer - $2
million for City of Portland for Fairfield Apartments, with Rep. Bonamici - $1
million for Proud Ground for its Expanding Permanently Affordable
Homeownership Opportunities Project - $1
million for the Latino Network for La Plaza Esperanza - $1
million for Albina Vision Trust, Inc. for Albina Land Bank, with Rep.
Blumenauer - $1
million for the City of Portland for NE Halsey Safety and Access to
Transit Project, with Rep. Blumenauer - $962,000
for Washington County for Aloha Livable Community and Safe Access to
Transit - $850,000
for Williams & Russell CDC for its Williams & Russell Project - $814,000
for Columbia County Economic Team for the Columbia County Advanced and
Additive Manufacturing Small Business Incubator, with Rep. Bonamici - $800,000
for Oregon Health and Science University for facilities and equipment for
its behavioral health coordination center, with Rep. Blumenauer - $785,000
for Portland State University for the Oregon Microplastics Research Center - $750,000
for Black United Fund of Oregon, Inc., for Building United Futures Complex
Construction, with Rep. Blumenauer - $750,000
for Portland State University for Low-Cost Student Housing, with Rep.
Blumenauer - $750,000
for National Association of Minority Contractors – Oregon for Black-Owned
Small Businesses and Economic Prosperity Project - $703,046
for Feed’em Freedom Foundation, Black Community Food Center, with Rep.
Blumenauer - $700,000
for the Oregon Institute of Technology for its Healthcare career pathways
program, with Rep. Schrader - $540,000
for Lines for Life for its YouthLine National Expansion Project - $500,000
for Riverside Training Centers, Inc. for its Empowerment Center for People
with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - $374,000
for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its Willamette River, OR
Environmental Dredging Project - $352,000
for the City of Portland for its Legacy Business Preservation Project - $340,000
for the City of St. Helens, Oregon for St. Helens Law Enforcement
Technology - $252,000
for the Children’s Center of Clackamas County for Community-Based Child
Abuse Prevention - $198,000
for Scappoose Rural Fire District for its Fire and Aviation Workforce
Training and Education Program for High School Students - $163,000
for SPOON for Online Training to Support Children at Risk for Malnutrition - $108,000
for Disability Rights Oregon to Enhance Services for People with
Disabilities
Click HERE for quotes from the metro area community-initiated
project recipients.
Willamette Valley:
- $4
million for the Oregon Department of Transportation for OR18/OR99W
Corridor Safety and Intersection Improvements, with Rep. Bonamici - $2.56
million for Salem Area Mass Transit District for a South Salem Mobility as
a Service Transit Facility, with Rep. Schrader - $2.2
million for the City of Carlton for the Sewer Collection Pipe Replacement
Project - $2
million for Eugene Family YMCA for Childcare facilities YMCA, with Rep.
DeFazio - $2
million for Marion County for its Detroit Lake Marina Excavation and
Resiliency Project, with Rep. Schrader - $1.6
million for the City of Falls City for the Water System Project - $1.512
million for Oregon Department of Transportation for the Benton Area
Transit Fleet Replacement, with Rep. DeFazio - $1.5
million for the City of Carlton for the West Main Street Revitalization
Project - $1.5
million for Lane County to retrofit and provide equipment for a Behavioral
Health Stabilization Center, with Rep. DeFazio - $1.5
million for Lane County for Immediate Occupancy planning for a
multi-purpose facility, with Rep. DeFazio - $1.253
million for City of Aumsville for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Project,
with Rep. Schrader - $1.157
million for the University of Oregon for the Sustainable Cities Institute,
with Rep. DeFazio - $1
million for the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency for the
Santiam Lodge: A Transitional Home for Wildfire Survivors Project - $1
million for the State of Oregon for the Opal Creek Wilderness and Scenic
Recreation Area Act Implementation Project - $1
million for Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital for the Sweet Home Clinic
and Urgent Care - $850,00
for Corvallis Neighborhood Housing Services Inc., DevNW for Community Land
Trust Development - $804,000
for the Capaces Leadership Institute for Anahuac Farms Facilities and
Equipment - $800,000
for Lane Transit District for its Fleet Fall Protection and Crane Project,
with Rep. DeFazio - $500,000
for Lane Community College for its Simulation Laboratory - $500,000
for the Sheridan School District for the Barbara Roberts Career Technical
School - $412,000
for the Capaces Leadership Institute for its Anahuac Farm & Cultural
Center Infrastructure Build Project - $385,000
for Springfield Public Schools for its Career and Technical Cosmetology
program, with Rep. DeFazio - $340,000
for Chemeketa Community College for a Commercial Truck Driving Program,
with Rep. Scrader - $275,000
for White Bird Clinic for its Mental Health Center Renovation
Project - $232,000
for Willamalane Park and Recreation District for its Dorris Ranch Orchard
Replacement, with Rep. DeFazio - $195,000
for Looking Glass Community Services for At-Risk Youth Rural Program
Building Renovation & Program Expansion - $176,000
for Lane County Public Safety Dispatch Center Equipment Upgrade, with Rep.
DeFazio - $83,000
for the City of Dallas for its Emergency Operations Center
Click HERE for quotes from Willamette Valley region
community-initiated project recipients.
Mid-Columbia/Central Oregon:
- $5
million for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs for Drinking Water
Infrastructure - $3.088
million for the La Pine Community Health Center for Health Center
Expansion - $3
million for the Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation for Hood River
Affordable Housing - $2.548
million for the Lone Pine Irrigation District for its Authorized Watershed
Plan - $2.5
million for East Fork Irrigation District for its Authorized Watershed
Plan - $2.5
million for the Ochoco Irrigation District for McKay Creek Infrastructure - $2.332
million for the Oregon Department of Transportation for the Jordan Road to
Sandy River Delta Multi-use Path, with Rep. Blumenauer - $2
million for the City of Redmond for Water System Construction - $1.380
million for Oregon State University-Cascades for Little Kits Childcare
Centers - $1.019
million for the Wheeler County Office of Emergency Management for its
Vehicle and Radio System Upgrades - $975,000
for the City of Mosier for the Mosier Community Center and Fire Station - $960,000
for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the John Day Lock & Dam - $800,000
for the Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity for Affordable Housing
Development in Central Oregon - $700,000
for the U.S. Forest Service for Deschutes National Forest for Recreational
Access - $441,000
for the Columbia Gorge Community College for Advanced Manufacturing Skills
Equipment - $400,000
for the Mid-Columbia Community Action Council for The Dalles Navigation
Center Micro-Shelters - $200,000
for the North Unit Irrigation District for the Crooked River Water Supply
Study - $153,000
for the Central Oregon Community College for Madras Campus Health Careers
Expansion - $115,000
for Hood River Crag Rats for the Historic Cloud Cap Inn
Click HERE for quotes from community-initiated project
recipients in the Mid-Columbia and Central Oregon regions.
Eastern Oregon:
- $6
million to Camp Umatilla for Housing Facilities Construction - $3.5
million for the City of Burns for Water System Improvements - $3
million for Owyhee Irrigation District for its Kingman Lateral Pipeline
Project - $3
million for Treasure Valley Community College for its Nursing & Allied
Health Professions Center - $2.82
million for City of Paisley for Water System Improvements - $2
million for Union County Emergency Services for its Union County Radio
System Upgrade Project - $1.855
million for the Burns Paiute Tribe for its Burns Paiute Tribal Community
Wellness Center Retrofit - $1.7
million for Morrow County and Umatilla County to address Drinking Water
Contamination of private wells - $1.5
million for the City of Pendleton for its Highway 11/30 Housing Expansion
project - $1.25
million for Community Counseling Solutions for its Grant County Health
Center - $1
million for City of Irrigon for its Business Opportunity Incubator - $940,000
for the Burns Paiute Tribe for the US Highway 20 Wildlife Connectivity
Project - $700,000
for facility improvements at the Pendleton Agricultural Research Service
Station - $602,000
for the City of Prairie City for Water Distribution System Improvements - $515,000
for the La Grande School District for its Students Addressing Housing
Shortage Through Home Construction Trade Skills Project - $500,000
for Harney County Senior and Community Services for its High Desert
Veterans Village - $408,000
for facilities improvements at the Burns Agricultural Research Service
Station - $386,000
for the Winding Waters Medical Clinic for its Wallowa County Oregon
Primary Care Clinic - $299,000
for the Grant County Sheriff’s Office for Emergency Management Operations
Center Modernization - $250,000
for the Harney Watershed Council for Harney Basin Water Resource Planning
Support - $221,000
for Harney County for its Generator for Continuity of Operations Project - $177,000
to Morrow County for the Primary Emergency Operations Center Generator
Project
Click HERE for quotes from Eastern Oregon
community-initiated project recipients.
Southern Oregon:
- $5
million for the Talent Irrigation District for the Billings Siphon and
Eastside Canal Project - $5
million for the construction of communications facilities at Kingsley
Field - $3.615
million for Rogue Community College for the Allied Health Facility
Renovation - $3.557
million for the Klamath County Economic Development Association for the
Transformations Wellness Center - $3.5
million for Oregon State University for Elliott State Research Forest
Monitoring Equipment - $2.24
million for facilities improvements at Cole Rivers Hatchery - $2.095
million for Adapt, Inc for SW Oregon Regional Recovery Center - $2
million for Southern Oregon University for its Forging Oregon’s Renewable
Energy Source Transition Through Reimagining Education + Energy (FOREST
TREE) Project - $2
million for the City of Grants Pass for its Water Treatment Plant
Relocation Project - $1.444
million for City of Medford for its Radio System Upgrade - $1.2
million for the Bureau of Land Management for the Cascade Siskiyou
National Monument - $1.120
million for Medford Irrigation District for its Floating Community Solar
Project - $1
million for CASA of Oregon for the Redevelopment of Talent Mobile Estates - $1
million for Kid Time Discovery Experience for Southern Oregon Childcare
Capacity Expansion - $608,000
for Coos County for its Libby Lane Paving Project, with Rep. DeFazio - $430,00
for Bandon Community Health Center for the Expansion of Health Center
Project - $355,000
for Douglas County for its Radio System Upgrade - $300,000
for Oasis Center of the Rogue Valley for its Family-Focused Recovery
Center with Emergency Housing - $241,000
for Douglas County for an Emergency Mobile Command Center
Click HERE for quotes from Southern Oregon
community-initiated project recipients.
Earlier Wednesday, the senators announced that they have
secured major investments for wildfire suppression and forest health in the
2023 funding bill that is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be
signed into law by President Biden this week.
The new funding comes on top of record investments in the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act earlier in the year,
the senators said in a news release that continues in full below:
The new legislation announced by the senators also includes major
investments to support Oregon communities, protect public lands and the
environment, tackle climate chaos, and boost important programs for tribes
through Congress’s fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package.
As Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee,
Merkley wrote this portion of the package funding the Department of the
Interior, U.S. Forest Service, and Environmental Protection Agency to ensure
priorities for communities in every corner of Oregon were included.
“Every Oregonian has experienced in some way the
growing threat that wildfires pose to our lives, our livelihoods, our health,
and the way we live our lives. As Chair of the Senate Interior
Subcommittee on Appropriations, I am in the driver’s seat to help deliver on
Oregon’s priorities, and that’s why this bill continues the transformative
federal commitment to reducing the threat of wildfires,” Merkley said.
“The legislation I wrote, which is built on the input of Oregonians from
across the state, also funds programs that modernize our water systems,
fulfills our trust responsibilities to tribes, champions critical projects
long-sought by our communities and so much more, all while creating good-paying
jobs. These investments will play a key role in strengthening our state for
generations to come.”
“From much-needed wildfire resources to funding for
conservation and rebuilding critical water infrastructure, this bill runs the
gamut in supporting the health and safety of Oregonians, protecting our
treasured places, and boosting rural economies,” Wyden said. “I’m
proud of what we were able to accomplish and look forward to seeing how these
investments deliver for our state.”
Protecting Oregon Communities and Forests from Wildfires
The Interior bill portion of the funding package includes
huge investments to support wildfire management, building on Senators Merkley
and Wyden’s national leadership in ensuring communities throughout the West,
especially in Oregon, have the funding and resources needed to take on and
prevent massive wildfires and safeguard forest health.
Key elements in the Interior bill for wildfire prevention
and mitigation include:
Wildland Firefighting: The total annual funding for wildfire
suppression is $4.395 billion, of which $1.395 billion is provided in base
suppression operations, $2.55 billion is provided in the Wildfire Suppression
Operations Reserve Fund, and $450 million is provided in the disaster
supplemental. This is $550 million (14
percent) more than fiscal year 2022. Since the enactment of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-141), which authorized the Reserve
Fund, the average annual cost of suppression has exceeded assumptions that
informed the funding levels currently assumed in the Reserve Fund. Fiscal year 2021 was the most expensive year
on record, with costs exceeding $4 billion; fiscal year 2022 costs were over
$3.7 billion. As catastrophic fires grow in size and frequency, wildfire
suppression funding must keep pace. The
bill also continues the commitment to improve compensation for federal
firefighters and convert seasonal positions to full-time.
Wildfire Smoke Mitigation: The bill provides $7 million, an
increase of $3 million to the fiscal year 2022 level, for the EPA wildfire
grant program Senator Merkley established last year to support local efforts to
prepare for and protect against wildfire smoke hazards, for example by developing
smoke mitigation and filtration plans for schools and community buildings. It
also provides $3 million to support EPA wildfire smoke monitoring as well as
smoke forecasting and communication tools like AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
Hazardous Fuels: The Forest Service and the Department of
the Interior are provided a total of $454 million for hazardous fuels
reduction, $40 million more than last year.
Forest Restoration: The bill builds on Senator
Merkley’s and Wyden’s priorities for the Forest Service, including
$32 million for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) program,
a $4 million increase. This funding will allow the work of five collaboratives
across the state to continue: Northern Blues Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration
Program, Southern Blues Restoration Coalition Collaborative Landscape
Restoration Project, Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, Lakeview
Collaborative Landscape Restoration Project, and Rogue Basin Collaborative
Forest Landscape Restoration Project. The bill prioritizes addressing Sudden Oak
Death, supporting the Oregon Private Forest Accord, research on wildfire’s
effect on watersheds, expanding the course offerings at Job Corps Civilian
Conservation Centers, partnering with tribes on forest restoration, and
engaging smaller local organizations in restoration projects.
Protecting Our Air and Water
As climate chaos strains aging water infrastructure,
Senators Merkley and Wyden are laser-focused on ensuring all Oregonians have
access to clean and safe air and water for their lives and livelihoods—from
dependable drinking water and sanitation, to a needed water supply for ranchers
and growers, to protecting Oregon’s iconic ecosystems. The Interior portion of
the omnibus makes major investments in water infrastructure modernization and
environmental protection programs.
Key elements in the Interior bill for water modernization
include:
Water Infrastructure: The bill includes $76 million in
critical water infrastructure loan programs under the Water Infrastructure
Financing Innovation Authority (WIFIA) Act. Senator Merkley authored the WIFIA
program in 2012, working to ensure public drinking water and wastewater
infrastructure are well maintained to support public health and safety, strong
local businesses, population growth, and clean rivers and aquifers. WIFIA was
passed into law as part of the 2014 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). In
total, the bill includes over $3.1 billion in loans and grants to support water
infrastructure projects.
Environmental Protection Priorities: The bill bolsters
foundational programs that protect communities from harmful pollution,
providing an increase of $72 million for EPA enforcement and compliance
efforts; an increase of $31 million for EPA clean air efforts; and an increase
of $20 million for EPA’s toxic chemical program. The bill also includes $108
million for EPA’s environmental justice program, an $8 million increase over
fiscal year 2022 and a $96 million increase over fiscal year 2021. The bill
bolsters EPA programs that help clean up pollution in communities, providing
$1.2 billion for Superfund cleanup efforts, $100 million for brownfields
grants, and $100 million for diesel emission reduction grants. Finally, it
includes more than $1 billion in funding to invest in state and tribal
environmental protection programs, an increase of $61 million over the enacted
level.
Supporting Tribal Communities
Senators Merkley and Wyden are deeply committed to ensuring Congress
is upholding its trust and treaty responsibilities and providing fairness to
Indian Country through the federal budget process.
Key elements in the Interior bill to support tribes in
Oregon and across the country include:
Advanced Appropriations for the Indian Health Service: In an
historic first, the bill provides an advance appropriation in fiscal year 2024
for the Indian Health Service (IHS). Advance appropriations will improve the
reliability of health care services provided by IHS to more than 2.5 million
Native Americans by ensuring predictable funding and protecting services from
future lapses in funding due to government shutdowns and unpredictable budget
years. The IHS operates health care facilities within Oregon in Warm Springs and Salem.
Tribal Programs and Services: The bill includes $10.8
billion in critical funding for Tribal communities across the country, and for
the first time, $4 million to establish the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program,
which will address water infrastructure challenges like those faced by the Warm
Springs community. The bill also
provides $7 million to expand tribal law enforcement programs to tribes that
have historically been excluded from the programs, like The Klamath Tribes, the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, the Confederated Tribes of the Grand
Ronde, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and the Confederated Tribes
of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. The bill bolsters tribal
environmental programs, providing $16 million, a $3 million increase, for
grants to support tribal air quality management programs and $75 million, an $8
million increase, for grants to support tribal environmental programs.
Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Sites: The bill
provides $4.5 million for Columbia River In-Lieu Treaty Sites, including $1.3
million for fishing sites construction, to implement Senator Merkley’s Columbia
River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act.
Protecting Oregon’s Great Outdoors and Ecosystems
Senators Merkley and Wyden are focused on preserving and
growing protections for some of Oregon’s most incredible landmarks, lands,
waters, and species.
The Interior portion of the funding package includes huge
investments to strengthen environmental protections, public lands, and Oregon’s
recreational economy:
Klamath Basin Water and Wildlife Conservation: As a key part
of Senator Merkley’s continued efforts with Senator Wyden toward a
long-term solution in the Klamath Basin, Merkley included $19.6 million for
water monitoring efforts and conservation, including fish and wildlife habitat
restoration, which is a $4 million increase compared to last year. This effort
begin after Senator Merkley hosted the pivotal Sucker Summit in 2018.
Saline Lakes: The bill provides $1.75 million to expand a
U.S. Geological Survey water monitoring assessment effort for saline lakes in
the Great Basin, like Lake Abert in Oregon.
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure: Within the Great American
Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, the bill allocates, $9.5 million to fund
maintenance at Yaquina Head, $7 million to replace the boiler at Timberline
Lodge, $400,000 to replace the roof at the Siuslaw Visitor Center, and $10
million to address deferred maintenance at National Forests across Oregon and
the Pacific Northwest. The bill also includes $61.6 million for BLM’s National
Conservation Lands and directs BLM to prioritize management planning for
Cascade-Siskiyou—this account has historically been underfunded and additional
resources will be used for many projects, including recreation and management
planning for new, expanded, and restored monuments.
Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act (FRIMA):
The bill provides $5 million in new funding to implement FRIMA, for fish
passage devices, fish screens and other related features to mitigate water
diversion impacts on fisheries in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, and
California. FRIMA is an important tool to conserve and restore native
anadromous and resident fish populations in the Pacific Northwest. Funding for
the program lapsed in 2015 and, for the first time since, the funding is being
restored.
Western Monarch Butterflies: The bill includes a directive
for the Fish and Wildlife Service to spend not less than $7 million for
conservation activities for western monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
This funding will go to continue to support critical conservation actions
identified at Senator Merkley’s Monarch Summit, as well as the Center for
Pollinator Conservation.
Community-Initiated Projects
In addition to the funding allotments above, Merkley was in
the driver’s seat to write into the bill $43 million for 22 conservation, water
infrastructure, and other specific projects sought by communities across
Oregon. Those funds and community-initiated projects, which he advocated for
with Senator Ron Wyden, include:
- $5
million for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs for Drinking Water
Infrastructure - $5
million for Talent Irrigation District for the Billings Siphon and
Eastside Canal Project - $3.5
million for the City of Burns for Water System Improvements - $3.5
million for Oregon State University for Elliott State Research Forest
Monitoring Equipment - $3
million for Owyhee Irrigation District for its Kingman Lateral Pipeline
Project - $3
million for the Tualatin Valley Water District for Willamette Water Supply
System Construction Project, also supported by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici - $2.82
million for the City of Paisley for Water System Improvements - $2.5
million for the Ochoco Irrigation District for the McKay Creek
Infrastructure Improvement Project - $2.2
million for the City of Carlton for its Sewer Collection Pipe Replacement
Project - $2
million for the City of Grants Pass for its Water Treatment Plant
Relocation Project - $2
million for Clackamas County for a Watershed Protection Project and
Wastewater Facility Decommission, also supported by Rep. Blumenauer - $2
million for the City of Redmond for Water System Construction - $2
million for the Oregon Zoo for its Condor Restoration Project - $1.7
million for Morrow County and Umatilla County to address Drinking Water
Contamination - $1.6
million for the City of Falls City for its Water System Project - $1.2
million for the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument - $1.25
million for the City of Aumsville for Wastewater Treatment Plant Project,
also supported by Rep. Schrader - $1
million for the State of Oregon for the Opal Creek Wilderness and Scenic
Recreation Area Act Implementation project - $700,000
for the Deschutes National Forest for Recreational Access - $602,000
for the City of Prairie City for Water Distribution System Improvements - $250,000
for the Harney Watershed Council for Harney Basin Water Resource Planning
Support - $115,000
for Hood River Crag Rats for the Historic Cloud Cap Inn
“Once again,
Senators Merkley and Wyden have stepped up to help the Warm Springs Tribe
address its ongoing water crisis. This legislation would allow the Tribe to
dramatically improve reliable access to clean, running water to thousands of
people living on the Warm Springs Reservation,” said Tribal Council
Chairman, Jonathan Smith.
“Talent Irrigation District would like to give our
sincere thanks to Senators Merkley, Wyden and their staff for working
diligently to have our Billings Siphon and Eastside Canal Project included in
the bill,” said Mike Winters, Talent Irrigation District, President of the
Board of Directors. “The project will replace aging infrastructure and the
piping of the open canal will have a profound water savings due to reducing
evaporation and leakage. This will be able to provide more water to our
district patrons and provide water savings that will be directed toward
enhancing streamflows in Bear Creek and ultimately the Rogue River.”
“The funding of this water project is remarkable. I
would like to thank Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden for considering the City
of Burns for this critically needed water project,” said Jerry Woodfin,
Mayor of Burns.
“Our existing water distribution pipelines are
crumbling in some areas of the city due to much of it being approximately one
hundred years old. Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden recognized the essential need
to fund this water project. Both senators have proven what many already knew,
that they genuinely care for the well-being of all Oregonians throughout this
great state,” said Nancy Gardner, City Manager, City of Burns.
“This Interior Appropriations bill provides many
important investments for forest research,” said Dr. Tom DeLuca, Dean of
the College of Forestry at Oregon State University. “OSU is particularly
appreciative of the efforts of Senators Merkley and Wyden to secure funding for
OSU to purchase and install forest monitoring equipment that supports the
start-up of the Elliott State Research Forest. The Elliott State Research
Forest has been established by the State of Oregon to serve as an enduring,
publicly owned, world-class research forest to advance understanding related to
forest health, climate resilience, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, water
quality and quantity, and forest recreation.”
“The Owyhee Irrigation District is excited and deeply
grateful for the support shown by Senators Merkley and Wyden for this project.
Piping the first mile of the Kingman lateral will save money and stabilize the
embankment, ensuring irrigation delivery to 6,500 acres,” said Clancy
Flynn, General Manager, Owyhee Irrigation District.
“Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden understand small
cities such as Carlton have limited financial resources to repair and replace
failing infrastructure. Their support of our financial assistance request to
help replace our 100-year-old failing sewer mainline, gives our families hope
of relief from higher utility bills as well as a safer, more efficient, and
stable infrastructure,” said Linda Watkins, Mayor of City of Carlton.
“The City of Grants Pass is particularly grateful to
Senators Merkley and Wyden for putting our Water Treatment Plant Relocation
Project forward on this bill. The Water
Treatment Plant Relocation project builds resilience from flood and seismic
events, ensuring the residents and businesses of our community are not without
a fundamental life source: water. The funding will help mitigate recent service
fee increases that have the greatest impact on the those in our community with
the fewest financial resources. The
funding from this bill will explicitly go to design and construction
preparation activities including much needed geotechnical borings, pipeline
route work and other design related tasks needed to ensure the success of the
project,” said Jason Canady, Public Works Director, City of Grants Pass.
“City of Redmond
proudly prioritizes safe and clean water as well as protecting its natural
resources. Being awarded funding in the
Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) portion of the Interior Appropriations
bill enables us to accelerate needed investments in our water infrastructure
and more efficiently meet the demands of our growing community,” said
Mayor George Endicott, City of Redmond. “This federal support, spearheaded
by Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley, ultimately eases the burden shouldered by
water utility rate payers, and enhances needed water capacity for our community
to grow and thrive well into the future.”
“The condor is a symbol of what the Pacific Northwest
can be; a promise based on restoration, on tribal ownership and leadership, on
taking action to undo centuries of environmental harm. As one of only four
condor breeding facilities in the country, the Oregon Zoo has for 19 years
played a critical role in saving this species from the brink of extinction.
This Interior Appropriations bill invests in the future of this iconic bird and
its eventual restoration to its historic Oregon range. Senator Merkley and
Senator Wyden’s work means that the Oregon Zoo will continue to be a leader in
condor conservation,” said Lynn Peterson, Oregon Metro Council President.
“This federal funding will help our region move beyond
the short term nitrate emergency and focus on a long-term solution for safe
drinking water. Senator Merkley’s support during the nitrate emergency has been
so valuable. This new source of significant funding will allow Morrow and
Umatilla Counties to develop and implement a standardized well testing program
for domestic wells as well as develop a feasibility plan for permanent
solutions such as public drinking water systems. The bi-county partnership will enhance other
work within the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA). We
appreciate these joint County efforts and that of the Northeast Oregon Water
Association and the Morrow and Umatilla County Planning Departments. We are
very thankful that Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden supported this request and
realized the critical need for this project,” said Melissa Lindsay, Morrow
County Commissioner and Dan Dorran, Umatilla County Commissioner.
“This vital
funding support will help Falls City replace many of the old Asbestos Cement
water lines that impact our public safety every time they break. Due to their
old and brittle condition, we run the risk of contamination to the public each
time they fail. In addition, being able to improve the intake system at the
source will greatly extend the life of the sand filters and the Water Treatment
Plant overall. Finally, the ability to improve our billing system through
wireless metering, will help our limited staff manage our community’s customer
accounts more efficiently,” said AJ Foscoli City Manager, Falls City.
“These federal
dollars are coming at a good time. The natural resources and people of the
Santiam Canyon have suffered greatly in the wake of the 2020 wildfires. Using
these funds to help build a trail that can be both enjoyed by locals and
enhance recreational tourism in the region will continue to support this
community’s economic recovery. We thank our federal delegation for investing
these dollars in the people of the Canyon,” said Commissioner Kevin Cameron,
Marion County.
“Prairie City
will truly benefit from this funding, and I can’t thank Senators Merkley and
Wyden enough for their support. Recent droughts and multiple forest fires have
shown the importance of conserving water, the best way to conserve would be to
eliminate wasting water by replacing the old pipes and meters,” said Jim
Hamsher, Mayor of Prairie City.
“The Harney
County Watershed Council works to improve watershed health for the benefit of
our communities and the environment. Our Community Based Water Planning
Collaborative is a partnership with the Oregon Water Resources Department and a
range of stakeholders including agricultural producers and environmental
groups. The Collaborative is working to create and implement a plan for our future
water use and needs. Learning over the
last four years that our basin is over-appropriated for groundwater use and
facing multiple years of drought have created a need for this guiding document.
We thank Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden for the funding that will enable us
to complete our plan,” said Karen Moon, Coordinator, Harney County
Watershed Council.
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