WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representative Greg Walden (R-OR-2), today announced that a critically needed fix to the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)—which will provide relief to Klamath Basin irrigators who have been hard-hit by drought—has been signed into law.
“Between this year’s unprecedented wildfires, a severe drought, and the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis—this has been a difficult time for the Klamath Basin,” merkley dijo. “But through it all, irrigators have consistently come together to work collaboratively with one another to make headway with longstanding water challenges that have only become more complicated during this particularly difficult season. I’m pleased that this correction will allow farmers to swiftly access much-needed resources, so we can continue working toward long-term solutions to support the region’s water needs for generations to come.”
“Oregonians don’t shrink from challenges – we work together to find solutions that work for everybody,” wyden dijo. “That Oregon Way approach guided this legislation freeing up resources for Klamath Basin farmers and ranchers to take a good step forward in this tough year of drought, wildfires and the coronavirus’ economic fallout toward a long-term resolution to longstanding water supply challenges.”
“This is welcome news for irrigators in the Klamath Basin, who are enduring another drought-stricken year, unprecedented wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic all at the same time,” Walden dijo. “This legislation will ensure they have the tools they need to get through these hard times as well as prepare irrigators in the Klamath Basin if they are hit with severe drought in the years ahead. I want to thank President Trump for swiftly signing this bill into law and taking care of the hardworking farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin.”
Merkley usó su escaño en el Comité de Obras Públicas y Medio Ambiente del Senado para incluir el lenguaje en la Ley de Desarrollo de Recursos Hídricos (WRDA) reauthorization. With WRDA stalled, Merkley pivoted and introduced the language with Wyden as a stand-alone bill, which was passed by the Senate in July. Walden introduced companion legislation in the House, which passed in October.
El texto original autorizó hasta $10 millones al año para que la Oficina de Reclamación de EE. UU. trabajara con la comunidad agrícola y ganadera para desarrollar e implementar estrategias para alinear la demanda de agua con el suministro disponible. Esta corrección técnica aclara la autoridad de los regantes para acceder a los fondos para estrategias como la inactividad de la tierra y el bombeo de aguas subterráneas en tiempos de sequía.
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