Los senadores Merkley y Wyden testifican sobre la legislación de Crooked River ante el comité del Senado

WASHINGTON DC— Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today both testified before the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in favor of the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act, which they are the lead sponsors. Today’s action was the first since being introduced to the Senate in early August.

“Today’s hearing is a substantial step to getting this important bill passed for Prineville and the regional economy,” dijo el senador Merkley.  “I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Wyden and Congressman Walden so that the region can secure essential water for irrigation, economic development, recreation, and a healthy stream.” 

“I think all of us, particularly in the West, understand that water is a prerequisite for quality of life in our part of the country,” Senador Wyden said at the hearing. “This bill strikes a balance between competing demands for scarce resources. I’m particularly pleased that the city of Prineville is going to have water for economic development, irrigators will have a new level of certainty on their future water supply … [while it also] opens up fish habitat.” 

The Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act would provide numerous benefits to water users and the Central Oregon region, by:

• Proporcionar a la Ciudad de Prineville un suministro confiable de agua para apoyar el crecimiento en el futuro previsible;  
• Garantizar un suministro confiable de agua a los agricultores que usan agua del embalse de Prineville y McKay Creek para irrigación;
• Mejorar la capacidad de administrar los flujos de agua en Crooked River para mejorar el hábitat en beneficio de los peces y mejorar el hábitat de los peces en McKay Creek;
• Brindar la capacidad de instalar una turbina hidroeléctrica en la represa Bowman.

This legislation is endorsed by the City of Prineville, Crook County, the Governor of Oregon, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, American Rivers, Deschutes Basin Board of Control (Representing all 7 major irrigation districts in Central Oregon), Ochoco Irrigation District, Portland General Electric, Trout Unlimited, and WaterWatch.

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