WaterWatch and our allies need your immediate help to prevent passage of HB 4006, a bill that would exempt Umatilla Basin irrigators that divert water from the Columbia River from key water laws that every other farmer in the state must adhere to.
If passed, HB 4006 would fundamentally change water right management of Columbia River surface water rights, set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the state, and the bill is continuing to raise concerns over its impact on water right holders, ground water quality, public health, and imperiled Columbia River salmon and steelhead.
The portion of the Columbia River affected by HB 4006 is between river miles 252 and 303 — a 51-mile stretch covering an area approximately from The Dalles to the McNary Dam.
Among our concerns regarding HB 4006, the bill:
- Exempts Umatilla Irrigators from Oregon’s transfer laws. Oregon law already has a loophole under which there’s no environmental review when a water right holder proposes changing something about their water right. HB 4006 would take us further back in time by allowing irrigators to change their points of diversion (i.e., canal headgate location) or place of irrigation use (i.e., area the water is applied) without going through the state’s transfer or permit amendment processes. This would allow a carve out for Umatilla basin irrigators to sidestep all the state’s standards that protect other water right holders from injury and prevent enlargement of water rights.
- Significantly expands irrigated agriculture, which could result in increased diversions from the Columbia River that supports federally listed salmon and steelhead. While the bill does not change the “rate” of existing water rights (i.e., how quickly it’s diverted), the bill allows use of water on unlimited acreage and is silent as to “duty” (i.e., how much is applied in the course of a season), which could significantly increase the “quantity” or “volume” of water diverted from the Columbia River.
- Allows a significant increase in irrigated agriculture in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA). This risks undermining efforts to decrease nitrate inputs into groundwater that are harmful to human health. Please view this map for more details.
- Upends state water management of Columbia River water rights. HB 4006 prohibits the state from managing the public’s water used under Columbia River water rights beyond their diversion point on the Columbia, which hamstrings the state’s ability to manage the actual water use.
Help WaterWatch defeat this bad bill by submitting written testimony in opposition of HB 4006 TODAY.
A hearing for HB 4006 will be held in the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water Committee this Monday, Feb. 9th, at 1 p.m.
While it’s important to submit written testimony ahead of the hearing, the final deadline to submit written testimony is Wednesday, Feb 11th, also at 1 p.m. — but if you’re able to submit your testimony ahead of Monday’s hearing at 1 p.m., that would be ideal. There’s no time to lose, so please submit your written testimony opposing this bad bill today.
It’s easy to share your testimony in opposition to HB 4006:
- Go to this Oregon State Legislature page. The “submitting testimony” option for HB 4006 should already be filled in.
- Fill out your information (name, email, community of residence).
- Skip the “on behalf of” box. You’re submitting as an individual and not on behalf of WaterWatch or any other organization.
- This is important — choose the OPPOSE option from the “Position on Measure” dropdown menu.
- Either upload a PDF file of your testimony, or choose “text testimony” and write or paste your testimony in the text window.
- Click the “Submit Testimony” button in the bottom left corner and you’re finished.
Feel free to copy and paste the letter text below, and add any details important to you or your family. Just be clear you OPPOSE HB 4006!
Co-Chairs Helm and Owens, members of the Committee:
I urge you to oppose HB 4006. Oregon’s water belongs to the public. Exempting irrigators in one area of the state from important water laws that every other farmer in Oregon must adhere to is not good for the Columbia River, the Umatilla Basin, or our state. This bill undermines Oregon’s ability to manage over 700,000 acres of irrigated agriculture, and sets a dangerous precedent.
I am also concerned about the effect of increased agriculture on the groundwater quality of the Lower Umatilla Basin Ground Water Management Area, as increased irrigation risks increased nitrate inputs into the ground.
Oregon fish and wildlife, communities, and cultures should not be put at risk for a select group of irrigators.
Please oppose this bill.
Thank you for your consideration of my testimony.
Sincerely,
[ your name ]
Please help WaterWatch and our allies stop passage of HB 4006!
Submit your written testimony in opposition preferably by 1 p.m. this Monday the 9th, and no later than the written testimony submission deadline this Wednesday, Feb. 11th, at 1 p.m.
Columbia River banner photo courtesy of Bonnie Moreland.