Lane County Commissioners today are hearing a resolution regarding Willamette Water Company’s water rights on the McKenzie River.
From Doug Heiken at Oregon Wild:
The Willamette Water Company is a small water company that is trying develop a big boondoggle to divert scarce water from the McKenzie River to areas south of Goshen where there is no established need. There is no clear need for this water. The company’s current right is for 4 CFS, but they are only using only a fraction of that, and the new application is for 34 CFS. Where’s the need? Why give them 80 times the water they are currently using? How do we know this speculative future need trumps the obvious needs of the river ecosystem?
You can reach Lane County Commissioners here: 541-682-4203. Or at the bottom of this page is a list of emails.
The Oregon Water Resource Department is asleep on the job. They have not documented any need. They just take the word of the traditional economic boosters who think that the “next big industry” is right around the corner if we just give away more public resources for private profit.
Allocation of water should be a public decision made in the public interest, not delegated to private profiteers who speculate on water rights. Giving up a huge allocation of McKenzie River water to the Willamette Water Company will take the public out of the equation.
There are ESA-listed fish in the McKenzie River, not to mention a valuable recreational fishery. There is already shortage of water in the river in the dry summer months. It makes no sense to move water that far outside of the McKenzie watershed.
Sorry to say the application passed today, 3-2. Commissioners Bozievich, Leiken and Stewart voted yes, Commissioners Sorenson and Handy voted no.
It is all about $$$, to hell with fish.
Snoopy,
Check out these comments they submitted, via their attorney Bill Kloos, to the lane county and Springfield planning commissions in 2010:
http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/dsd/Planning/PC%20Agenda%20&%20Minutes/2010/Staff%20Reports/April/April%2020,%202010/CD%20Materials-%20Testimony%20Received/37%20Bill%20Kloos%20for%20Willamette%20Water%20Company.pdf
They are rubbing all the right pockets in their effort to line up their ducks even though WRD seems to turn a blind eye to their efforts to attain water rights for obviously speculative reasons.
They could serve anyone who wanted service RIGHT NOW, they use only 200 – 300 /gallons day from their existing 4cfs. There is no need for privatized water. They want to create a need, to fill their greedy pockets.
The Resolution/Order (who knows how this even qualifies as an Order, since it order snothing!) the LC Board of Commissioners adopted on a 3-2 vote with little discussion contains no ‘whereas’ clause pointing out what Handy noted before the vote: the WWC proposal has been challenged and as such it is an inopportune time to get involved.