Bowman Dam

*FROM PRINEVILLE…ALL THE WAY TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK..
*CONGRESS APPROVED A BILL LAST NIGHT, CHANGING HOW THE BOWMAN DAM …AND THE WATERS BEHIND IT, ARE MANAGED..
*KANDRA KENT WAS IN PRINEVILLE FOR REACTION.
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“Soon more water will be released from this dam, an increased flow some say will benefit everything from jobs and economy all the way to fish.”

*NATS WATER*

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“I’m just ecstatic.”

*NATS RIVER*

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“It’s a nice christmas present for sure.”

A gift not a minute too soon for Crook County and Prineville

For decades the Bowman Dam….has been designated ‘wild and Scenic’ by the federal government

That label comes with rules prohibiting hydroelectic development and limiting water release

The city and county says *that’s* been a problem

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“We want more jobs coming into the community, and anytime a job comes in to the community, they need water, and we were running out of water rights to provide it for them.”

For years Republican Congressman Greg Walden has been working on solution…now, with the help of Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley a bill was finally passed ending the designation..

Once it becomes law, Walden says increased flows will benefit the city, farmers and fish

But *how* that water would be split is where it got controversial

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“There’s a lot of competing interests, there’s still some groups that want to dedicate more water into stream flow’s for fish, yet the water is set up and purposed for agriculture, so you’re giving away a pretty important commodity when it comes to water.”

Fish advocates reluctant to get on board say this final version of the bill is a positive step forward

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“It’s a very controvesial bill in the angling community, it does not provide the level of guarentees that a lot of us would have liked for fish, in terms of making sure there’s always water in the river. That being said, are happy with what we have got now it’s a compromise

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“Supporters say the bill is a win for all, but if more water is leaving the resivoire, what does that mean for recreation?

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“In dry years we may want to extend the boat ramps a little bit, cause it could drop down a little more then it has. But we’re working on that.”

The bill now awaits the president’s signature — then local groups and governments will get to work to implement the new law

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