Oregon reservoir water transfer bill shelved

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – A bill allowing water transfers among Oregon storage reservoirs has been shelved during this short legislative session.

The Capital Press reports that water transfers among reservoirs stopped being permitted by state regulators because of a changed legal interpretation. That’s a problem for water managers such as the Tumalo Irrigation District in Central Oregon, which hopes to transfer water from the Tumalo reservoir to smaller ponds to correct pressure problems.

Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, chairs the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

He says the issue is complicated and legislators don’t want to hurriedly pass something that has unintended consequences. He says there will be a “prolonged discussion” on the topic before next year’s full legislative session.

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Information from: Capital Press, http://www.capitalpress.com/washington