Willamette Valley Reservoir Proposal Rejected Again

Oregon water regulators have once again rejected a proposal for a large irrigation reservoir in the Willamette Valley.

According to Capital Press, the East Valley Water District asked the Oregon Water Resources Commission to approve the 12,000 acre-foot project on Drift Creek near Silverton, a plan that would flood nearly 400 acres.

The commission first denied the project in 2019.  The state Supreme Court later ordered a review, saying regulators hadn’t fully considered all required public interest factors.

On reconsideration, the commission found most factors supported the project — but ruled its impact on existing water rights outweighed those benefits.  Specifically, OWRC said the reservoir would interfere with a senior in-stream water right designed to protect cutthroat trout.

The district now has 60 days to decide whether to challenge the denial again in court.

Click Here for the entire Capital Press article.

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