Governor Tina Kotek has made much to do about securing federal funding for semi-conductor manufacturing promoting a $210 million bill, which gives her a lot of power to move urban boundaries in specific areas of the state. Now the heart of Oregon wants equal attention and support for a $250 million water security package to combat drought effects. But, so far, the Governor is only giving lip service to drought effects in executive orders.

HB 3124 was requested by Representative Ken Helm (D-Beaverton), as a “placeholder” for what is being presented as “a robust Bipartisan Drought Relief and Water Security package (BiDRAWS).” Helm is joined by Representative Mark Owens (R- Crane) in presenting to the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water a plan for “near-term relief and mid- to long-term actions that target root issues. Actions and investments aim to produce triple bottom line benefits, charting a sustainable water future for families, farms, and fish.”

Across stakeholders, they say the message is clear: “we need a better coordinated strategy to prepare and respond to drought and water security risks. As noted in the Advisory Report, decisive action is needed to address gaps in statewide water governance to assist families and communities dealing with water insecurity today and others at high-risk. The Bipartisan Drought Relief and Water Security package strives to address these issues in a coordinated manner.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The BiDRAWS package leverages existing programs and provides capacity to expand resources to support farmers and ranchers with a voluntary, incentive-based approach. HB 3124 is proposed to included provisions that:

• Directs Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP) to provide financial assistance to farmers/ranchers for practices that support soil health ($500,000) as well as technical assistance and equipment for SWCDs ($480,000).
• Extends funding for ODA’s existing Soil Health Specialist ($272,234).
• Provides resources to OSU Extension for relevant specialist capacity ($480,000), and OSU College of Agriculture for soil testing ($225,000).

Helm recognized the large price tag but indicated to appease all sectors, these projects are big and expensive, and federal money is there for the taking. Helm said, “while the water security legislation is extensive, it’s important to keep in mind that it works entirely within the parameters of existing state water laws,” which are usually met with resistance to change.

As with the Governor’s Semi-conductor preparedness plan to obtain federal funds, the BiDRAWS package also strives to help Oregon capitalize on the immense amount of federal funds ready to flow to states that are adequately prepared with well-coordinated plans, programs, and matching funds. This opportunity taps into the largest investment in water the federal government has ever made, with billions of dollars allocated to water infrastructure programs through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-03-24 15:27:16

Last Update: 2023-03-24 17:16:54