BEND, OR -- U.S. Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR5) is joining the push for stable federal funding for the Deschutes River Conservancy. 

"This mattered to a lot of people," Chavez-DeRemer tells KBND News, "The Deschutes River Conservancy matters for sustainable water management, certainly improving water quality and supporting recreational activities for generations that need to come. So that needs to come with funding." She says stable funding for the DRC is important for the entire basin, "When we look at their efforts over the past several years: 100 miles of irrigation canals, restoring 350 cfs of streamflow to those basins, increasing water supply reliability; people love the reliability of understanding what that means."

The Oregon Republican introduced a bill in Congress Thursday to reauthorize a 10-year funding plan. It would provide the Conservancy with $2 million a year during that time, paid out by the Bureau of Reclamation. "It’s a price tag. But, again, what’s the value of that price tag?" asks Chavez-DeRemer.

Almost a year ago, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden introduced a similar bill. That effort stalled in December after it passed out of committee. Previous federal funding expired in 2015.