REDMOND, OR -- Dozens of people took part in a water summit Thursday, including the mayors of Central Oregon cities, representatives from conservation groups, state officials and legislators. They came together at Redmond's City Hall to discuss proposed changes to state groundwater rules many worry will limit the amount of water cities can use for future development.
Mayor Ed Fitch says Redmond made large investments in infrastructure and conservation based on past rules, "There’s been a significant reliance on our law, as to how we serve our people, that’s being - I’ll call it, ‘the rug being pulled out from under us.’" Fitch organized the summit and told the group, "The new groundwater rule being considered by the Water Resources Commission will present significant challenges, and perhaps an insurmountable obstacle for cities in the Deschutes Basin to comply with a myriad of state and federal mandates imposed upon cities." He added, "From the city’s perspective, the new rule fails to take into account the unique characteristics of the Deschutes Basin. The new rule, as a practical matter, may have the effect of a moratorium, prohibiting cities from accessing additional groundwater for our rapidly growing communities."
That potential to stifle growth is Fitch's biggest concern, one also shared by a number of others at the summit. "We are the second fastest growing city in Oregon," said Fitch, "We have the third busiest airport in the state, and by next year, Redmond will be home to the second largest fairgrounds in the United States." Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO, noted that growth in Redmond and the region is good for the entire state, "If we want to create ways for the state to continue to receive economic benefit from our growing economy, we have to treat Central Oregon for the good work that it’s done, uniquely."
Prineville City Manager Steve Forrester says local collaboration - between irrigation districts, conservation groups, lawmakers and cities - should be applauded. He now wants the state to provide certainty through the rule-making process, "Time is of the essence, and I think that’s important that we provide that certainty. Because, as many have said here today, we are not going to stop the growth; we need to manage the growth in our area."
Chandra Ferrari, with the Governor’s Office, says water policy needs to work for everyone. "I also think it would be helpful for us to really understand the urgency that you talked about." State Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Redmond/Bend) told Ferrari the crowd gathered at the summit shows the sense of urgency felt in the region. Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Redmond/Prineville) added, "This community is growing. And it’s not acceptable. And I think the Governor’s office hears loud and clear that we need to have a bridge. We don’t know exactly what that is but we’re at the table willing to find it." She said state agencies also need to hear the urgency for a transition plan, "Because it’s going to take a collective effort to figure out what that is and how that works. And there’s a lot of things that get in the way, and most of it is red tape and regulation."
Representatives from Oregon Water Resources and the Governor’s Office said they would consider all of the comments as they work through the rulemaking process.