As briefly discussed in an article from Oregon Public Broadcasting, yesterday the Oregon Water Resources Commission voted to adopt new rules for groundwater permits. New permits will now only be granted in areas where there are “reasonably stable” groundwater levels, something they were supposed to be doing since 1955. This is good news if you care about water, fish, wildlife, or declining groundwater levels. As readers of this blog know, I have been closely tracking this process from the beginning, attending hearings, writing posts, and submitting comments. In spite of opposition from local cities (Redmond’s mayor even threatened a lawsuit) and a local NGO, the new rules passed with some small changes. For a fuller discussion of this topic, along with my criticisms of the new rules (of course), see this post from last May.