Today the Bulletin had a story about legislation making its way through the Oregon legislature to create a “water bank” (HB 3806).  The water bank concept has been around for over a decade and is simple and logical in concept.  It would allow irrigators who do not need some or all their water to sell it to others who want it, with the water bank as the facilitating organization.  There have been attempts to implement this in the past with limited success, some of which is due to restrictions on how water can be transferred between irrigators and districts. HB 3806 is a worthwhile attempt to overcome those obstacles.  As usual, however, there is more to this.

For many years I have been more than frustrated with the lack of a local organization truly concerned with the health of our waterways.  Current groups, including those quoted in the Bulletin’s article, often speak of restoring “the river”, but have a inadequate definition of what that means.

From my perspective, restoring the Deschutes River as well as other local waterways, means creating a healthy environment that benefits aquatic ecosystems and the terrestrial species that depend on them.  This is not the focus of local groups as has been demonstrated on many occasions over many years.

A healthy aquatic ecosystem requires stable flows without dramatic fluctuations as regularly occurs on the Middle Deschutes and the Crooked River.  HB 3806 may deliver a little more water to the Middle Deschutes during irrigation season but it does nothing to improve flows or increase stability on a reliable, year round basis.

HB 3806 has the potential to deliver water to irrigators who need it, which is a good thing.  I am happy that the bill is being discussed in the legislature.  But framing it as having a meaningful benefit to “the river” is misleading.  Hopefully the bill will pass and at the end of the eight year trial period adjustments can be made to create improvement to aquatic ecosystems.  I guess we just have to keep waiting for real change.