8
CapitalPress.com
Friday, September 2, 2022
Dams
Continued from Page 1
Inslee acknowledged that the
question of whether to breach the
dams is “deeply personal to the many
communities and Tribes engaged in
this debate.”
Agricultural
stakeholders
responded to the final report.
“We appreciate Senator Mur-
ray and Governor Inslee’s recogni-
tion of the importance of our farmers,
the food they produce, and the barge
transportation and irrigation that
many of them rely on, to our region
and nation,” Washington Grain Com-
mission CEO Glen Squires said in a
press release. “Now is not the time
to make such great changes which
would hurt U.S. farmers and signifi-
cantly impact U.S. competitiveness
in the global market, costing us trade,
jobs, and economic stability here in
the Northwest.”
Squires is also president of the
Pacific Northwest Waterways Asso-
ciation (PNWA) the nonprofit
trade association that advocates for
regional navigation, energy, trade and
economic development.
PNWA executive director Heather
Stebbings, executive director of the
Pacific Northwest Waterways Asso-
ciation, was pleased to see Murray
and Inslee recognize the importance
of the dams for the economy and the
environment.
“We share their concern about the
future of the salmon and agree that
there are many efforts in the region
that can take place outside of breach-
ing that would have significant pos-
itive benefits for the fish,” Stebbings
said in a press release. “We stand
ready to help where we can, and to
advocate for future funding to ensure
that programs like habitat and eco-
system restoration, toxics reduction,
predator abatement and more can be
established, and that our federal agen-
cies can better understand ecosystem
impacts on the full lifecycle of our
iconic fish.”
“While we appreciate Sena-
tor Murray and Governor Inslee’s
acknowledgment of the critical role
these dams play for agriculture and
recognition of the lack of feasibil-
ity in breaching the dams in the cur-
rent environment, Washington wheat
growers remain opposed to any
actions by federal or state govern-
ments that leave dam breaching on
the table,” said Michelle Hennings,
executive director of the Washing-
ton Association of Wheat Grow-
ers. “Simply put, the benefits pro-
vided by barges cannot be replaced
by other methods of transportation …
The Lower Snake River Dams allow
wheat farmers in Washington and
across the country to efficiently trans-
port their product in a way that pro-
vides significant benefits to both the
economy and environment, and most
importantly, helps farmers feed peo-
ple around the world.”
WAWG remains committed to
working alongside government
officials and the broader stake-
holder community to achieve “sci-
ence-based solutions” for a healthy
salmon population, and support the
viability of family-owned farms and
businesses, Hennings said.
“Farmers, and the industries that
support them, believe that salmon and
dams can and do co-exist and that we
can have healthy rivers and a healthy
economy,” Leslie Druffel, outreach
director for the McGregor Co. and
inland ports and navigation group
co-chair for PNWA, stated in the press
release. “We are looking forward to
contributing to the conversation and to
supporting a basin-wide approach to
salmon recovery going forward.”
Kurt Miller, executive director
of Northwest RiverPartners, called
Inslee and Murray’s recommenda-
tion a win for farmers and electricity
customers.
“(They) recognize the critical role
the Lower Snake River dams play in
maintaining an affordable, reliable,
clean electric grid and their role in
making agriculture possible in differ-
ent regions of the Northwest, through
irrigation and barging,” Miller said.
“That was a huge recognition.”
Sean Ellis, spokesman for the
Idaho Farm Bureau, disagreed with
the report’s assertion that the river
system is operating under the status
quo, and that dam removal is the only
option.
“The region has implemented $17
billion in improvements designed
to benefit salmon populations and
stakeholders are always looking to
improve the river system for its mul-
tiple uses, which include fish passage,
hydroelectric generation capacity,
navigation capacity and recreation,”
Ellis said. “We are seeing some of
the benefits of those investments in
the river system in the most recent
salmon run numbers.”
Candidates
Project, ‘cause that’s exactly
what that did. So not only do
I have a plan, I have practical
experience.”
What types of storage proj-
ects would Johnson support,
such as aquifer recharge,
building new dams or raising
existing dams?
“The ones that I am the
most enthusiastic about is
where water users help define
the problem. But can I name
you XYZ projects? I can’t.
I’m interested in looking at
anything.”
Drazan: “Yeah, support
for storage is going to be
essential moving forward.”
What types of storage proj-
ects would Drazan support?
“I will take an all-of-the-
above approach that supports
additional options that are fea-
sible, that we can afford and
that actually move the nee-
dle,” she said.
Kotek: “I have been sup-
portive of water storage proj-
ects. I think cost is a big deal
there, whether we can do
some of these things. But we
are going to have to be cre-
ative like that to make sure we
have water during the seasons
that we need it.”
What storage projects
would she support?
“Honestly, I would not feel
comfortable (naming specif-
ics),” she said.
Kotek said she also sup-
ports more thorough monitor-
ing of water usage.
“It’s really hard to know
where we need to go if we’re
not having compete under-
standing of water usage,” she
said.
Kotek said she is also open
to exploring different water
delivery systems, including
piping.
“I understand people like
open ditches. I’m not sure
that’s a good idea,” she said.
CP: What does good for-
est and public lands man-
agement look like to you?
For example, do you sup-
port prescribed burn-
ing, grazing, thinning and
logging?
Johnson: “Yes, yes, yes,
yes.”
Although Johnson sup-
ports all four practices, she
described nuances.
Johnson said she supports
prescribed fire but has “ques-
tioned the competency of the
Forest Service not to let some
of those prescribed burns get
away.”
Johnson said there are
“subtleties” on grazing: “Do
you keep the critters out of the
streams?”
On thinning, she said, “We
have got to thin.”
Johnson said she also backs
post-fire salvage logging.
Drazan: “There’s a place
for all of that, to be clear. We
need to have active manage-
ment of our working lands,
and that has got to include
forests.
“Technology exists for
us to be able to identify, say,
when lightning strikes occur,
which may result in a fire
start. We also have the Good
Neighbor Authority program;
Continued from Page 1
CP: What marching
orders will you give the Ore-
gon Department of Environ-
mental Quality?
Johnson: “Big ones. I
want that agency to stop tor-
turing Oregonians and to help
Oregonians.
“Frequently, DEQ’s answer
has been no — to everything. I
want can-do, want-to, will-do
people running state agen-
cies. I want them to start at
yes. I want agencies with reg-
ulatory authority to work with
farmers and not constantly be
looking for fault or wanting to
over-regulate.”
Drazan: “My favorite
thing that’s going to happen
on my first day is asking all the
agency heads to turn in their
resignations — all of them.
And we’re going to sit down
and have a conversation.
“My commitment to Ore-
gonians is to lead in a new
direction. We’re not going to
get that done if you keep the
entire bureaucratic machine
crankin’ along like nothing’s
changed. I have an expecta-
tion that my agency heads are
expert in the subject matter,
committed to customer ser-
vice, to being problem-solv-
ers, to getting to ‘yes’ first and
‘no’ second and to partnering
with Oregonians rather than
standing as a barrier.”
Kotek: “I think one of the
biggest issues right now is
to make sure (DEQ has) the
resources and staff power to
meet current regulations.
“Nothing is more frustrat-
ing for me than to hear some-
one say, ‘I want to expand
my business, but it’s taking
18 months to get my new
water permit or my air permit
renewed.’
“The other issue is making
sure our rulemaking processes
and rules are inclusive. Orego-
nians support regulations that
have goals.
“We believe in clean water,
clean air — we all agree on
that. And things have to be set
up in a way that businesses
can function.”
CP:
Oregon’s
new
Advanced Clean Trucks
rule requires manufactur-
ers to sell a certain per-
centage of zero-emission
vehicles, including heavy-
duty trucks, starting with
the 2024 model year. Crit-
ics say the rules will raise
truck prices and push a fleet
of electric vehicles on rural
communities that don’t yet
have charging infrastruc-
ture. What’s your response?
Johnson: “Well, we gotta’
slow (the timeline) down.
Where’s the infrastructure?
I don’t think the technology
has caught up with the reality
of what exists on the ground.
And at what cost?
“We cannot address Ore-
gon’s minor contribution to
global climate change on the
backs of rural communities
that were asked to unfairly
JEWETT
Betsy Johnson
bear the economic cost of
implementation.”
Does Johnson support a
move toward more electric
vehicles?
“Sure, sure. But we’re
going faster than it can be
implemented on the ground
right now,” she said.
Drazan: “I do not support
an end position of a mandate
around what equipment is
used by Oregonians.
“This move towards elec-
tric vehicles right now doesn’t
meet all the needs. There’s not
adequate charging infrastruc-
ture. The grid can’t support it.
“You can’t put the cart
before the horse. In some
cases, these political agendas
force people off of a bridge to
nowhere.”
Does Drazan support
transportation electrification?
“As we move to new tech-
nologies that are low-emis-
sions, I would support (vol-
untary)
incentive-based
movement in that direction,”
she said.
Kotek: “If we’re going
to have new regulation(s),
we have to put public money
on the table to help people
achieve conversion.
“What we all understand
is, we have to transition to
cleaner engines. How do you
make that happen? I think
we have to put more urgency
behind our electrification
plans as a state.
“The good thing is, with
the federal infrastructure pack-
age, we have more resources
coming down from the fed-
eral government than we’ve
ever had.
“The thing I always ask
in transition conversations is:
Does the timeline work for
folks? The goal is to have it
happen, not to put something
in place just to say we put it in
place. If the timeline has to be
reassessed, we have to reas-
sess it, ‘cause the goal is to get
people to cleaner vehicles.”
CP: California air reg-
ulators voted on Aug. 25
to phase out vehicles that
run on fossil fuel, culminat-
ing in a total ban on sales
of new gas-powered cars,
pickup trucks and SUVs by
2035. Washington regula-
tors plan to follow Califor-
nia’s lead, and under Gov.
Kate Brown, Oregon is also
potentially poised to fol-
low suit. If you’re elected,
will you adopt or reject this
policy?
Johnson: “We need a
government that does things
with Oregonians, not to
Oregonians.
“We need to provide
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Christine Drazan
more options to reduce fos-
sil fuel use, but I am opposed
to heavy-handed mandates
that reduce choice and drive
up costs on consumers and
companies.”
“How dare the gover-
nor consider doing this with-
out public hearings or legisla-
tive action. It’s just one more
assault on rural economies,
farmers, ranchers, loggers
and anyone who can’t afford
a Tesla.”
Drazan: “Once again,
bureaucrats in the Brown
administration are pushing a
political agenda that goes well
beyond their authority.
“People are already strug-
gling with an out-of-control
cost of living and skyrocket-
ing inflation. Now, Governor
Brown’s administration wants
to make life even more costly
for hardworking Oregonians,
all in the name of a political
agenda that is out-of-touch
with everyday people.
“This proposal is dead
on arrival. As governor, I’ll
repeal it on day one.”
Kotek: “Policies like this
will help make zero-emis-
sion cars more affordable and
accessible and will ultimately
help Oregonians reduce pol-
lution, improve air quality and
save money over time.
“I’d support adopting a
policy that’s tailored to meet
Oregon’s needs.”
CP: Do you support Ore-
gon’s existing water rights
system under the doctrine
of Prior Appropriation, or
“first in time, first in right,”
in which the person with
the oldest water right on a
stream has seniority and is
the last to face a shutoff?
Johnson: “Our water
rights system is very com-
plicated. Before politicians
change the system, they need
to get everybody at the table.
“We need to convene the
parties and have a conversa-
tion about: What does chang-
ing the water rights really
mean?
“But I don’t want some-
body to come away with the
opinion that I’m for changing
the water rights system.
“What I’m supportive of
is, if there is a problem state-
ment that people agree on,
what’s the statement? Is it that
the water rights system is too
complicated? Is it that some
are getting deprived of water?
I would want to have some
collective understanding of:
What are we solving for?”
Drazan: “I support our
existing water rights system.”
Would Drazan try to
maintain the system if it was
challenged?
“I would,” she said. “And
just to be clear, I don’t think
any system is perfect. I do
believe in the ability to be
flexible. I think that needs
to be a stronger, more dom-
inant characteristic of our
state government in particular,
that we’re responsive to local
needs, but as a principle, and
as a construct under which we
all operate, I support the exist-
ing system.”
Kotek: “It is the funda-
mental starting place for how
water is utilized in the state.
It is the law. It is the starting
point, yes.”
However, Kotek said she
is open to conversations about
potentially changing other
laws. For example, under Ore-
gon water law, if a water rights
holder does not use the full
water right for five consecu-
tive years, that user could for-
feit the right. Kotek expressed
concern over this.
“Some people say, ‘If I
don’t use my water, I will lose
my rights.’ When I listen to
that, I’m like, ‘OK, does that
make sense when the third
person down the line also
needs water?’ Right?” said
Kotek.
“So, how do you have
thoughtful
conversations
about assessing that? The
starting point is where we are
today, but with the understand-
ing that we have to consider
perhaps some new ideas.”
CP: Do you think agri-
culture has too large a claim
on Oregon’s water supply?
Johnson: “I do not. Ore-
gon’s economy rests on the
back of agriculture. Farm-
ers, fishing interests, ranch-
ers, other producers are part
of the backbone of our eco-
nomic past and certainly our
economic future.”
Drazan: “I don’t. Ore-
gon agriculture has always
been a critical partner in Ore-
gon’s economy, to Oregon
culture, to Oregon families.
And we cannot overlook the
need for access to local food
production.”
Kotek: “I don’t know if I
can comment on that. What I
do know is Oregonians like
the fact that we grow things,
that we are a leader in export
products in the ag sector, and
it’s kind of in the DNA of Ore-
gon to grow things. So, I think
ag is really important.”
CP: Statewide, how do
you plan to balance the
competing water needs of
agriculture, growing human
populations and fish under
the Endangered Species Act
— for example, in the Klam-
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Tina Kotek
ath Basin?
Johnson: “Klamath is
beyond complicated. And
I really have not immersed
myself. That’s a bi-state prob-
lem too because one of the
tribes is in Northern Califor-
nia. And I’m not an expert on
Indian law.
“But I think you should
leave with the notion that
I fully embrace the idea of
using the governor’s office
as the bully pulpit to convene
people. I think we have not
had adequate balance, particu-
larly in about a decade on the
boards and commissions or in
the agencies. Not all voices
have been at the table.”
Drazan: “You just struck
on one of the most complex,
political issues that Oregon
has faced for decades.
“We’ve had administra-
tion after administration that
has not necessarily stood up
for Oregon in that conversa-
tion and said: ‘We need real,
long-term solutions.’ Instead,
you have folks in the Klam-
ath Basin in particular that get
tossed by the political winds.”
What does Drazan plan to
do?
“I think it’s important that
the people that are impacted
are the ones to define what
that range of policy objectives
should be,” she said.
“I’m not gonna jump in
with both feet and say, ‘Here,
edict from on high, what I
think is the solution that no
one’s looked at.’ But I can tell
you we have not had enough
advocacy for the impacts on
the community down there
and that the political weight
has been given in a heavier
percentage to the needs of
species.”
Kotek: “I think that is a
key role of the governor: to
make sure everyone is heard
and balance all needs to the
degree that we can.
“It’s complicated. I am not
a water expert. The water sit-
uation in the Klamath Basin
is incredibly important, and
we have to make sure that all
stakeholders are at the table.
“Being on the ground
and seeing what’s at stake is
important. You can’t go for-
ward on these conversations
without local input. I’m gonna
be honest with folks: I don’t
know if we can balance all
the different needs. But we’re
gonna try.”
CP: Climatologists pre-
dict Oregon will get less
water in the future. Do you
have a plan for collecting
water during wet seasons
for use in dry seasons via
storage projects?
Johnson: “I would be
instructed by my participa-
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