NORTHWEST
East Oregonian
A2
Saturday, June 8, 2019
Dam safety overhaul approved Drought grows ‘severe’ in
Western Washington
By MATEUSZ
PERKOWSKI
Capital Press
By DON JENKINS
Capital Press
SALEM — Dam owners
would be subject to civil penal-
ties for failing to maintain the
structures under an overhaul
of Oregon’s dam safety laws
that’s passed the Legislature.
House Bill 2085, which
passed the Senate unanimously
June 3 after clearing the House
in April, would also clarify
the Oregon Water Resources
Department’s authority over
approving dam construction,
removal and modification,
among other provisions.
“This aging infrastructure
needs to be carefully watched,”
said Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-On-
tario, noting that the bill also
streamlines court procedures
for compelling upgrades to
unsafe dams.
“This is important author-
ity that is necessary to protect
the people of Oregon,” he said.
The bill applies to about 950
dams regulated by OWRD,
including 75 “high hazard”
structures that would likely
cause deaths if they failed.
About one-fourth of such dams
are considered to be in poor or
unsatisfactory condition.
“Every year, we typically
have at least one dam that has a
safety incident,” said Racquel
Rancier, the agency’s senior
policy coordinator, during a
May hearing.
Since the 1800s, 55 dams
VA N C O U V E R ,
Washington — A drought
covering all or parts of
nine Western Washington
counties worsened in the
past week from “moder-
ate” to “severe,” the U.S.
Drought Monitor reported
Thursday.
The downgrade comes
after the fifth warmest
May on record in Wash-
ington’s coastal region
between the Olympic
Peninsula and Oregon.
Severe drought prevails
over 11% of the state,
while moderate drought
affects another 33%.
The dry conditions
contrast with soggy Mid-
west states experiencing
their wettest 12-month
period on record. “Out
West, drought condi-
tions intensified in West-
ern Washington, where
streamflow conditions are
well below normal lev-
els after a shallow snow-
pack this past winter,” the
Drought Monitor stated.
The weekly report
estimates the severity
and spread of drought
in the U.S. Washing-
ton is the only state in
the Western U.S. with
EO Media Group File Photo
An excavator breaks a log jam in April 2013 at the Three Mile
Dam on the Umatilla River north of Hermiston. The state legisla-
ture has voted to beef up the department’s authority over dam
safety.
have failed in Oregon, includ-
ing one that killed seven peo-
ple in 1896. Oregon’s dam
safety statutes haven’t been
updated since 1929.
Under the bill, OWRD
could order a maintenance
action after inspecting a dam
that poses a high or significant
hazard, which the owner can
challenge in an administrative
hearing.
Dam owners can work with
the agency to develop a plan
for correcting problems under
the bill, while under current
law, such orders are automat-
ically subject to administrative
hearings.
If the owner doesn’t per-
form the ordered mainte-
nance, the agency can impose
a civil penalty in an amount
that’s yet to be determined by
the Oregon Water Resources
Commission.
Such penalties would be
waived if the owner carries
out the maintenance work and
the final order can also be con-
tested in court.
“Today, we’re in the posi-
tion of asking, ‘Please,’” Ran-
cier said, explaining that
OWRD can’t impose penalties
under current law.
New fees ranging from
$1,750 to $8,500, depending on
hazard rating, would be also
charged to dam owners under
HB 2085 to offset OWRD’s
cost of reviewing plans for
new structures or raising exist-
ing ones.
The bill would apply only
to state-regulated dams and
not those under the jurisdic-
tion of the federal government.
SUNDAY
MONDAY
Episodes of
sunshine
Mostly sunny and
warmer
69° 43°
79° 51°
TUESDAY
Mostly sunny
WEDNESDAY
Very warm with
some sun
Partly sunny and
hot
PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
84° 55°
93° 68°
88° 56°
HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST
76° 46°
84° 52°
90° 57°
100° 73°
95° 60°
OREGON FORECAST
ALMANAC
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
PENDLETON
through 3 p.m. yest.
HIGH
LOW
TEMP.
Seattle
Olympia
62/46
61/42
74/42
Longview
Kennewick Walla Walla
70/50
Lewiston
67/45
76/47
Astoria
62/45
Pullman
Yakima 75/44
67/42
67/44
Portland
Hermiston
70/49
The Dalles 76/46
Salem
Corvallis
69/46
Yesterday
Normals
Records
La Grande
63/37
Eugene
Bend
70/44
65/37
Ontario
69/41
Caldwell
Burns
New trial ordered for pastor
over use of word victim
BRIDAL VEIL (AP) — Authorities
say a Columbia River Gorge landowner
shot and killed a cougar that’s believed to
have killed two goats and entered a nearby
home, prompting a trail closure and search.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports
authorities are confident the slain cougar
is the same one that killed the goats, and
a search for the animal has ended. The
Angel’s Rest Trailhead was reopened Fri-
day afternoon.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wild-
life spokesman Rick Swart says the land-
owner shot the cougar Thursday night after
the wild cat became caught in a trap set up
by authorities.
Swart says the landowner notified law
enforcement and the cougar’s body was
recovered.
Biologists estimate the animal is a
2-year-old female.
The landowner won’t face any repercus-
sions for shooting the cougar, Swart said.
PORTLAND (AP) — The Oregon
Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a
pastor sentenced in 2015 to 20 years in prison
in a sex abuse case after finding that wit-
nesses in testimony improperly referred to the
accuser as a victim.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the
court found Thursday the term may have
undermined Michael Sperou’s presumption of
innocence and affected his right to a fair trial.
During the trial, the witnesses called by
Multnomah County prosecutors included the
woman Sperou was charged with abusing as
a child, six other women who accused him of
abuse, detectives and others.
The court says detectives and at least one
former church member referred to the women
as victims.
Sperou was a co-founder and pastor of the
North Clackamas Bible Community in Happy
Valley. He denied any abuse occurred and
said the accusations were lies that followed a
split in the church.
0.00"
Trace
0.19"
4.42"
4.96"
5.30"
WINDS (in mph)
66/40
62/30
Cougar suspected in goat
killings shot, trail reopening
PRECIPITATION
John Day
62/38
70°
47°
77°
52°
102° (2016) 40° (2002)
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
Albany
70/46
0.00"
0.05"
0.40"
9.33"
6.07"
6.91"
through 3 p.m. yest.
HIGH
LOW
TEMP.
Pendleton 59/34
70/47
24 hours ending 3 p.m.
Month to date
Normal month to date
Year to date
Last year to date
Normal year to date
HERMISTON
Enterprise
69/43
72/47
63°
41°
76°
51°
104° (1931) 34° (1919)
PRECIPITATION
Moses
Lake
67/44
Aberdeen
64/45
71/47
Tacoma
Yesterday
Normals
Records
Spokane
Wenatchee
68/50
and “raspberries excelled
during ideal growing con-
ditions,” according to the
USDA.
The U.S. Geological
Survey reported Thurs-
day that 4% of the streams
it monitors in Washing-
ton were at record lows.
On the same date in
2015, 17% were at record
lows.
Moderate
drought
touches the northwest
corner of Oregon, making
up 2% of the state. The
rest of northwest Oregon
and the Willamette Valley
are abnormally dry.
The tip of the Idaho
panhandle is in moder-
ate drought, 3% of the
state.
California
is
drought-free.
The National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric
Administration says the
odds favor warmer than
average temperatures for
the Northwest in June,
July and August. West-
ern Washington is also
expected to be drier than
normal.
The Drought Monitor’s
four levels of drought
are: moderate, severe,
extreme and exceptional.
No state in the Lower 48
has drought conditions
worse than “severe.”
OREGON IN BRIEF
Forecast for Pendleton Area
TODAY
significant drought.
At the recommenda-
tion of water managers,
Washington Gov. Jay Ins-
lee issued drought decla-
rations in April and May
that apply to 27 water-
sheds covering about half
the state. More basins
could be added later this
month.
Irrigation
districts,
conservation districts and
other public agencies in
drought areas can apply
for grants from the state
Department of Ecology
for drought-relief proj-
ects, such as deepening
wells, leasing water or
repairing leaks.
Conditions are not as
severe or as widespread
as in early June 2015,
the last time Washing-
ton declared a drought
emergency. The USDA
reported this week that
farming conditions were
mostly favorable in Wash-
ington, including west of
the Cascades.
“In Western Washing-
ton, dry weather brought
more field work,” accord-
ing to the USDA’s weekly
crop report. In What-
com County in northwest
Washington, where mod-
erate drought prevails,
strawberry harvest began,
Today
Boardman
Pendleton
Medford
79/46
Sun.
WSW 7-14
WSW 7-14
E 3-6
N 4-8
CORRECTION: The June 7, 2019 article “Hermiston gets HazMat ready” misstated
the agency involved in organizing the HazMat drills. The Umatilla County Fire Dis-
trict, not the Umatilla Fire District, was involved.
The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If
you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818.
SUN AND MOON
Klamath Falls
67/37
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019
Sunrise today
Sunset tonight
Moonrise today
Moonset today
5:06 a.m.
8:42 p.m.
10:48 a.m.
12:42 a.m.
First
Full
Last
New
June 9
June 17
June 25
July 2
NATIONAL EXTREMES
Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states)
High 109° in Zapata, Texas Low 25° in Crater Lake, Ore.
NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
-10s
-0s
0s
showers t-storms
10s
rain
20s
flurries
30s
snow
40s
50s
ice
60s
cold front
E AST O REGONIAN
— Founded Oct. 16, 1875 —
211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211
333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211
Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed major holidays
EastOregonian.com
To subscribe, call 1-800-522-0255
or go online to EastOregonian.com
and click on ‘Subscribe’
East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published daily except Sunday,
Monday and postal holidays, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers
Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR.
Postmaster: send address changes to
East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801.
Copyright © 2019, EO Media Group
70s
80s
90s
100s
warm front stationary front
110s
high
Subscriber services:
For mail delivery, online access, vacation stops
or delivery concerns call 1-800-522-0255 ext. 1
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
EZPay
52 weeks
26 weeks
13 weeks
Local home delivery Savings (cover price)
$13/month
60 percent
$173.67
41 percent
$91.86
38 percent
$47.77
36 percent
*EZ Pay = one-year rate with a monthly credit
or debit card/check charge
Single copy price:
$1.50 Tuesday through Saturday
Circulation Dept.
800-781-3214
Questions? Call Al Plute
(541) 612-6755
low
ADVERTISING
Regional Publisher and Revenue Director:
• Christopher Rush
541-278-2669 • crush@eomediagroup.com
Advertising Services:
• Angela Treadwell
541-966-0827 • atreadwell@eastoregonian.com
• Grace Bubar
541-276-2214 • gbubar@eastoregonian.com
Multimedia Consultants:
• Jeanne Jewett
541-564-4531 • jjewett@eastoregonian.com
• Audra Workman
541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com
Business Office Coordinator
• Dayle Stinson
541-278-2670 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com
Classified & Legal Advertising
1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678
classifieds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com
NEWS
• To submit news tips and press releases:
call 541-966-0818 or email news@eastoregonian.com
• To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News:
email community@eastoregonian.com or call Tammy Malgesini
at 541-564-4539 or Renee Struthers at 541-966-0818.
• To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries:
email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit eastoregonian.
com/community/announcements
• To submit sports or outdoors information or tips:
541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com
Business Office Manager:
541-966-0824
COMMERCIAL PRINTING
Production Manager: Mike Jensen
541-215-0824 • mjensen@eastoregonian.com