A6
OREGON
East Oregonian
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
1055 S. HWY 395, STE 111
HERMISTON, OR
541.567.6151
Associated Press, File
The Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River. A coalition of stake-
holders has sent a letter to the region’s political leaders op-
posing a plan to remove it and three other dams.
Stakeholders send
letter opposing
Simpson dam plan to
NW political leaders
By MATTHEW
WEAVER
Capital Press
SALEM — A coalition
of 45 stakeholders has sent a
letter to Northwest lawmak-
ers voicing their opposition
to Idaho Rep. Mike Simp-
son’s $33.5 billion proposal
to remove four dams on the
Lower Snake River.
The proposal, which is
aimed at helping the salmon
population recover, includes
a 35-year moratorium on
dam litigation, among other
actions.
Simpson announced the
proposal in February, but has
not introduced legislation.
“It is a speculative and
costly plan that assumes we
must choose between produc-
tive, fish-friendly federal
projects and our Northwest
salmon and steelhead runs,”
the March 23 letter states.
“We believe this is a false
choice, and ignores the broad
commitment to salmon recov-
ery that must be region-wide
and sustained for genera-
tions.”
“Cong ress t y pically
doesn’t dedicate billions of
taxpayer dollars without
knowing exactly how it will be
allocated fi rst,” Washington
Grain Commission CEO Glen
Squires told the Capital Press.
“His concept proposal is so
broad in scope that dozens
of congressional committees
and executive branch agen-
cies probably have jurisdiction
over parts of it.”
Many Pacifi c Northwest
members of Congress are also
opposed to the plan, Squires
said.
“ T ho s e s u p p o r t i ng
removal have been seeking
removal of the four specifi c
dams for decades, so nothing
really new there,” he said.
Ag groups will continue
to voice their concerns about
removal of the dams and cite
their role in agriculture, irriga-
tion and movement of goods,
Squires said.
Dam removal would have
impacts on the environment,
hydropower and increase
freight rates for wheat. Squires
points to the added road
damage costs and eff ect on
timely delivery of other freight
and services.
“Removal is not a silver
bullet to salmon recovery for
Snake River salmon,” Squires
said. “There is more to it than
four lower Snake River dams.”
Squires and other stake-
holders point to ideas and
actions identifi ed in NOAA
Fisheries’ salmon recovery
plan.
The Greater Hermiston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is pleased to announce
that Kristina Olivas of Hermiston has been selected as the Chamber’s
’ Chief Executive
Officer. Olivas will begin work March 30.
As CEO, Olivas will lead interactions with the Chamber’s
’ 400+ members, plan events
and activities, coordinate the various Chamber committees and manage efforts to
develop a new Chamber office and workforce development center at South Highway 395
and East Evelyn Avenue.
Olivas has spent the past five years as Human Resources Office and Training Manager at
the Walmart Distribution Center. Among her duties leading an HR department, she
provided counseling, coaching and policy leadership to nearly 1,000 employees. She
previously worked as a purchasing and maintenance planning manager at Oregon Potato
Company in Boardman and as a sales associate at Wilcox Furniture.
Olivas brings the experience, skills and personality needed to connect with a culturally diverse and growing community, said
Annette Kirkpatrick, Chamber board president. “We
“ are impressed with Kristina’s
’ energy, work history and love of community.” ”
Kirkpatrick said, “ “She has a natural ability to listen and connect with others. We expect Kristina to not only continue our
successful programs, but to work with members, partners and community stakeholders to bring our Chamber to a new level
of service.” ”
Hermiston born and raised, bilingual in Spanish and English, mother of two-teenaged daughters and a young son, Olivas enjoys
spending time with family and exploring the Pacific Northwest.
For work, “ “My career goal as always been to develop professional and personal relationships while building the
love.” ” Olivas said. “ “I feel excitement and pride, I’m
Community I love.
’ so proud to be on the front lines in representing
Hermiston.” ” Olivas was chosen by the Chamber Board of Directors to fill the position vacated
the businesses of Hermiston.
by Kim Rill, who left in February for a workforce development job.
Members can call the Chamber office to schedule a time
on the radio to share about your business!
Sponsored by:
Legislature again
mulls Wallowa
Lake Dam funding
By BILL BRADSHAW
Wallowa County Chieftain
WALLOWA LAKE —
Although sales for bonds to
fund the $16 million refur-
bishment of the Wallowa Lake
Dam were supposed to begin
this month, the Oregon Legis-
lature put that on hold for a
year because the COVID-19
pandemic caused a sharp drop
in Oregon Lottery revenue.
But lawmakers and dam
stakeholders are optimis-
tic the funding will come
through this year.
“What they have decided
to do is include those in
discussion for this year’s
funding cycle. Because they
were in the governor’s, that
gives us some options,” state
Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena,
said Thursday, March 25.
He said although the
lottery funding is “trending
in the right direction,” it may
not be necessary to rely on the
bonds and the money could
come out of general fund or
another fund.
“We won’t need to go to
lottery bonds in that case,”
he said.
The plan was to raise
$14 million through sale of
bonds from lottery reve-
nue and begin selling them
this month, with work on
the dam to begin after irri-
gation season ends Sept. 30.
Another $2 million of the $16
million project will be raised
from “other sources,” said
Dan Butterfi eld, president of
the Wallowa Lake Irrigation
District, which owns the dam.
“There’s been some
outside interest expressing a
desire to help,” he said. “But
we may have to fund that
ourselves.”
He said the project is wait-
ing for the state money to be
assured before seeking the
additional funds.
“That has to be solidifi ed
before we break ground,” he
said.
Butterfield was encour-
aged the governor and
lawmakers seem enthusiastic
about funding the dam this
year.
“She’s the reason we
got put on the budget in the
beginning,” he said of Gov.
Kate Brown. “It’s nice to have
support at that level.”
In addition to the irriga-
tion district, the stakeholders
in the dam project include the
Oregon Department of Fish
and Wildlife, the Nez Perce
Tribe and the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation.
Last fall, all four enti-
ties signed a memorandum
of agreement to support the
project. The latter three stake-
holders primarily are inter-
ested in natural resources
concerns at the dam, such
as a fish passage from the
Wallowa River to the lake and
downstream watersheds. The
irrigation district manages the
lake level and outfl ows for
agricultural irrigation.
The dam and more than
30 other projects were put on
hold when the June lottery
report came in below the
4-to-1 ratio needed to sell
bonds to fund them. That
means $4 million in lottery
revenue must come in to
sell $1 million in bonds. The
report came in at only 3.1-to-
1.
Hansell said fi nal word on
lottery funding won’t come
in until June. If it’s suffi cient,
bonds can be sold beginning
in April 2022, with construc-
tion to begin that fall.
If you are a Hermiston Chamber
Member and would like to advertise
on this page, please contact
Kelly Schwirse at
kschwirse@hermistonherald.com