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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 2015)
News Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, October 28, 2015 A3 0DOKHXU&RXQW\¿JKWVPDVVLYHZLOGHUQHVVGHVLJQDWLRQ By Sean Ellis Blue Mountain Eagle and Capital Press DAM Continued from Page A1 out, and they have actually seen it protect the communi- ty in past flood events. The dam, built in the 1960s, has also provided a scenic rec- reational area. “The dam has been there for 52 years,” said Gregg Haberly of John Day. “If it was built on such unsta- ble ground it would have washed out a long time ago.” The Grant County Court proposed leasing the dam from the state for one year to determine if it can be re- paired or if it needs to be re- moved. “It’s our resource. It’s our playground,” County Com- missioner Boyd Britton said. “Even though it’s on your property, we consider it ours and we don’t want to lose that precious commodity.” The county also suggest- ed sending its engineer Doug Ferguson to examine the site before the state makes its fi- nal decision. Ferguson stated he didn’t have enough time or post- fire information to deter- mine if the state was right or wrong to take down the dam. Canyon City resident Jesse Madden asked if the court could file an in- tional Conservation Area, they permanently lose multiple-use provisions – including grazing rights. Malhuer County is Oregon’s No. 1 cattle producing county. Ac- junction. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) said anyone could, but would require a bond to accept liabliltiy for all potential loss, life and property. The state officials were open to working with the county, but said time is run- ning short to get work done before this winter. “The state’s decision was made to move forward with the removal, but we want to work with the coun- ty on conversations we are having on the front of new impoundment opportunities and strong feelings about this particular one,” Brown- scombe said. Unable to convince the state to stop its plans, the county court changed the discussion to have a new dam built on the creek. The county asked for a commit- ment from the state to as- sure a new dam is built. “I don’t think there is anyone here saying that is not an option,” Browns- combe said. “We need to see what the proposal looks like. There is a process and money. There is an intent and commitment. We can talk about formalizing that.” Brenda Bateman, from the Oregon Water Resourc- es Department, explained how the county can apply for grant funding to have a new dam built. The State cording to Oregon State Universi- ty, agriculture generates over $370 million annually in the county, of which $134 million comes from cattle. According to Sergio Arispe, a Legislature has set aside $54 million for such water projects. Residents remained skeptical that a new dam would come in once the cur- rent one is removed. Brownscombe addressed the concern by saying the removal is solely based on a risk to public safety and not a perceived dam removal agenda. “We would not be having this conversation right now if it was not for the Canyon Creek Complex Fire and the additional risk it brought to this situation,” he said. Bruce Eddy, from the state department of fish and wildlife, said the potential for a serious landslide or flood being backed up by a fragile dam could very like- ly cause the dam to fail. “That makes it worse by a quantum level,” he said. The county court ended its hearing with the state by requesting more time and more clarifications on an approach for a new dam. Despite its concerns, the A TTENTION G RANT C OUNTY V ETERANS : Did you know Grant County Veterans Services Officer is available to assist YOU in applying for all VA benefits you may be entitled to? See your Grant County Veteran Services Officer today for more information, located at Grant County Court House. you have decimated the economy. It would change our way of life. Not only farmers and ranchers, but everybody around here is up in arms about it.” ONDA and other regional and national conservation groups and businesses are gathering signa- tures to back their effort. Ac- cording to ONDA’s web site, “a variety of legislative and adminis- trative options (are) being consid- ered to permanently protect this place.” According to a news release from Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontar- io, it is anticipated the groups are planning to ask President Barack Obama to use his power under the Antiquities Act to designate the land as a national monument, wil- derness area or national conserva- tion area. Wallowa County Commis- sioners unanimously approved resolution in opposition to the proposal in September, joining Lake, Marion, Grant, Lincoln, Wheeler, Columbia, Harney, De- schutes, Tillamook, Baker, Union, Linn and Yamhill counties in opposition. The Malheur County Court had already spent two years develop- ing an alternative Wilderness Area in the southern part of Malheur County consisting of 45,414 acres. Affected ranchers and the Malheur County Court endorsed that pro- posal. county court ultimately ac- knowledged the decision is up to the state. “To the state of Oregon, the dam is yours, the per- mit is yours, the decision is yours,” County Judge Scott Myers said. “I guess if we have not compelled you to do otherwise, we have no other option than to take the dam out. It appears that your plan to proceed would be your option.” The Blue Mountain Eagle was unable to con- firm the status of the dam with ODFW Tuesday af- ternoon before going to press. Michael B. 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FRI & SAT (4:10) 7:10 9:35 SUNDAY (4:10) 7:10 MON-THURS (4:10) 7:10 $9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth We are happy to transfer and mail prescriptions and would welcome the opportunity to visit with you about our services! Give us a call today: 541-676-9158 02902 Grant County commissioners have added their letter – along with State Representative Greg Walden and county courts from 13 other Oregon counties – protest- ing the move by the Oregon Natu- ral Desert Association (ONDA) to carve off 2.5 million acres of Mal- huer County as a wilderness area. That area, Walden said, is “larger than the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined.” The county encompasses 6.5 million acres. The Owyhee Canyonlands Conservation Proposal would set aside both lands and hundreds of miles of wild and scenic rivers in a county that already has 4.5 mil- lion acres (73 percent of the land in the county) under federal man- agement. Grant County Commissioners plan to attend a town hall meet- ing Thursday at the Adrian High School gym. The commissioners are looking to pass a resolution later if needed. Malheur County Soil and Wa- ter Conservation District Man- ager Linda Rowe, who opposes the monument proposal, said that 2.5 million acres would equal 43 percent of the county. Once fed- eral lands are converted to spe- cial use lands, such as National Monument, Wilderness Area, Na- livestock and rangeland agent at Oregon State University’s Mal- heur County Extension office, locking up that much land would eliminate about 33 percent of the county’s total grazing land. If the county’s economically vi- tal cattle industry was devastated by such a conversion, a lot of hay, corn and other grains wouldn’t be grown here (either), Rowe said. Malheur County Cattlemen’s Association President Chris Christensen was blunt: a monu- ment designation “would destroy the community and the business of agriculture as it’s being done in this area right now,” Chris- tensen said. “If this thing comes to pass, it would have a devastat- ing effect on the ranching com- munity and agriculture in Mal- heur County. Anybody involved in agriculture in Malheur County isn’t going to be in favor of this thing.” Oregon Natural Desert Asso- ciation (ONDA), which is lead- ing the monument effort, says the proposal would “allow working farms and ranches to continue to operate.” But Jordan Valley rancher Bob Skinner, former president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, said area residents believe the op- posite would happen. “There are cattle everywhere out there,” Skinner said. “If you take cattle out of (this) economy, Early Deadline for the Nov. 10th Edition Ad, Classified & Legal Deadline: Thursday, Nov. 5th by 5 p.m. october is domestic violence awareness month An average of three women in America die each day as a result of domestic violence. One in four women, and one in thirteen men, will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence call the Heart of Grant County at 541-575-4335 or the 24 Hot Line at 541-620-1342. 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