| Preparing for Federal Stimulus Funds |
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| Stimulus Information Links |
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| Introduction |
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There are three areas in which the Department is preparing for using Federal Stimulus Funds:
(1) Technical and permitting support for projects that are ready to compete for Federal funds;
(2) Utilization of the Department’s grant programs as a distribution vehicle for water resource projects;
(3) Submittal of three of the Department’s own infrastructure projects.
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| Technical & Permitting Support |
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Permits and Limited Licenses. The Department expects to see an increase in water right permit and limited license applications as a result of federal and state stimulus money. Limited licenses are used in construction projects that need temporary water sources. There are a wide variety of construction projects that would require the temporary use of water, including road and bridge construction (for dust abatement and cement mixing), pedestrian and bike paths, building construction, and other facilities. The Department will continue to make processing of limited licenses a priority and may train staff members as necessary to help with any staffing needs.
The Department is also active in technical support for projects submitted by the Oregon Water Resources Congress, League of Oregon Cities, and other water users seeking Federal funds. Technical support includes tasks such as dam safety, water well design, and diversion design review.
Umatilla Basin Aquifer Recovery Project. The Department is involved in one specific project that is well positioned to request Federal funds. Using funds provided by the 2008 Oregon Legislature, the Department is conducting a feasibility study related to the Umatilla Basin’s critical ground water areas. The study is examining the feasibility of storing winter Columbia River water in existing ground water aquifer systems for use during the spring and summer irrigation seasons. Full implementation of this project will result in substantial economic benefit to the region and the state. The Bureau of Reclamation is the most likely federal agency for funding assistance with this project.
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| Department's Grant Programs |
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The Department sees grant programs as an opportunity to partner with communities to meet current and future water needs creatively and collaboratively. State grants often make it possible for communities to leverage Federal, private and other funds, and also provide the impetus to create regional solutions.
In 2008, the Department awarded community match funding to 16 communities for use in their water supply planning efforts. These awards, totaling $200,000, were designed to help communities take a regional approach to meeting their current and future water needs. Also in the 2007-09 Biennium, the Department awarded almost $1 million in grants to 22 communities to conduct water conservation, re-use, or storage feasibility studies, according to the requirements of Senate Bill 1069 (2008).
These two grant programs remain available as vehicles to distribute Federal stimulus funds for water resource projects.
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| WRD's Infrastructure Projects |
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The Department has three infrastructure projects that may also be eligible for Federal dollars.
a. Rebuilding Oregon’s Stream Gage Network. The Department operates a stream gaging network of nearly 200 stations throughout the state. These stations collect data used to distribute and manage a limited water supply, protect instream and out-of-stream water rights, record flood events, and track the effects of climate change. On-going funding for stream gage maintenance is important, as well as funding for upgrades to satellite transmitters and receivers.
b. Establishing Ground Water Monitoring Wells. The Department is also responsible for tracking the health of Oregon’s ground water resources. Reliance on long-term access to privately owned wells has prevented the Department from developing and maintaining long-term water level records across the state. Well access is interrupted when wells change ownership, wells are reconstructed or abandoned, or changes in water use prevent ground water data from being collected. The Department proposes to establish a network of observation wells owned by the state and located on public lands or easements across Oregon. Each of the wells would be fitted with continuous water-level recording devices. The wells would be contracted and drilled by Oregon licensed well drillers selected through a bid process.
c. Providing Cost-Share for Water-Use Measuring Devices. In 2000, the Water Resources Commission directed the Department to focus its measurement efforts on significant points of diversion in high priority watersheds. The Department has identified about 2,200 such points and is working with land-owners to encourage them to install measurement devices at each of these surface water diversion points. The Department has a cost-share program that provides seed money, to help encourage land-owners to install water-use measurement devices. This proposal would supplement the $100,000 in cost-share funds that are currently available.
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| Contact Information |
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For more information contact:
Jerry Rodgers
503.986.0825
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