SALEM, Ore. — Senator Bill Hansell (R-Athena) led the Oregon Senate Feb. 21 in passing SB 1567, a bill authorizing the Oregon Water Resource Department to implement a roadmap for sustainable water use and fisheries restoration through the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan. The bill directs the state to work collaboratively with Washington and partner federal agencies, tribes, and water users to manage water resources in the basin.
“Senate Bill 1567 is a collaborative effort of the communities, industries, and tribes who rely on the Walla Walla Basin and have had to grapple with declining surface and groundwater levels,” said Hansell, a chief sponsor. “Based on my over 40 years of experience as a county commissioner and state senator representing Umatilla County, I understand how intertwined the Walla Walla River Basin is with Oregon. We must have bi-state coordination on water management efforts for our shared basin to reach its potential.”
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