Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announce a total of $3,052,940 in federal funding is headed to three projects across the state to combat record drought conditions throughout the west, including Oregon. These federal investments are intended to safeguard local water supplies in response the extreme drought and weather events.
“Between record droughts and raging megafires, Oregon and other Western states have been hit hard over the last couple of years,” said Merkley. “These three water projects will restore habitats and riverbanks, and create resilient efficient water systems—helping stretch scarce water resources further in these challenging times. I look forward to following the progress of these important projects, and will keep working to deliver federal funding and resources needed to combat drought and ensure families and businesses can make it through these tough times.”
“Drought and devastating wildfires fueled by the climate crisis have slammed Oregon, and the need is great throughout out state to respond with urgency,” said Wyden. “These federal resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I fought to pass will help protect critical water supplies in these Oregon communities. And I’ll keep battling to protect lives and livelihoods throughout our state with similar support that helps Oregonians weather drought’s destructive impacts.”
Funding for these projects is intended to advance quantifiable and sustained water savings by protecting watersheds impacted by wildfire, restoring aquatic habitats and stream beds, and advancing other environmental restoration projects to mitigate drought-related impacts.
Projects in Oregon include:
Rogue Valley Council of Governments
$784,151 – Bear Creek Fish Passage Barriers Removal
East Fork Irrigation District
$2,000,000 – Oanna & Yasui Sublateral Efficiency Project
Curry Watersheds Nonprofit
$268,789 – Sixes Riverbank Restoration and Estuary Enhancement
“Funding provided by this project will address several long-standing barriers in Bear Creek that impede water flow and fish passage. These barriers have been overlooked for funding despite being identified as local priorities. It’s through programs like these that projects are able to be completed. The funding will allow for work leading to retrofitting or removing the obstacles improving fish habitat, allowing Bear Creek to flow more freely by restoring aquatic habitat and stream bed conditions, and improve overall water quality for Coho Salmon and other species that depend on Bear Creek,” said Greg Stahach, Natural, Rogue Valley Council of Governments, Resources Program Manager.
The funding announced is part of the $160 million in WaterSMART grants provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2022. This Department’s WaterSMART Program focuses on collaborative efforts to plan and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability, including investments to modernize infrastructure.
