BC Water News

 

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Water fight

Ore. irrigation districts, cities spar over proposed bills

Oregon State Senate Chamber

Wikipedia

Daily Astorian

Irrigation districts are butting heads with city governments in Oregon over proposed legislation that’s intended to avert conflicts over housing development and stormwater discharge. Supporters of Senate bills 865 and 866 say the bills will help prevent urban encroachment from damaging irrigation facilities and water supplies. The League of Oregon Cities and several municipal governments oppose the bills, arguing they give excessive authority to irrigation districts.

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Wash. groups try to reduce rural well restrictions

Capital Press

More than two dozen organizations, including the Washington Farm Bureau, have joined a “fix Hirst” campaign, urging legislators to pass a bill to restart rural homebuilding halted by a state Supreme Court ruling. The push to void the court’s 6-3 decision in Whatcom County vs. Hirst, which placed new restrictions on the drilling of domestic wells, comes midway through the legislative session.

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Engineers give infrastructure a near-failing grade

CNBC

America's infrastructure is close to failing. That's the assessment of the American Society of Civil Engineers, which has released its 2017 infrastructure report card, giving the nation's overall infrastructure a grade of D+. Since 1998, grades have been near failing and averaging only D's, due to "delayed maintenance" and "under investment across most categories." ► STATE-BY-STATE GRADES

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