SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Farmers in Eastern Oregon couldn’t persuade the Legislature to take more water from the Columbia River, but proponents are insisting the issue will not go away.
Republicans pushed aggressively to take more water from the river for agricultural use and to develop more storage capacity, but they couldn’t reach an agreement with Democrats.
GOP lawmakers say the Democratic offerings wouldn’t go far enough, but they say they believe there’s room to find a solution.
Conservation groups worry that taking more water would jeopardize the river levels during low-flow months, harming salmon runs.
