Please help us establish a state study about
The Impact of Global Warming (or Climate Cycles) 
on the Willamette River

To be precise, we Oregonians need:  "A state study about the impact of global warming and possibly increasing
drought cycles on the Willamette River ---
particularly as related to periodic releases from the
Corps of Engineers’ 13 dams"

Our state study request is supported by Senator Avakian,  Senator Devlin and Representative Scott Bruun, plus the Regional Water Providers Consortium (tri-county area), Tualatin Valley Water District, the City of Tualatin and the Willamette River Water Coalition.  We will be seeking additional support from organizations representing fish and fish habitat, industries and wastewater treatment plants.
EXPLANATION

Even now there are sometimes shortages of water in the Willamette in July/August/and early September to provide for so-called "water quality," and also in spring time to provide cooler temperatures for fish runs and spawning.   (As a rule of thumb, at present, the Willamette valley is water-rich in the winter and water-poor in the summer.)

Officials from DEQ and ODFW are in agreement that this study should be under the auspices of the state’s Water Resources Department.

We are asking the Water Resources Department not to approve any brand new water rights applications on the Willamette River, especially for certain crucial times of the year, until it has determined the impact of global warming and increasing drought cycles on the flow of the river, and has determined the sufficiency of water at crucial times of the year in the future.

The Water Resources director’s office offered us a phone number for the University of Washington Climate Impact Group.  Scientists there provided a rough estimate of $140,000 for the technical aspects of the study under certain conditions.  Coordinating the study might cost some agency personnel an additional $10,000 or $20,000.  

Therefore we are seeking a total of $160,000, depending on the number of models and time steps.  The U of W Climate Impact Group appears to have considerable experience in studies of this kind, especially where the Army Corps of Engineers is concerned.   However, there may be some other researchers who are also qualified for such a study also.

Tentative funding options.  Option 1:  We would like this funding to come primarily in shares from three agency budgets – WRD, Department of Environmental Quality  and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and would like legislators’ advice on this topic. Option 2.  We hope some possible donations from interested water providers, etc., may be available.  Option 3.  We are also looking for grants or other funding.   There may be an option for matching grants to industries and wastewater treatment plants from Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.

Dilution has been DEQ’s solution to pollution.
Under global warming, it may not be possible for the dams to dilute the pollution from industries, sewage treatment plants and other DEQ permit holders.

1.  Millions of pounds of pollutants are discharged each year into the river from industries and sewage treatment plants etc. under DEQ permits.

2.  These discharges must be diluted by the river to comply with the federal Clean Water Act.

3.  DEQ currently uses mixing zones, including toxic mixing zones (for metals and chemicals), to permit dilution of the discharges using the river.   "Dilution is the solution to pollution."

4.  Willamette River flow is not adequate to dilute these discharges in July, August and early September without water released to the river by the Corps of Engineers from their dams.

5.  The possible global warming impact on stored water in the dams is two-fold –

       A.  The loss of snowpack may lead to less snowmelt refilling the dams during the summer.
       B.  The possibility or probability of increasing drought cycles may lead to the loss of the spring rains which normally fill the dams, as in 2001. (The dams are emptied in winter to provide for their prime purpose:   Flood control.)

6.  DEQ’s most recent method in dealing with the impact of drought, as in 2001, was to declare "amnesty" for discharge permit holders as a method for dealing with undiluted pollution.

How can we help industries and sewage treatment plants cope with this looming problem?  Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board funding may be available, as matching funding to industries, etc., looking for ways to reduce pollutants.    We would like research scientists at Oregon universities to take up this challenge.  Pollution Tax Credits may also be available.

CFSW philosophy:  In general, we feel polluters should fully pay their way. However, in this case, the DEQ has allowed industries etc. to discharge their wastes into the river for many years under a permit system.  This approach may no longer be possible under global warming.  While we have disapproved of DEQ’s approach, we feel it would be reasonable to provide some state taxpayer help to affected industries, etc.

For further information, contact:   Citizens for Safe Water President, Tom Long.  503-936-3944   or systems.marketing at verizon.net   or   Kathy Newcomb, VP & research analyst.  503-692-5227 after 10 a.m. or  kathynewc at aol.com