ORS 536.605: Implementation of Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan; advisory committee; project funding.

(1) Consistent with all other Oregon laws, the Water Resources Department shall collaborate with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the State of Washington to implement and guide cooperative, bistate water management in the Walla Walla River Basin pursuant to the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan, under advice from a Walla Walla River Basin advisory committee consisting of representatives from a broad range of interests, including agricultural, environmental and other stakeholders and federal, tribal, state and local governments. (2) It is the intent of the Legislative Assembly that: (a) The State of Oregon shall share in the cost of implementing the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan, subject to the availability of moneys appropriated for this purpose; and (b) At least one-half of the total costs of implementing the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan will be funded through federal, private and other nonstate sources, including funding from private entities that benefit from projects under the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan. (3) The department shall implement the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan as an integrated water resources approach that invites coordination among the State of Oregon and the State of Washington, affected federally recognized Indian tribes, agencies and community stakeholders, including stakeholders concerned with agriculture, the environment and business. (4) In developing water supply solutions in the Walla Walla River Basin, the department shall use an integrated water resources management approach, consistent with the policy described in ORS 536.220 and other Oregon laws, that provides concurrent water supply benefits to in-stream, out-of-stream and ground water uses and addresses a variety of water resource and ecosystem challenges affecting fish passage, habitat functions and agricultural, municipal, industrial and domestic water supply, consistent with the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan. (5) In consultation with affected federally recognized Indian tribes, and in cooperation with the State of Washington, the department shall assess the development of a legal and regulatory framework, coordinated between the State of Oregon and the State of Washington, for the allocation, distribution and management of developed water resources. (6) In undertaking programs or using moneys appropriated by the Legislative Assembly, agencies, as defined in ORS 183.310, may, consistent with all other Oregon laws concerning the programs or use of the moneys, fund the study, design, engineering and construction of projects implementing the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan that are located wholly or partially in the State of Washington if the projects: (a) Benefit in-stream, out-of-stream or ground water demands in this state; and (b) Are consistent with the objectives of the Walla Walla Water 2050 Strategic Plan. [2024 c.22 §1] Sec. 1. Water level assessment and budgeting. The Water Resources Department shall: (1) Enter into a cost-matching agreement with the United States Geological Survey to develop and publish ground water budgets for all major hydrologic basins in this state. (2) Contract for a person to produce a peer-reviewed report on statewide consumptive water use that summarizes historical irrigation consumptive water use for all irrigated fields and estimates open water evaporation from all major reservoirs in this state between 1984 and 2020. (3) Expand a comprehensive ground water level monitoring network to improve estimates of changes in ground water storage. (4) Measure progress in estimating and monitoring ground water levels, ground water recharge and consumptive ground water use by: (a) Publishing one or more reports that quantify ground water recharge for all major hydrologic basins in this state; (b) Producing statewide maps and datasets that quantify open water evaporation from all major reservoirs in this state; (c) Collecting and processing data concerning baseline ground water levels and use; (d) Assessing the time and cost of conducting ground water basin studies; and (e) Prioritizing hydrologic basins in this state for study. (5) Ensure that department staff members serve as community engagement coordinators to help communities provide the data described in this section and use the data collected by the department pursuant to this section. [2021 c.608 §1] Sec. 2. Sunset. Section 1 of this 2021 Act is repealed on January 2, 2032. [2021 c.608 §2] EMERGENCY WATER SHORTAGE POWERS